When the University of Ottawa suspended its Greek and Roman studies in early November 2025, many expected the Honors program to be inaccessible for a significant period of time.
While the original decision may have come as something of a surprise, it was equally startling to see the program reinstated barely three weeks later.
Below, we’ll explore why applications to the Honors program were initially suspended and explain what caused the administration team to promptly reverse this decision.
The Greek and Roman civilizations were among the most advanced in ancient times, while we’re able to access unusually detailed historical records from these periods.
So, we have the capacity to study each civilization and its enduring impact on the modern world, creating an increased sense of fascination and reverence in the process.
Interestingly, it was Greek culture that influenced the Roman Empire, especially in terms of literature, theatre and culture. The Greeks were also revered for their sophisticated sculpture and architecture, and this is something that the Romans borrowed heavily from as they evolved.
This has also helped Greek culture to have a significant impact on the contemporary world. Take a look at any popular digital casino platform in Canada, for example, and you will be greeted with a huge range of slots that have been inspired by Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. The most widely played titles include Gates of Olympus Super Scatter and Rome Fight For Gold: The Tiger’s Range.
With Greek and Roman cultures so inspirational and prevalent in today’s society, it’s no wonder that youngsters are motivated to learn more about them.
Given this, the University of Ottawa’s initial move to suspend its Honors program in Greek and Roman studies was met with disappointment. There was a great deal of surprise too, while the department’s head was fearful that the decision could signal the end for classical language studies at the venue.
However, a spokesperson for the Faculty of Arts at the University confirmed that the course application process had been temporarily paused. The reason cited was “low enrolment”, which may have been partly due to issues with the course structure and how it was being marketed.
So, the university immediately sought to “reimagine and relaunch” the program, with a view to attracting a higher number of students to the Honors BA and driving higher levels of engagement. However, the decision was still met with an overwhelmingly negative response, as people from around the world began to call for the course’s preservation.
Barely three weeks later, the University announced that it was reversing its decision and resuming the processing of applications with immediate effect.
So, although the process of revamping and redesigning the course will continue, the Faculty of Arts said that it will also accept applications in the meantime.
Several factors are thought to have triggered the decision to resume applications. Firstly, the University’s department of classics and religious studies chair (Dominique Côté) said that the institution was concerned with satisfying existing bilingualism rules, which the Greek and Roman Honors program partially fulfilled.
Concerned parents, who are invested in their children receiving the best and most rounded education possible, also raised the alarm and contacted the institution. Some even signed a petition to save the Honors program, while the faculty’s dean is thought to have received letters and emails from across the globe calling for the course’s preservation.
Greek and Latin studies are integral to the University of Ottawa’s offering and have been ever since the institution began running Latin classes in 1848. This followed its formation as the College of Bytown in 1848.
Some 55 students were enrolled in the program when applications were initially paused, although these individuals were unaffected by the decision. It’s unclear how many more applications have been processed since the resumption, but the University will continue to assess how it can improve the course in the coming months.
Overall, the decision to resume applications has been well-received, which suggests that the Greek and Roman studies Honors program will be preserved going forward. This will help to extend the influence of Greek and Roman culture in the modern world, while providing a strong foundation for educational development.
