News Releases & Announcements

OTTAWA, February 6, 2009 — As asserted in the national media today, the administration of the University of Ottawa confirms that it has recommended to the Board of Governors the dismissal with cause of Mr. Denis Rancourt from his faculty position.

As mentioned in the national media, the University can confirm that the grounds for the recommendation include Mr. Rancourt’s assigning a grade of A+ to all students enrolled in his fourth year physics course and his Master’s level course.

The University remains committed to the highest standards of academic excellence. For these reasons, the administration’s concerns include the impact of Mr. Rancourt's actions on:

- the credibility of the academic achievement of the students registered to obtain a degree from the University of Ottawa;

- the fact that student grades are relied on for the awarding of scholarships and bursaries and admission to graduate programs; and

- the perception among other universities that the integrity of the University’s academic results could not be trusted with consequent damage to the reputation of our students.

In addition, the administration is able to confirm, as was reported in the national media, that a significant number of faculty colleagues had voiced concerns regarding Mr. Rancourt's conduct.

The University of Ottawa will respect confidentiality and legal obligations in this matter, which prevent the University from commenting further on the grounds for the dismissal recommendation.

Mr. Rancourt has all the details pertaining to the recommendation in his possession and, if he so chooses, may share the information.

We have also taken note of media discussions on this issue and are providing links to some of this coverage.

[External sites]

http://www.thefulcrum.ca/node/2408

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Technology/doing/1258818/story.html

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Technology/When+teacher+expelled/1250298/story.html

http://larotonde.ca/2009/01/denis-la-mitraille/

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/the-two-languages-of-academic-freedom/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090211.wsuspend11/BNStory/National/home