Major hiring boost in Faculty of Arts
New graduates on Monday, new professors in the fall
Principal Bernard Shapiro today announced dramatic plans to accelerate academic renewal in the Faculty of Arts. Effective immediately, approval has been granted to hire 50 new professors, a significant step toward fulfilling the Faculty's vision for the future. "As a result of this initiative formulated by Provost Luc Vinet in collaboration with Dean Carman Miller, student/staff ratios will be reduced and departments will be rejuvenated," declared Principal Shapiro. "It will also help us to cope with the impact of anticipated retirements." In recent years the Faculty has averaged around 12-15 hires a year, "so 50 new hires is a substantial increase," says Shapiro.
The search is already underway for some of these new academic staff, and the process will intensify during the coming months. While the hires are to be distributed across the Faculty, there will be concentrations in the Departments of Economics, English, History, Political Science and Sociology. These new hires will range from entry-level positions to full professors.
"This is extraordinarily good news for the Faculty," said Dean Miller. "It represents an unprecedented opportunity and will enable us to develop some fabulous new interdisciplinary programs, in the fields of Canadian Studies, Renaissance Studies, the Environment, Health, Communications and Social Statistics."
On Monday, June 17, the Faculty of Arts is also celebrating two spring convocations, with graduate and undergraduate students receiving well-earned recognition and honorary degrees being awarded to novelist Alistair MacLeod, writer, broadcaster Jacques Languirand (both at 10 am), and writer, historian, broadcaster Michael Ignatieff and longtime social activist Madeleine Parent (at 2 pm).
