Université de Montreal

University policies

Université de Montreal (UdeM) lists “Liberté académique” as one of its Values.

UdeM further commits itself to defending Charter freedoms, in the Politiques sur les droits des étudiants et étudiantes de l’Université de Montréal (Regulation 20.9) which stipulates that all rights guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms are also guaranteed by the Université de Montreal:

“Every student enjoys the rights and freedoms as recognized by the law, especially those recognized by the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

“Chaque étudiante et chaque étudiant jouit des libertés et des droits reconnus par la loi et, en particulier, par la Charte des droits et libertés de la personne.”

UdeM defines “harassment” in their Politique contre le harcèlement:

On entend par le harcèlement, une conduite:

• vexatoire se manifestant par des comportements, des paroles, des actes ou des gestes répétés, qui sont hostiles ou non désirés, conduite fondée ou non sur un des motifs discriminatoires interdit par la Charte des droits et libertés de la personne du Québec (race, couleur, sexe, grossesse, orientation sexuelle, état civil, âge sauf dans la mesure prévue par la loi, religion, convictions politiques, langue, origine ethnique ou nationale, condition sociale, handicap ou utilisation d'un moyen pour pallier ce handicap)

Article 3 of the UdeM Règlement disciplinaire concernant les membres du personnel enseignant states:

Nul ne peut porter atteinte aux libertés et aux droits d’un membre de la communauté universitaire. Il est notamment interdit de:

• faire preuve de violence ou proférer des menaces à l'égard d’un membre de la communauté universitaire ou de l’un de ses invités;
• empêcher, sans justification, un membre de la communauté universitaire ou l’un de ses invités d'accéder au campus de l'Université ou à tout autre lieu sous la responsabilité de l'Université

UdeM does not provide funding or resources to a diversity office or any similar body that engages in ideological advocacy.

University practices

In April of 2013, UdeM’s Armenian Students’ Association (UMASA) asked the University’s Action Humanitaire et Communautaire (AHC) to put a small banner on the AHC website, informing the University community of the anniversary of the Armenian genocide on April 24.  UMASA’s request was rejected because the University refuses to take positions on political issues.

In December 2012, the UMASA requested the University’s authorization to show a film, discuss different topics related to their club’s mission, and collect funds. After initially approving the activity, the University authorities realized that collecting funds was against the University regulations and cancelled the activity.  The UMASA decided not to collect funds, but to only ask for an amount of money to finance the group itself and its activities, which the University rejected.  After several exchanges by e-mail and in person, the request was approved by the University because it was no longer in contradiction with the University regulations, as the UMASA accepted not to collect funds.

Student union policies

The Federation of Student Associations of the Campus of the University of Montreal (FAECUM : la Fédération des Associations Étudiantes du Campus de l’Université de Montréal) states in its mission:

“The Federation’s mission is to represent, through its member associations, the University’s students in order to defend their rights and interests, most notably in the academically, but also socially, economically, culturally and politically.”

“La mission de la Fédération est de représenter, par l’intermédiaire de ses associations membres, les étudiants et les étudiantes de l’Université de Montréal afin de défendre leurs droits et intérêts, principalement dans le domaine universitaire, mais également sur les plans social, économique, culturel et politique.”

FAECUM’s electoral policy and clubs policy are not accessible to the public.

FAECUM does not take official stances outside its mandate.

Student union practices

In November of 2012, the political science and international studies students’ association (AESPEIUM: Association des étudiants en science politique et études internationales de l’Université de Montréal) voted to strike on the 14th and 22nd of November.  The majority voted in favor of the strike, but the results were controversial, since the AESPEIUM did not control the identity of the participants.  In fact, only AESPEIUM members can legitimately vote on propositions concerning positions that the group will hold in their name.

Each year, the FAECUM propositions are discussed during the annual general conference (Congrès general annuel).  The process of the conference can limit free speech. For example, in March 2012, the conference was very long (March 30 from 1.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; March 31 from 9 a.m. to midnight; and April 1 from 9 a.m. to 12.30 a.m.).  In order to ensure a participatory conference, each local association needs to bring a certain number of representatives to vote.  The long duration of conferences is a dissuasive factor for some individuals to stay all day-long and express the opinions of their local association.

When voting took place during the 2011-12 year in regards to the student strike against the Quebec government’s proposed tuition increases, students who were against the strike were frequently denied the right to speak at these assemblies.

In the 2018–19 financial year,* Université de Montréal received $775,826,000 in taxpayer dollars in the form of government grants. These taxpayer funds accounted for 69% of their annual revenue.

*Université de Montréal did not make their 2019–20 financial statements available by the time of publication of the 2020 Campus Freedom Index.