Luc Vinet next rector of U. de M.

McGill Provost Luc Vinet has been appointed to the position of rector of the Université de Montréal effective June 1, McGill Principal Heather Munroe-Blum said today.

"On behalf of the McGill community and myself, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dr Vinet and wish him the very best in his new position," Principal Munroe-Blum said.

"Dr Vinet has served McGill University with the highest standards of integrity, and contributed significantly to advancing McGill's academic strengths. We have had a wonderful and productive partnership in the two years that I have been Principal. I look forward with enthusiasm to extending that partnership to enhancing the collaboration between McGill and the Université de Montréal on our numerous teaching and research projects and on our common public policy objectives. Dr Vinet will be a superb leader of his alma mater and our great sister university," the Principal added.

Luc Vinet joined McGill in 1999 as Vice-Principal (Academic) and then was named Provost. His term was to expire in 2009.

"The esteem I have for McGill is boundless," Dr Vinet said. "McGill is a great institution and a great community, and its contributions to Quebec are unique and extremely important.

"I am honoured to have been associated with McGill and I look forward, in the position of rector of the Université de Montréal, to continue to build on the collaborations and partnership that these two great universities have forged."

Dr Anthony Masi, Deputy Provost, will assume the position of Interim Provost of McGill University effective immediately.