RETURN OF BISHOP’S UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IS GOOD NEWS FOR CAMPUS AND LOCAL ECONOMY

Bishop’s University will welcome new and returning students this Saturday, September 3 when they will move into on- and off-campus housing. Classes begin on Wednesday, September 7.

Bishop’s is expecting one of the largest incoming classes in its history. The makeup of the student body for Fall 2016 is as follows:

• 875 first year students with a total enrolment of 2,350 (projected)
• Provenance (entire student body):
  • Within one hour of campus: 15%
  • Quebec: 50%
  • Rest of Canada: 33%
  • International: 17% (representing over 60 countries)
• Residence:
  • 76% of rooms occupied by new students
  • 24% of rooms occupied by returning students
  • 38 countries represented in our on-campus residences
  • Abbott Hall will house students for the first time since renovations were completed in May 2016
  • 685 total beds available in our seven on-campus residences

Michael Goldbloom, C.M., Principal and Vice-Chancellor, comments: “One of the exceptional aspects of Bishop’s is that our returning students are largely responsible for Orientation Week. I have been impressed by their efforts to welcome the new students and to communicate the fundamental values of the University such as mutual respect, social engagement and academic excellence.”

Bishop’s and Champlain College double their number of sponsored students

Bishop’s continues its tradition of welcoming refugee students through the Bishop’s University/Champlain Regional College Refugee Student Sponsorship Committee. With the continuing refugee crisis resulting from the war in Syria, the committee and the campus community decided to double their efforts and welcome four sponsored students (two were welcomed in 2015-16).

The first student, a Syrian, is continuing his year of sponsorship that began in January 2016. A second sponsored student, a Syrian who sought asylum in Jordan, will arrive during Move-In weekend.  Two more students who will attend Champlain College were recently welcomed: the first is from Burundi but grew up in a refugee camp in Malawi, while the second is from Syria.

Heather Thomson, campus minister and member of the committee, says: “Our group is very excited to welcome our new sponsored students. They enrich our campus and community. We greatly appreciate the tremendous support we receive from both Bishop’s and Champlain.”

Benefits for local economy

The local economy in Lennoxville experiences a lift every Fall semester when the area swells with Bishop’s students. The impact these students have on local businesses in both Lennoxville and Sherbrooke is significant. Indeed, in 2014, Canadian students from outside Quebec spent a total of $22 million on tuition, accommodation, food and other items.

Robert Lafond, the owner of the Provigo grocery store in Lennoxville, welcomes the arrival of Bishop’s students this weekend. “There is no doubt that the students’ presence has a very positive impact on my business,” says Mr. Lafond. “When they’re in town, we have to adjust the volume of inventory in our store to keep up with the demand.”

He adds: “The students bring a positive energy to the area. They create a buzz which I’m sure all other business owners in Lennoxville appreciate.”

Reminder: The Gaiters will inaugurate the football season at Coulter Field on Saturday, September 3 at 7 p.m. against the Vert et Or of the Université de Sherbrooke, in the annual Mayor’s Cup match.

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Contact : Chantal Sneath
Communications Officer
Bishop’s University
csneath@ubishops.ca
819-822-9600, extension 2840