The 2026-2027 academic year is starting strong with new faces and fresh changes
Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus is beginning the 2026-27 academic year with changes to student housing, academic programs and faculty leadership.
There are three residences that will host first-year students this year, confirmed Jenn Greene, the associate director of residence life.
Grand River Hall will house the` majority of first-years. Expositor Place will also host a small number of first-years, while remaining primarily as an upper-year residence.
In addition, Post House is returning to house students after not being used during the 2025-2026 academic year, though Wilkes House will remain vacant for the second year in a row.
No specific student numbers for residence buildings could be provided.
While the official number of Laurier Brantford students could not be provided, as official enrolment numbers aren’t available until late fall, Beth Gurney, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Director of Strategic Communications and Community Engagement, stated that “the Brantford campus had over 2,600 students enrolled,” during the 2025 academic year.
Laurier has also made changes to its academic offerings for the new year.
The Faculty of Liberal Arts has introduced a teaching minor, replacing its previous teaching option.
Gurney said criminology, social work and youth and child studies, respectively, are the Brantford campus’ largest undergraduate direct-entry programs by enrolment. The Bachelor of Education, Master of Applied Computing and Master of Science in User Experience Design programs are the campus’ largest second-degree or graduate programs by enrolment.
In addition to its program modifications, Laurier has also made several faculty and leadership changes.
Dr. Tarah Brookfield became Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences on July 1.
Additionally, the Faculty of Social Work and the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics welcomed four and nine new faculty members, respectively.
Joining the Faculty of Social Work are Assistant Professor Dr. Patrick Ladouceur, PhD, MSW, RSW; Assistant Professor Dr. Sandy Rao, PhD, MSW; Associate Professor Dr. Ruth Green, PhD, MSW; and lecturer Jeff Walsh, MSW, RSW.
Dr. Ladouceur and Mr. Walsh will be working within the Bachelor of Social Work program, whereas Dr. Rao and Dr. Green will be working within the Master of Social Work and Indigenous Studies programs respectively. Students will have their fall reading week from Oct. 13 to 16. The Fall Convocation in Waterloo will take place on Oct. 14, and the Brantford Campus will have its Fall Convocation a few days afterwards on Oct. 20. The examination period will run from Dec. 12 to 23. The exam period begins six days later than it did in the fall term of 2025 due to the timing of Labour Day. Students are advised not to make travel commitments during the examination period.
References
https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-social-work/news/2026/meet-the-faculty.html
Leave a Reply