University of Windsor

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University of Windsor
University of Windsor logo

Motto: Bonitatem, disciplinam, scientiam (Goodness, discipline, knowledge)
Established: 1963
Type: Public
Religious affiliation: nondenominational
Endowment: 32.5 Million CA$ [1]
Chancellor: Ed Lumley
President: Ross H. Paul (Term ending in 2008)
Undergraduates: 12,291 (full-time), 3,215 (part-time) [2]
Postgraduates: 1,205 (full-time), 172 (part-time) [2]
Location: 401 Sunset Avenue, Windsor, ON, Canada
Campus: Urban, 51 ha (125 acres)
Sports teams: Windsor Lancers
Colours: blue      and gold     
Mascot: The Lancer
Affiliations: AUCC, IAU, COU, CIS, OUA, CUSID
Website: www.uwindsor.ca

The University of Windsor is a non-denominational, provincially-supported, coeducational, public comprehensive university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of over 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students. It is a member of the National Conference of Canadian Universities and Colleges, the University Articulation Board of Ontario, the International Association of Universities, and the Association of the British Commonwealth. More than 80,000 individuals around the world call the University of Windsor their alma mater.

Contents

[edit] History

Dillon Hall, University of Windsor, Architect Albert Lothian
Dillon Hall, University of Windsor, Architect Albert Lothian

In 2003, the university marked its 40th anniversary. Its history dates back to the founding of Assumption College Roman Catholic in Windsor, Ontario in 1857. [3] Escalating costs have forced Assumption University a denominational university to sever its religious connections in order to qualify for public support. [4] In 1919 Assumption College in Windsor affiliated with the University of Western Ontario. [5] Originally, Assumption was one the largest colleges associated with the University of Western Ontario. In 1950, Assumption College welcomed its first women students. In 1953, it ended its affiliation with the University of Western Ontario. It was incorporated as the independent non-denominational University of Windsor through an Act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. In 1957, Canterbury College became the first Anglican college in the world to affiliate with a Roman Catholic University. In 1963, University of Windsor affiliated with Essex College. [6]

Assumption College in Windsor evolved into the University of Windsor. [7] On December 19, 1962, the University of Windsor was incorporated by the Ontario Legislature, accepting Assumption University as a federated institution. Soon after, affiliation agreements were made with Holy Redeemer College, Canterbury College and the new Iona College (affiliated with the United Church of Canada). On July 1, 1963, the University of Windsor assumed control of the campus.

Lambton Tower on campus.
Lambton Tower on campus.

In 1964 Dr. John Francis Leddy became President of the University of Windsor, and presided over a period of significant growth. From 1967 to 1977, Windsor grew from approximately 1,500 to 8,000 full-time students. In the 1980s and early 1990s, this growth continued, particularly under the leadership of President Ron Ianni. Among the new buildings erected were the Odette Business Building and the CAW Student Centre.

Currently, Dr. Ross H. Paul presides over a long range plan to capitalize on Windsor’s broad range of programs and the university's small size and personal touch for student learners and researchers. Enrolment reached record heights in fall 2003 with the elimination of Grade 13 (Ontario Academic Credit). In response, the University of Windsor invested more than $50 million in a new student residence, the Anthony P. Toldo Health Education Centre, the Jackman Dramatic Art Centre, and in classroom and lab upgrades. To Greater Heights, the University of Windsor's strategic plan for 2009 was introduced in fall 2004. The university has developed a number of partnerships with local businesses and industry, including the University of Windsor/Chrysler Canada Ltd. Automotive Research and Development Centre.

[edit] Academics

The university strives to be a student-focused teaching and learning centre. It has developed a number of partnerships with local businesses and industry, including the multi-million dollar University of Windsor/Chrysler Canada Ltd. Automotive Research and Development Centre, the only research facility of its kind in North America.

Windsor offers more than 140 undergraduate and graduate programs across nine faculties:

There are nine cooperative education programs for 1,100 students.

Faculty of Business, Odette Building.
Faculty of Business, Odette Building.

