Ryerson University
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| Ryerson University | |
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| Motto: | Mente et Artificio (With mind and hand) |
| Established: | 1948 |
| Type: | Public |
| President: | Sheldon Levy |
| Staff: | 600 |
| Undergraduates: | 24,000 full-time |
| Postgraduates: | 1,100 full-time |
| Location: | Toronto, ON, Canada |
| Campus: | Urban |
| Sports team: | Ryerson Rams  |
| Colours: | yellow & blue [1] |
| Mascot: | Eggy the Ram |
| Affiliations: | AUCC, IAU, COU, ACU, CIS, OUA |
| Website: | ryerson.ca |
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| Brandmark and crest images © Ryerson University} | |
Ryerson University, commonly referred to simply as Ryerson is a public university in Toronto, Canada. It has 24,000 full-time students, [2] and offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Its Urban Campus surrounds Yonge and Dundas Square, with the majority of its buildings in the blocks northeast of the square. The University offers several programs which are unique in Canada across its five Faculties.
The University was originally established in 1948 as Ryerson Institute of Technology. In 1963-64 its name changed to Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. In 1993 Ryerson gained full University status and changed its name once again to Ryerson Polytechnic University. Since 2002 it has been known simply as Ryerson University.
In addition to offering full time Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees, the University also offers part time degrees and certificates through its Chang School of Continuing Education, with over 65,400 annual enrollments.
The University has a large body commuter students, with only 840 students living in Residence across three Residence buildings.
Recently, The University has been undertaking the largest campus expansion of its history, with 6 new buildings constructed within the last decade and 2 additional constructions already announced. There has also been extensive renovation to several buildings, included the Ryerson Theatre, which is one of the largest theatres in downtown Toronto with over 1200 seats. The theatre is home to several Red Carpet galas as part of the Toronto International Film Festival
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[edit] History
In 1852 at the core of the main campus, the historic St. James Square, Egerton Ryerson founded Ontario's first teacher training facility, the Toronto Normal School. It also housed the Department of Education and The Museum of Natural History and Fine Arts, which became the Royal Ontario Museum. An agricultural laboratory on the site led to the later founding of the Ontario Agricultural College and the University of Guelph. St. James Square went through various other educational uses before housing a namesake of its original founder.
Egerton Ryerson was a leading educator, politician, and Methodist minister.[3] He is known as the father of Ontario's public school system. He is also a founder of the first publishing company in Canada in 1829, The Methodist Book and Publishing House, which was renamed The Ryerson Press in 1919 and today is part of McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Canadian publisher of educational and professional books. Although not affiliated with the university, the well known publishing company still bears Egerton Ryerson's name for its Canadian operations.
The Ryerson Institute of Technology was founded in 1948 and its name was changed in 1964 to Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. It became a university-degree granting institution in 1971 accredited by both provincial government legislation and by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). That year, it also became a member of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU). In 1992, Ryerson became Toronto’s second school of engineering following accreditation from the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board. A flag bearing the Ryerson crest was carried aboard the space shuttle Columbia (until the shuttle was tragically lost in 2003), signifying Ryerson’s collaboration in research with Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar. Research funding tops $9 million for the period 1986-92. In 1993 Ryerson received approval to also grant graduate degrees (master's and doctorates). The same year it changed its name to Ryerson Polytechnic University reflecting a stronger emphasis on research associated with graduate programs and its expansion from being solely an undergraduate university-level college. In June 2001, the school renamed itself again, assuming its present identity as Ryerson University. Today, Ryerson University offers strong programs in Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical and Computer Engineering. The university also has the prestige of being one of only two Ontario Universities to offer a program in Aerospace Engineering.
[edit] Organization
[edit] Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts grants Bachelor of Arts degrees in 9 diverse programs.
[edit] Faculty of Communication and Design
The Faculty of Communication and Design grants a variety of degrees in 9 programs. Many programs within the Faculty are very specialized and unique. Graphic Communications Management is the only 4-year undergraduate program of its kind in Canada. Radio and Television Arts is the only 4-year degree in broadcasting in Canada. The Journalism School publishes the Ryerson Review of Journalism magazine. Interior Design, one of the only two universities in Canada that offers a four-year degree program, which was the first Ryerson program accredited to grant degrees.
[edit] Faculty of Community Services
The Faculty of Community Services grants a variety of degrees in 12 programs.
The School of Early Childhood Education is the oldest of its kind in Canada, from a 2 year diploma in 1959 to a BAA degree in 1972. The school also produces the journal Learning Inquiry.
[edit] Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science
The Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science grants Bachelor of Architectural Science, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering degrees in 17 programs.
[edit] Ted Rogers School of Management
The Ted Rogers School of Management houses Bachelor of Commerce undergraduate programs in Business Management, Retail Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Information Technology Management.
The school is the largest undergraduate Faculty of Business in Canada.
[edit] Chang School of Continuing Education
The Continuing Education school at Ryerson University grants both degrees and certificates across a wide field of study. with over 65,400 annual enrollments it is the largest provider of University-based continuing education in Canada.
[edit] Faculty of Graduate Studies
The Faculty of Graduate Studies grants Master's and Doctoral degrees in 30 programs.
Two master's programs are unique in Canada: Photographic Preservation and Collections Management, in partnership with George Eastman House in Rochester, New York; and Immigration and Settlement Studies.
[edit] Campus
The University's Urban Campus is located in the Downtown Toronto Core, surrounding Yonge and Dundas Square. It is easily accessible by Subway from Dundas Station. The campus surrounds Kerr Hall, one of the older buildings on the Ryerson Campus. The Ryerson Campus is a collection of buildings, some of which built by Ryerson, but many others which are historic buildings that were converted for use by Ryerson such as the Theatre School's building, which was formerly the Ontario College of Pharmacy, built in 1841.
