Laurentian University has a candidate in mind to become new president

The search committee responsible for finding a permanent president for Laurentian University has identified a candidate.

During Nov. 21 meeting of the university's senate, interim president Sheila Embleton said the next step in the process is underway.

“The presidential search committee, chaired by Vern Cameron, has identified its candidate and various processes around that are underway,” Embleton told the senate.

“I understand there is a special senate meeting coming soon about this.”

The special senate meeting is expected to be held before the Christmas break.

The new president would replace Robert Haché, who resigned in October 2022 as Laurentian was emerging from insolvency under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act.

Haché filled for creditor protection under the CCAA in February 2021, becoming the first public institution in Canada to do so. The federal government has since announced it will amend the legislation to ensure that doesn’t happen again.

The senate meeting also received enrolment information, with total enrolment estimated at 8,100 students, an increase of six per cent.

Growth in enrolment is being driven by international graduate students in degree programs. LU has 6,400 undergrad students and 1,700 grad students. Of that total, 17 per cent are international students.

“French language degree program enrolment up six per cent, maintaining the same proportion of students at 23 per cent,” Embleton told the senate.

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In addition to a new president, LU has hired a new VP of finance and administration (Sylvie Lafontaine), and a new VP of Francophone affairs (Natalie Poulin-Lehoux.)

Provost and VP academic search continues with second round in-person interviews Nov. 27-29.