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Concordia University Rector's Report 2001-02

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Concordia University Rector's Report 2001-02 Le présent fichier est une publication en ligne reçue en dépôt légal, convertie en format PDF et archivée par Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. L’information contenue dans le fichier peut donc être périmée et certains liens externes peuvent être inactifs. Version visionnée sur le site Internet d’origine le 9 octobre 2008. Section du dépôt légal When you receive this 2001-2002 issue of the Rector’s Report, occupancy of the new Science Complex on the Loyola Campus will be less than one year away. This mammoth $85- million project is proceeding on schedule and still within budget. Excavation of the site of the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Art buildings on Ste. Catherine Street is well underway. Occupancy by 2005 is the target. A 2003 start on construction of the new John Molson School of Business building on Guy and de Maisonneuve is anticipated. Renovation of the Drummond Building on the Loyola Campus and the Hall Building will begin on completion of the Science Complex. These ambitious expansion projects are a direct result of our success in meeting the educational needs of students in a rapidly evolving work world. Concordia has been the fastest growing university in Quebec in recent years. Last year’s student enrolment was the highest in the University’s history at 28,237 full-time and part-time students. Since 1995 there has been a steady increase in Concordia’s share of Montreal’s student population. We are not only attracting more students but also better students. This is highly gratifying because students’ decision to enroll at Concordia, when they have so many other options, validates our own belief that we offer programs that are relevant and desirable. Registration in our Continuing Education courses has also climbed steeply. Qualified and committed full-time and part- time faculty are the lifeblood of a university. During the past five years, I am proud to say that 207 new full-time professors were hired. Their calibre is excellent and, if we can retain them, they will strengthen our course offerings and our research productivity for years to come. The hiring of new research-oriented professors coupled with the arrival of an energetic new University Research Services director, Dr. Benoit Morin, and the expected filling of the new position of Vice-Provost, Research, will help us achieve the objective of increasing our research productivity, one of our priorities for the next few years. I would be remiss if this message spoke only of the many wonderful things that are happening at Concordia, without mentioning the difficulties that we experienced both last year and at the beginning of this academic year. As we break new ground, literally and figuratively, we cannot seem to be able to avoid some of the same ground that created tensions last year. Concordia’s rich ethno-cultural, linguistic and religious diversity is a major asset that helps prepare students for the interdependent, multicultural, internationalized world of the 21st century. At the same time it greatly increases the potential for tension, frequently fueled by world events to which some of our students relate intimately. In recent years it is the conflict in the Middle East reflected on our campus that has most strongly aroused passions and has resulted in adverse publicity for Concordia. We continue to work closely with student leadership to contain tensions, to promote reasoned debate rather than propaganda and vilification and to ensure that students are not subjected to unwanted pressure or intimidation. It remains to be seen to what extent our efforts will succeed in 2002-2003. This Report demonstrates that new ground is being broken at Concordia, not only by construction crews but also by our students, professors and staff. None of these efforts would be possible were it not for the ongoing support of our Board of Governors, our Alumni and Alumnae and, increasingly, the governments of Canada and Quebec. Their support permits us to continue to realize our historic missions; making higher education widely accessible through flexible program delivery; openness to part-time education and welcoming mature students; and achieving national and international eminence by continuing excellence in our traditional areas of strength. Frederick Lowy Rector and Vice-Chancellor Next Section Return to top Credits Previous reports: 2000–2001 1999–2000 1998–1999 1997–1998 The vision of Concordia’s possibilities in the 21st century began crystallizing over the year. The university’s physical transformation started in the summer of 2001 with construction on the state-of-the-art science complex at the Loyola Campus. Rising five storeys above ground with two subterranean levels, the $85-million complex will be among the largest new science buildings in North America. The new science complex will bring together the departments of Also in this section Setting the Pace in the biology, chemistry and biochemistry, exercise science, physics and a Academic World major component of psychology. It will also house the Science Faculty of Arts & Science College, major research facilities including the Centre for Structural John Molson School of Business and Functional Genomics and the Centre for Studies in Behavioural Faculty of Engineering & Neurobiology, as well as several small research centres and support Computer Science facilities. The completion of the complex in September 2003 will Faculty of Fine Arts usher in a new era of teaching, education and research in sciences at School of Graduate Concordia. Studies Continuing Education, Concordia Libraries, The endeavour to build Concordia’s place at the forefront of modern eConcordia, and Institute education gained momentum in April 2002, with the announcement for Co-Operative Education of $97 million from the Quebec government toward the new Integrated Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Complex on the Sir George Williams Campus in downtown Montreal. The grant involves $57 million from the Ministry of Education for construction, building on existing Ministry funding of $25 million for reducing rented space, and $15 million from the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology for research infrastructure. Premier Bernard Landry said the complex represents a synergy of two pillars of Quebec, excellence in higher technology and the arts. Construction on the $165- million downtown complex, which will run along Ste. Catherine between Guy and Mackay Streets, was launched at a groundbreaking ceremony at the end of May. The cuttingedge building has been designed with environmental sustainability in mind, and is expected to consume 40 per cent less energy than the standard Canadian building. Mayor Gérald Tremblay said the complex promises to be a source of cultural dynamism that will help distinguish Montreal as an outstanding city for higher education. The Integrated Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Complex, expected to be completed in September 2005, will be the centerpiece of a redefined downtown campus, dubbed Le Quartier Concordia. Along with the existing Concordia buildings, Le Quartier Concordia will also include an advanced new building at Guy St. and de Maisonneuve Blvd. for the John Molson School of Business, which will reflect its place as one of Canada’s leading business schools. Ultimately, Concordia’s $350-million construction project will address record enrolment levels at the university and the need for modern facilities, while consolidating activities in 10 buildings downtown and 14 at Loyola, instead of the current 70. The dramatically changing landscape, however, is but the most tangible evidence of Concordia’s renaissance and its promise to become an even better university. Next: Setting the Pace in the Academic World Rector’s Report Return to top 2001–02 Concordia University Credits A metamorphosis is also taking place in the halls of Concordia. Faculty renewal has brought forth a new generation of professors, great young minds who are already redefining the university’s research profile. This is evident in the rising success in obtaining highly competitive research funding from granting agencies. Substantial funding was secured for interdisciplinary and inter-institutional projects, pointing to the great value and possibilities of new collaborations. Rapid globalization and the emergence of new technologies have led to rethinking Also in this section Introduction of the educational priorities and goals of Concordia’s academic programs. Across Faculty of Arts & Science all Faculties, curriculum has kept up-to-date with societal needs and global John Molson School of challenges, while remaining grounded in the university’s twin mandate for Business excellence and its tradition of assuring access to quality education. Faculty of Engineering & Computer Science Over the past year, Concordia has forged new connections with universities Faculty of Fine Arts around the world. New agreements of academic cooperation signed with School of Graduate Studies universities in China, India, Japan, and Australia provide for collaborative Continuing Education, research and exchange visits by professors and students, while enriching the Concordia Libraries, eConcordia, and Institute international dimension of the learning experience at Concordia. Today, the for Co-Operative university has bilateral agreements with 76 institutions in 31 countries. Education More students are choosing Concordia, confirmation of the university’s growing reputation for academic innovation and relevance,
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