Michel Gervais

Michel Gervais

22nd Rector of Université Laval

1987-1997

Michel Gervais was born in Lévis and studied classics at Collège de Lévis, where he earned a bachelor of arts in 1962 and the Governor General’s Academic Medal.

He went on to complete a degree in theology (1966) and another in philosophy (1968) at Université Laval, followed by a doctorate in theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (1973). A professor at Université Laval since 1968, Mr. Gervais was already well on his way to a brilliant teaching and research career in theology when in 1977, at the request of Rector Jean-Guy Paquet, he agreed to join a commission formed to study the future of the university, led by political scientist Léon Dion. In 1979 he was promoted to full professor and became the director of the Laval Project that grew out of the commission’s work.

In 1982 the rector appointed him vice rector of teaching and research, a strategic position from which he could implement the recommendations he had formulated.

In 1987 the electoral college chose him as rector, a position he held until 1997. His many achievements include:

  • Emphasis on the quality of the education provided to students
  • Steady increase in the number of PhD graduates
  • A noteworthy increase in grant-supported research
  • Doubling of the number of international students
  • Creation of the Placement Service
  • Creation of the Continuing Education Department
  • Integration of new information and communication technologies in all aspects of university life
  • Adoption of an internationalization policy
  • Maintaining of a sound financial position, the best of all Québec universities
  • Unprecedented property development with the construction of the J.-A.-DeSève, La Laurentienne, Charles-Eugène-Marchand, and Alphonse-Desjardins buildings, expansion and renovation of the Abitibi-Price, Adrien-Pouliot, and Maurice-Pollack buildings, and relocation of the School of Visual Arts to La Fabrique
  • Adoption of a substantial amendment to the University Charter in 1991 to create a true board of directors with strong representation from outside the university
  • Completion of the better part of the Challenge Campaign, a fundraising effort that ultimately exceeded its goal of $60 million

During his term as rector, Mr. Gervais served as president of the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec (CREPUQ), chair of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), and head of the Association des universités partiellement ou entièrement de langue française (AUPELF), which has since become Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF).

He holds honorary doctorates from Bishop’s University, McGill University, University of Manitoba, and Université de Montréal, and was appointed an Officer of the National Order of Merit of France in 1991, the Order of Canada in 1993, and the Order of Québec in 1999.

After his term as rector, Mr. Gervais chaired the University Commission on Programs formed by CREPUQ, then in 2000 he became executive director of Centre hospitalier Robert-Giffard and Centre de recherche Université Laval Robert-Giffard, where he continues to serve.

Michel Gervais is married with six children.

January 2003