It was founded on September 1, 1890 by Gustave Blanche, a Eudist Father, to facilitate the higher education of Acadians in Nova Scotia. The University was named after Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary. Its enrolment for the 2005-2006 academic year was around 650-700 students, while in 2018, it had 390 full-time undergraduate students, 120 part-time undergrads, and 30 graduate students. In 2003, the provincial government merged the university with Collège de l'Acadie, a French-language community college with campuses throughout Nova Scotia.
Academics
Université Sainte-Anne offers many university-level programmes as well as college-level diploma programmes. It has two faculties and one school: the Faculté des Arts et Sciences, Faculté des Programmes Professionnels and the French Immersion School. In the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, one may pursue studies in several fields: French language, literature and linguistics, history, Canadian studies, Acadian studies, commerce, English language and literature, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, General Sciences, Pre-Veterinary Studies, and Health Sciences. In the Faculty of Professional Programmes, students may pursue studies in Administrative sciences, computer technology, office administration and education. The most popular majors are: French, commerce, business administration and education.
Sainte-Anne is known for its French Immersion programs. Programs take place year round including winter, spring and summer intersessions. The program is very strict about using immersion to learn the French language. If a student is caught speaking in any language other than French three times, the student is asked to leave the program, without a refund. The rural location of the university means there are few opportunities for students to congregate outside of earshot, compared to more urban campuses where off-campus outings would provide ample opportunity for communication in English. Cultural activities and workshops are designed to allow for French to become second nature, even at a beginner level. In the French immersion program, offered throughout the year as well as during 5-week summer and spring sessions, there are eight levels of classes. Students are put in these classes based on a two-part placement test. During the summer and spring sessions the levels are:
Débutant I and Débutant II
Intermédiaire I, Intermédiaire II and Intermédiaire III
Avancé I, Avancé II and Perfectionnement
After completion of Perfectionnement, students receive a bilingual certificate. However, due to a complete overhaul of the immersion program for the fall and winter university semesters, the new levels are as follows and their equivalents:
Level 1 - Débutant I
Level 2 - Débutant II
Level 3 - Intermédiaire I and Intermédiaire II
Level 4 - Intermédiaire III and Avancé I
Level 5 - Avancé II
Level 6 - Perfectionnement
After completion of Level 6, students receive a "functional in french" certificate because although students can fully function in French, they are always learning. It is because of this that immersion students are not qualified to receive a "bilingual" certificate. The immersion program has been compressed to a one and a half year program instead of two. It is also suggested that when attending university in the program of immersion to be wary of participating in spring and summer sessions because since the levels are different, a student may not advance a level upon returning the next university year.
Notable alumni
Louis LaPierre, former professor of ecology who resigned from the Order of Canada after it was discovered that he had misrepresented his academic credentials
