University of Sudbury says it's pivoting and hopes to welcome French-language students in the fall

If all goes to plan this fall, the University of Sudbury will welcome its first cohort of students since Laurentian University cut ties with its three federated schools in 2021.

When Laurentian University filed for insolvency, it ended its relationship with three smaller schools on its campus, including the University of Sudbury.

Since then, the University of Sudbury, which is known as the birthplace of the Franco Ontarian flag, has worked to rebuild and re-emerge as a French-language university.

But it has not yet been able to secure direct funding from the province to cover its operational costs.

University of Sudbury president Serge Miville insists the institution has a "really good" relationship with the provincial government.

"We're working with the province on this right now," he said, referring to a funding agreement.

"We wouldn't be doing this if we weren't confident to be able to get everything in place. I mean, we've invested $1 million in scholarships."

He says the school will also be funded with what he calls 'partnerships.'

In July 2023, Ontario's Ministry of Colleges and Universities said in a news release that the University of Sudbury would receive no funding from the province.

CBC News contacted the ministry for an update on its stance regarding University of Sudbury funding, but did not receive a response by deadline.

Miville said a partnership the Univeristy of Sudbury has with the Universith of Ottawa can allow with flow-through funding, and it's in discussions wiht the province on that.

Miville said the university plans to offer over 30 programs, and program options, for the fall term.

Students can apply to courses in health sciences, social sciences and business administration through the university's website.

But the University of Sudbury is not currently listed on the Ontario Universities Application Centre, the centralized application service for all recognized Ontario universities.

The deadline for Ontario high school students to apply to a university in the province, for the fall term, through the Ontario Universities Application Centre, is Jan. 15.

However, Miville said there is no deadline to apply to the University of Sudbury through its website.

Miville said it's "still early days" in terms of determining how many students the University of Sudbury can expect in the fall and he says he will have a better idea by June.

He added that there is a a plan to start hiring faculty members soon.

"By the time we're fully operational, I mean you will be seeing a regular faculty contingent at the U of Sudbury," Miville said.

He said the university also plans to offer qualified students $12,000 over four years in scholarships.

In March 2024, the University of Sudbury entered into a partnership with the University of Ottawa.

"There are no costs yet for the University of Ottawa. This has to be a win-win proposal," said University of Ottawa president Jacques Frémont at the time. 

"We will expand our presence. There will be some joint programs, but we're not there to lose money."

Miville said the deal with the University of Ottawa is for back office support, and some library and administrative support, but he says graduating students will receive University of Sudbury degrees.