St. Francis Xavier University

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St. Francis Xavier University

Motto Quaecumque Sunt Vera
(Whatsoever things are true)
Established 1853
Type Public
Endowment $ 59.4 million
Chancellor Rev. Raymond J. Lahey, D.D.
President Dr. Sean Riley
Faculty 264
Students 4000 full time
500 part time
Location Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Campus Rural
Colours Blue, White
Website stfx.ca

St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) is a Canadian university located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

The university brings together 4,200 students from across Canada and around the world in arts, science, business and information systems and applied programs.

Contents

[edit] History

StFX was founded in 1853 by Colin F. MacKinnon, a Catholic bishop of Scottish descent. It was originally a Catholic seminary. St.F.X. was granted full university powers in 1866 by an act of the Nova Scotia legislature. StFX celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2003.

[edit] Academic recognition

Maclean's Magazine has ranked StFX as the top Primarily Undergraduate university in Canada for five consecutive years (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006). StFX has also ranked first in alumni support for the past six years (2001-2006).

Between the years 2000 and 2004 more StFX students, on a per capita basis, have received Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) awards for post-secondary study than any other university in Canada.

Xavier Hall, StFX campus
Xavier Hall, StFX campus

[edit] The Coady International Institute

The Coady Institute takes its name from one of the founders of the Antigonish Movement, Dr. Moses Coady. In the 1930s, the Antigonish Movement promoted adult education as the path to social improvement and economic organization for disadvantaged groups in eastern Canada. Today, the StFX Extension Department continues this community development work in our local region.

In 1959, an international extension of these efforts was born through the establishment of the Coady International Institute on campus. Since then, more than 4,500 community leaders from 120 countries have graduated from the Coady's professional education programs. These graduates work in economic development, community health, education, human rights and environmental sustainability.

[edit] X-Ring

2003 X-Ring
2003 X-Ring

The X-Ring, which is synonymous with the university, is the awarded to the graduating class at StFX. The tradition of the ring dates back to 1942. Prior to the X-Ring it was customary for each graduating class to come up with their own unique class ring. The task of designing the ring for the class of the day was assigned to graduating student William J. MacDougall. After leaving the project until the last minute and presumably in a rush to complete it William simply drew a circle with the letter X in the centre. In 1957, the university had the ring design copyrighted and it became the official ring of all graduating classes. The first X-Ring Ceremony was held in October 1958. The ceremony is now held on of the feast of St. Francis Xavier, December 3rd.

The X-Ring has become so closely associated with the institution itself that it was integrated it into the university logo. The stylized X-Ring logo was first introduced in 1998 as part of a new student recruitment CD-ROM. It soon came into use on the StFX website and in many university publications before being established as the official logo.

Most students have their initials and program of study engraved. There are selective criteria required in order to receive a ring, including amount of credits and type of program.

There is a common myth within the university and surrounding community that the X-Ring considered to be the third most recognized ring in the world, behind only the Papal ring and the Super Bowl ring.[citation needed]

[edit] Campus renewal

In 1998 StFX began an $85 million (CAD) campus renewal initiative. The goal of the program is to improve educational and residential opportunities throughout campus.

To date, the initiative has seen the completion of six large scale projects.

  • The latest phase of the initiative was completed in September 2006. Governors Hall is an $18 million hotel-style residence which includes 226 rooms on four floors. It is aimed at upper-year students. From May to August, Governors Hall is operated as a hotel.
  • Complete renovation of MacIssac Hall, an existing residence, at a cost of $8 million. This project was also completed in September 2006.
  • The construction of two apartment-style residences, Power Hall and Somers Hall, aimed at upper-year students.
  • Complete renovation of Morrison Hall, the main dining facility at StFX
Stylized X-Ring
Stylized X-Ring
  • Charles V. Keating Millennium Centre, a $20 million athletics and conference centre
  • StFX Sciences Centre, a state-of-the-art $25 million physical sciences complex
  • The Bishops Hall Residence will undergo a state of the art renovation during the 2007 summer, to immalgimate Plessis, Fraser, and Burke houses.

Two additional projects are planned for the coming years.

  • The MacNeil Science Hall, which was left vacant with the opening of new StFX Sciences Centre, will undergo major renovations to provide a new home for the Gerald Schwartz School of Business and Information Systems
  • The Coady International Centre will be established in a refurbished Augustine Hall

[edit] Athletics

St. Francis Xavier is represented in the Atlantic University Sport conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport by the St. Francis Xavier X-Men and the St. Francis Xavier X-Women.

[edit] Students' Union

The StFX Students' Union, branded as The U, is a participatory student organization that is designed to represent the interests of StFX students. The union also helps to organize student activities and groups. The Students' Union is based in Bloomfield Centre, on the StFX campus and is a member of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. The well known X-Ring ceremony, which takes place each December, is also organized by the Students' Union.

[edit] Noted alumni

[edit] External links


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