[edit] Campus Expansion
In recent years, the campus has undergone the largest campus expansion of its history. 6 new buildings have been constructed within the past decade and 2 further constructions are in the planning stages, including a Learning Success Centre at the corner of Yonge and Gould Streets on the former site of Sam the Record Man's former flagship store. This represents over $210 million in new construction.
[edit] George Vari Centre for Computing and Engineering
"The George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre'' is a 4 storey building that is part of Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario.
The building was to have been originally designed by Santiago Calatrava (designer of the atrium of Brookfield Place). Nearby residents fought the inclusion of a tower component. The project was withdrawn and re-tendered[1].
Completed in 2004 by Moriyama & Teshima Architects and home to Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Aerospace Engineering. The state-of-the art building cost $65 million to complete.
The building was officially renamed in 2005 to the George Vari Centre for Computing and Engineering after a five million dollar donation from George and Helen Vari.
[edit] Ted Rogers School of Management
Previously known as Ryerson's Business Building; however, it was changed to the current name after a $15 million donation from Ted Rogers. This latest addition is located within a new wing of the Toronto Eaton Centre at the southeast corner of Bay and Dundas Streets, the Ted Rogers School of Management occupies three floors of the nine-floor wing (two floors are occupied by retail uses, with an above-grade parking garage occupying the remaining three storeys). The integration of the Ryerson faculty with commercial uses in the same building has been praised as an innovative solution for the downtown university.[2]
[edit] Academics
[edit] Profile
According to the Globe and Mail's University Report Card 2006, Ryerson is ranked 5th of the medium size universities in the category of 'Preparation for Employment'. Webometrics ranking of world universities, has placed Ryerson University at 432nd most committed University to Web publication and to the worldwide open access to knowledge overall, in its list of World's Top 3000 Universities in this respect.
Annual funded research has increased more than four times the amount over a decade ago, from $2.4 million to $10 million.
12 undergraduate degree programs are unique among Canadian universities: Arts and Contemporary Studies, Disability Studies, Early Childhood Education, Fashion, Graphic Communications Management, Health Services Management, Image Arts, Information Technology Management, International Economics, Occupational and Public Health (Occupational Health and Safety option), Radio and Television, and Retail Management.
[edit] Faculty
In November 2005, Professor Arne Kislenko won TVOntario's 1st Best Lecturer Series. In 2006, Ryerson University had two professors in the semi-finals for TVO's 2nd Best Lecturer Competition. Philosophy Professor Dr. James Cunningham, and Radio and Television Arts (RTA) Professor Dana Lee were semi-finalists.
[edit] Library
The Ryerson Library collection consists of over 500,000 books, 3,700 print journal titles and over $2 million of electronic resources, including approximately 23,000 e-journals, e-books, databases and indexes, geospatial data, and catalogued websites or electronic documents. Most of the electronic resources can be accessed remotely by Ryerson community members with Internet access, although authentication of Ryerson Library registration is required for access to all commercial resources It is one of the largest university libraries in Canada consisting of 8 floors.
[edit] Student Life
With over 24,000 full-time Undergraduate students and only 840 available residence spaces, the bulk of the Ryerson population live off-campus. Student Life at Ryerson is shaped by its Urban location, providing many entertainment, athletic and dining locations off-campus. International student enrollment makes up more than 901 students, representing 90 countries.
[edit] Housing
There are 3 Residences on campus: Pitman Hall, The International Living and Learning Centre and O'Keefe House. Pitman Hall features 555 private bedrooms in 3 configurations. The International Living and Learning Centre offers 252 private bedrooms with private bathrooms in a former hotel. O'Keefe House, the smallest of the residences is housed in a former Toronto Mansion with 33 students living in shared accommodations.
[edit] Athletics
In 1972, Ryerson was admitted as a full member of the Ontario Universities Athletic Association (OUAA). The university is represented in Canadian Interuniversity Sport by the Ryerson Rams.
The University competes on a Varsity level as a member of the Ontario University Athletics Association. Varsity sports include: Badminton, Basketball, Fencing, Hockey, Women's Figureskating, Rowing, Soccer and Volleyball.
The Recreation and Athletic Centre at Ryerson in an award-winning underground facility beneath the "Quad", a large greenspace in the centre of the Campus. It features and indoor running track, weight and cardio rooms, 4 international-sized squash courts, 2 gymnasiums, 3 sprung hardwood floor dance studios and a 25-yard pool.
[edit] Noted alumni
Ryerson Alumni include Actors such as Eric McCormack of Will & Grace and Nia Vardalos of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Isodore Sharp, noted businessman and philanthropist, is also a Ryerson alumni.
[edit] Facilities
- Ryerson University Library
- George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre
- Heaslip House-Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education
- Heidelberg Centre - School of Graphic Communications Management
- Kerr Hall
- Oakham House
- Ryerson Ted Rogers School of Management Building
- Ryerson Rogers Communications Centre
- Ryerson Theatre School Building
- Sally Horsfall Eaton Centre
[edit] Associations
- Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
- Council of Ontario Universities COU
- Continuing Education Students' Association of Ryerson CESAR
- Ryerson Students' Union
[edit] References
- ^ www.ocad.ca/Assets/PDF_MEDIA/OCAD/about/news_events/Canvas_FEB04.pdf.pdf
- ^ Quick Facts. Retrieved on 2007-05-06.
- ^ Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
[edit] External links
- Ryerson University Homepage
- The Eyeopener, student newspaper
- Ryerson Student Groups
- Ontario Plaques - Ryerson Polytechnical Institute
- Ryerson U Library
- Ryerson U Library (catalogue-web)
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada profile
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