University of Ottawa Suspends Greek and Roman Studies Honours Program

The University of Ottawa has announced the suspension of its honours program in Greek and Roman studies, a decision that the department’s chair fears may herald a decline in classical language education at the institution. According to a university spokesperson, this “difficult decision” was made in the Fall of 2025 due to persistently low enrolment numbers.

The spokesperson confirmed that admissions to the honours program would be paused temporarily, allowing the Faculty of Arts to “reimagine and relaunch” the program with the aim of attracting more students. The initiative is part of a broader effort to evaluate and revitalize academic offerings to better align with student aspirations and community needs.

Students currently enrolled in the honours program will be unaffected by this pause and may continue their studies.

Concerns Over the Future of Humanities

Dominique Côté, chair of the department of classics and religious studies, expressed his surprise at the decision. He noted that the program had faced low enrolment for the past two decades, with only seven students enrolled this academic year, alongside approximately 50 returning students. Côté highlighted a previous arrangement between the department and the Faculty of Arts, where professors taught larger classes in Greek and Roman mythology while maintaining smaller advanced language seminars. This arrangement appears to have been altered.

Côté fears this decision could signify a broader trend undermining humanities studies at the university. He has reached out to university officials for clarification but stated he has received no responses. “I would like the university to reflect on the place of humanities,” he remarked.

While the university will continue to offer a major and minor in Greek and Roman studies, Côté indicated that part-time faculty may see a reduction in teaching opportunities as a result of the program’s suspension.

Impact on Students and Faculty

The suspension of the honours program follows the earlier suspension of the master’s program in late antiquities, which was also attributed to low enrolment. Bernardo Mingarelli, who completed his master’s degree in 2017 and now teaches part-time at the university, expressed his disappointment. “I brought back all of my skills to make this institution better, and now I’m being told that I can’t do that anymore,” he stated, reflecting a sense of loss among faculty committed to classical studies.

Despite the setbacks, Mingarelli remains hopeful that the university will reconsider its position. “We are optimistic that this will not come to pass, that the faculty and the university will see that the history of the classics is part of the heritage of the Franco-Ontarian people,” he added.

Mary Sabourin, a fourth-year student in the Greek and Roman studies program, had aspirations to pursue a master’s degree but is now concerned about the program’s future. “I definitely think there should be an effort made to keep the program afloat,” she said. Sabourin acknowledged the financial challenges but emphasized the need for a concerted effort to revitalize the program.

Côté asserted that suspending the program would not lead to cost savings, suggesting that the decision is more about the Faculty of Arts’ vision than financial constraints. He warned that ongoing cost-cutting measures could jeopardize the integrity of various disciplines within the university.

The University of Ottawa has offered Latin classes since its founding as the College of Bytown in 1848, marking a long-standing commitment to classical studies. The future of these programs remains uncertain as the university reassesses its academic landscape.