Université Sainte-Anne

Université Sainte-Anne

Motto	Fidelitas
Established	1890 as Collège Sainte-Anne
Type	Public
Chancellor	M. Louis Deveau, OC
Rector	M. Allister Surette
Dean	Alain Chabot
Academic staff	Arts et sciences, Programmes professionnels.
Students	504
Undergraduates	480
Postgraduates	24
Location	Pointe-de-l'Église, Nova Scotia, Canada
Campus	Rural area
Colours	Blue      & Copper
Mascot	Dragons̜
Affiliations	AUCC, IAU, AUFC
Website	http://www.usainteanne.ca/

Université Sainte-Anne is a Canadian francophone university in the community of Pointe-de-l'Église, Nova Scotia. It and the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick are the only French-language universities in the Maritime Provinces.

History

The main administration building at Université Sainte-Anne in Church Point Nova Scotia, was designed by William Critchlow Harris and erected in 1889.

It was founded on September 1, 1890 by Gustave Blanche, a Eudist Father, to facilitate the higher education of Acadians in Nova Scotia. The University was named after Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary.

Its enrollment for the 2005-2006 academic year was around 650-700 students. In 2003, the provincial government merged the university with Collège de l'Acadie, a French-language community college with campuses throughout Nova Scotia.

Academics

Université Sainte-Anne offers many university-level programmes as well as college-level diploma programmes. It has two faculties and one school: the Faculté des Arts et Sciences, Faculté des Programmes Professionnels and the French Immersion School. In the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, one may pursue studies in several fields: French language, literature and linguistics, history, Canadian studies, Acadian studies, commerce, English language and literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, General Sciences, Pre-Veterinary Studies, and Health Sciences. In the Faculty of Professional Programmes, students may pursue studies in Administrative sciences, computer technology, office administration and education. The most popular majors are: French, commerce, business administration and education.

In addition to the Pointe-de-l'Église main campus, students may take courses through the university at other locations: Tusket, Halifax, Petit-de-Grat and Saint-Joseph-du-Moine. Its Halifax campus offers a 1-year Bachelor of Education programme and a Master of Education programme.

Degree programmes

Sainte-Marie's Church behind the University at Pointe-de-l'Église

At the Université Sainte-Anne, students may pursue the following degrees and diplomas:

Master's Programmes

• Master of Education, teaching French as a first-language (M.Éd.)
• Master of Education, teaching French as a second-language (M.Éd.)
• Master of Education, teaching French as a first-language in a minority environment (M.Éd.)

Baccalaureate Programmes

• General studies (B.A.)
• Science (three-year programme) (B.Sc.)
• English studies (B.A.)
• Canadian studies (B.A.)
• Acadian studies (B.A.)
• French studies (regular degree or Honours programme) (B.A., B.A. Hon.)
• History (B.A.)
• Commerce (B.A.)
• International Commerce (B.A.A.)
• Social Work (B.A.)
• Business Administration (regular degree or co-op programme), (B.A.A.)
• English and French studies with concentration in translation (B.A.)
• Health studies: public health (B.tech.)
• Education (two-year programme) or Arts/Education combined degree (B.A., B.Éd.)

Diploma Programmes

• Business Administration, Administrative assistant diploma
• Business Information Technology or Computer Technology
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business
• Federal Government Office Clerk
• Early Childhood Education or Special Education: Teaching Assistant
• Health Sciences or Pre-veterinary Sciences (two-year programmes)
• Human Services, Human Services Counselling or Continuing Health Care Services
• French (Diplôme de français fonctionnel)
• French as a second language (beginner, intermediate and advanced)
• English as a second language
• Chinese studies

Immersion

View of Baie St. Marie from the Université St. Anne Campus.

Sainte-Anne is known for its French Immersion programs. Programs take place year round including winter, spring and summer intersessions. The program is very strict about using immersion to learn the French language. If a student is caught speaking in any language other than French three times, the student is asked to leave the program, without a refund. The rural location of the university means there are few opportunities for students to congregate outside of earshot, compared to more urban campuses where off-campus outings would provide ample opportunity for communication in English.

Cultural activities and workshops are designed to allow for French to become second nature, even at a beginner level.

The current rector of Université Sainte-Anne is Allister Surette. Jean-Douglas Comeau, dean of the immersion program, employs numerous people known as "les animateurs" who assist with organizing, preparation and execution of the program's activities.

In the French immersion program, offered throughout the year as well as during 5-week summer and spring sessions, there are eight levels of classes. Students are put in these classes based on a two-part (oral et écrit) placement test.

During the summer and spring sessions the levels are:

• Débutant I and Débutant II
• Intermédiaire I, Intermédiaire II and Intermédiaire III
• Avancé I, Avancé II and Perfectionnement

After completion of Perfectionnement, students receive a bilingual certificate.

However, due to a complete overhaul of the immersion program for the fall and winter university semesters, the new levels are as follows and their equivalents:

• Level 1 - Débutant I
• Level 2 - Débutant II
• Level 3 - Intermédiaire I and Intermédiaire II
• Level 4 - Intermédiaire III and Avancé I
• Level 5 - Avancé II
• Level 6 - Perfectionnement

After completion of Level 6, students receive a "functional in french" certificate because although students can fully function in French, they are always learning. It is because of this that immersion students are not qualified to receive a "bilingual" certificate. One should note that the immersion program has been compressed to a one and a half year program instead of two. It is also suggested that when attending university in the program of immersion to be wary of participating in spring and summer sessions because since the levels are different, a student may not advance a level upon returning the next university year.

During the spring and summer sessions, a student's level determines what time the class takes place and what workshops are open to him or her. Beginner students may take only conversation, while higher-level students may pick from several. Workshops from the 2006 summer session include:

• Art Plastique, Culture Acadienne and Culture Francophone
• Danse Latine and Danse Sociale
• Collage Souvenir and Sortons en Clare
• Matériel Pédagogique
• Arts Martiaux
• Musique, Le P'tit Bois and Théâtre
• Vidéo Souvenir and Album Souvenir

A regular day during the spring and summer immersion sessions at Sainte-Anne starts off with an hour and a half of class, followed by "La session d'information," which is a thirty-minute presentation by the animateurs and animatrices about the day's activities presented in sketch form. Afterwards, there is another hour-and-a-half class. Afternoon workshops (ateliers) are followed by a sports tournament and an outing activity (sortie). On Friday and Saturday nights there are themed dances (soirées) and on Sunday nights, bonfires (feu de camp).

See also

• Higher education in Nova Scotia
• List of universities in Nova Scotia
• Canadian Interuniversity Sport
• Canadian government scientific research organizations
• Canadian university scientific research organizations
• Canadian industrial research and development organizations

External links

• Université Sainte-Anne