The University of Ottawa has suspended admissions to its journalism program this fall, following an internal report that found the program to be poorly constructed and damaging to the reputation of the university.
Apart from difficulties in integrating with other institutions, the report notes that there is a high dropout rate among students in the program and that few journalism-focused courses are offered within the program.
The report recommended that the journalism program be suspended as soon as possible, then either cancelled or revamped.
The university has chosen to restructure the program and intends to resume admitting new students in fall 2014.
Martine Lagacé, the program’s coordinator, sees the pause as a good time to rethink and rework course offerings.
Changes to the program, which is offered in partnership with Algonquin College in English and with La Cité Collégiale in French, will not affect students already in the program.
With files from La Presse
