Saint Mary's University (Halifax)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
|
| Motto | Age Quod Agis (Latin: What you do, do well) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1802 |
| Type | Public |
| Chancellor | Terrence Prendergast, S.J |
| President | J. Colin Dodds |
| Faculty | 246 |
| Staff | 393 |
| Students | 8,800 |
| Location | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Maroon & White |
| Nickname | Saint Mary's Huskies |
| Mascot | Husky |
| Website | http://www.smu.ca/ |
Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The school is best known today for having one of the best football programs in Canada, strong undergraduate programs, and nationally leading programs in Business and Astronomy.
Contents |
[edit] History
With its founding in 1802 by Reverend Edmund Burke, Saint Mary's is the oldest English-speaking, Roman Catholic initiated university in Canada. With meagre resources Burke initiated instruction for young men at Glebe House, located on the corner of Halifax’s Spring Garden Road and Barrington Street.
In 1841 the Nova Scotia Legislature bestowed the degree granting charter to Saint Mary’s and eleven years later granted the University formal legal status. After a great deal of uncertainty, in 1913 the Christian Brothers of Ireland were asked by the Archdiocese of Halifax to direct the college and academic programs. With this change of leadership the University's reputation thrived as a Liberal Arts Institution and expanded its undergraduate programs, with the most notable being the Faculty of Commerce in 1934 (now known as the Sobey School of Business), which was the first of its kind in Canada. In 1940 the Upper Province of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) was invited to succeed the Christian Brothers as both administrators and faculty.
The next 30 years would see the University flourish under the Jesuit supervision, with such advancements as the formal recognition of the "college" as a University in 1952 and purchasing the first computer in Atlantic Canada (a Royal Mc-Bee LGP-30) in 1959. In 1970 the Jesuits formally incorporated the University under the "Acts of Incorporation" which gave all administrative and academic duties to the Board of Governors and Academic Senate.
Since then the University has continued expansion of its academic programs with the most notable being the offerings of doctoral level studies in Astronomy and Business and the accreditation of the business school with the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). At the same time the University has expanded its campus facilities with noted additions of the Burke-Gaffney Observatory in the 1970's and the Sobey Building in 1998.
Beginning in late March 2005, Saint Mary’s started the “Science Building Renewal Project” which was estimated to cost $25.5 million. This project is part of the larger project the “University’s Strategic Directions and Academic Plan” which was developed by meeting with Students, Faculty and local Citizens in order to meet both the needs of the University and local community over the next decade. This first stage of the project has focused on:
- Modernization and expansion of the Science Facility's resources
- Renew the architectural, mechanical and electrical infrastructures of the Science building and its surroundings
- Provide additional office and research space to every faculty member
- Improve lab layout for hands-on teaching purposes
- Integrate flawlessly with future projects in both function and appearance
[edit] Faculties
Saint Mary's comprises four faculties:
[edit] Trivia
- Saint Mary's established the first Commerce Faculty in Canada (now the Sobey School of Business renamed for businessman Frank H. Sobey)
- In 1959 it was the first University in Atlantic Canada to obtain a computer: A Royal Mc-Bee LGP-30
- In 2001 it was the first Atlantic Canadian University to advance to the world finals in the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals
- Became the third university (after Manitoba and Western) to win back-to-back Canadian University Football Championships (2001 & 2002), and are the only unviersity to have appeared in three consecutive events, losing to the Laval Rouge-et-Or in 2003.
- William Linton, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Rogers Corp, graduated with an undergrad in Commerce
- Main campus is completely contained within 1 city block of about 30 acres in Halifax's South End
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Saint Mary's University Academic Calendar 2005-2006
- Saint Mary's University Act
- Saint Mary's University Science Building Renewal Project
 |
Nova Scotia universities |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Public universities | |||
| Acadia | AST | Dalhousie | King's | Mount Saint Vincent | NSAC | NSCAD | Saint Francis Xavier | Saint Mary's | Cape Breton | Saint Anne | |||
