CAUT Policy Statement

When considering tenure or promotion, some postsecondary institutions give less weight to scholarly publications and communication of scientific findings in French. Since Canada is a country with two official languages, the members of its academic community have the right to conduct their research activities in the language of their choice. Consequently:

• A publication should not be regarded as less significant solely on the basis of the language in which it is written.
• Choosing to publish in French should not prejudice an academic staff member’s career.
• Academic publications in French should thus be recognized and accorded the same status as publications in English, regardless of the value ascribed to them using performance metrics.

In summary, all research, communications and publications written in French should be valued to the same standards as those written in English. The language in which academic work is conducted, as a stand-alone factor, should never influence how that work is evaluated. 

Approved by the CAUT Council, November 2013;
Editorial Revisions, November 2018;
Editorial Revisions, February 2023.