The Faculty of Law is one of six in Ontario, and has a major teaching and research focus on Social Justice issues. It publishes the law journal Access to Justice. Students can take advantage of faculty expertise in Human Rights Law, Poverty Law, Aboriginal rights law and legal issues effecting women, minorities and children. The faculty, in conjunction with Legal Aid Ontario runs a downtown Windsor community legal clinic called Legal Assistance Windsor staffed with supervising lawyers, law students, and social workers aimed at meeting the legal needs of persons traditionally denied access to justice. This clinic operates in the area of landlord tenant law as well as social benefits. The University of Windsor runs a second legal clinic, Community Legal Aid, located at the corner of Sunset and University. This clinic is a Student Legal Aid Services Society (SLASS) clinic, which is staffed primarily by volunteer law students and overseen by supervising lawyers, called review counsel. This clinic operates primarily in the areas of criminal law, landlord tenant law, and small claims court. The clinic offers free legal services to those who qualify financially and all students of the University of Windsor. The faculty also has a joint LL.B-J.D.degree program with the University of Detroit Mercy. The program is completed in three years and students take courses at both the University of Windsor and the University of Detroit Mercy.

[edit] Campus

View of the Detroit skyline from the park bordering campus.
View of the Detroit skyline from the park bordering campus.

Located in Canada's traditional "automotive capital" across the border from Detroit, the campus is framed by the Ambassador Bridge to the west and the Detroit River to the north. The bridge and river give the campus a unique perspective on Canada's major port of entry for goods and persons. The campus covers 51 contiguous hectares (125 acres) and is surrounded by a well established residential neighborhood. It takes a walk of a couple kilometres, along the riverfront sculpture lined parkland or Wyandotte Street, to get to downtown. The CAW Student Centre has a view of the Ambassador Bridge and houses several retail stores, a food court and the Thirsty Scholar Pub. The St. Denis Centre, located at the south end of campus on College Avenue, is the major athletic and recreational facility for students; it contains the department of Kinesiology, a weight room, exercise facilities and a swimming pool. The new South Campus Stadium built for the 2005 Pan-American Junior Games is beside the St. Denis Centre- which also has dressing rooms for Lancer teams- and borders Huron Church Road, the major avenue to and from the border crossing. The University also has smaller off-site campuses in the nearby city of Chatham-Kent, Ontario, and in Wallaceburg, Ontario.

[edit] Student life

On campus with views of Leddy Library and the Ambassador Bridge in the background
On campus with views of Leddy Library and the Ambassador Bridge in the background

The university has the highest percentage of international students in its undergraduate population among all Canadian universities.[8] International students make up approximately 10% of the student population; about 1500 students from more than 70 countries. Yet it also plays a major role in the community and surrounding southwestern Ontario counties of Essex, Chatham-Kent and Lambton, where the vast majority of undergraduate students come from.

The university has strong ties to southeastern Michigan, granting students from the U.S. resident tuition fees and having reciprocal library loan policies with Wayne State University Libraries. Many Co-op placements may also involve work in the Detroit area. Accordingly, many students take advantage of their proximity to Metro Detroit for cultural, recreational and educational opportunities.

Student Residences on campus.
Student Residences on campus.

Undergraduate students are represented by the University of Windsor Students' Alliance (UWSA), which provides services such as representation on various University bodies, a used bookstore, a weekly student newspaper, The Lance, financial assistance, a food bank and other services and programs. The UWSA is also Local 49 of the Canadian Federation of Students. The campus radio station is CJAM-FM.

Leddy Library is the main campus library. The Paul Martin Law Library serves the Faculty of Law. The Canadian Auto Workers Union built the CAW Student Centre which is a central meeting place for students. The university has a unique agreement with the Ambassador Duty-Free Store, at Canada's busiest border crossing, which provides student jobs, 400 parking spaces, and an annual cash annuity to the school.

[edit] Athletics

Main article: Windsor Lancers
South Campus Stadium stands.
South Campus Stadium stands.

The university is represented in Canadian Interuniversity Sport by the Windsor Lancers. The Lancers play within the Ontario University Athletics conference. The University of Windsor Stadium plays host to a variety of intercollegiate sports including football, men and women's soccer and outdoor track and field.

The University is noted for its outstanding track and field program. The Lancer Track program is led by Dennis Fairall, perhaps the greatest coach in Canadian University Sport history. Fairall has led the Lancers to an amazing 18 National Championship titles during his 19 year tenure, while also being named the Ontario and Canadian Coach of the Year an astounding 36 times. The Lancer Track and Field program is truly the premier program in the country.

The Lancer Football team is coached by Mike Morencie, and led by the nation's leading rusher in 2005 and 2006 Daryl Stephenson. In 2006, Stephenson won the Hec Crighton Award, the nation's most valuable player award in Canadian Interuniversity Sport football. The program has produced a steady number of professional football players, including Arjei Franklin, who is a Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receiver after being the 19th pick in the 2005 Canadian Football League entry draft. The Windsor-Western game of 2006 was the first Canadian Interuniversity Sport football game broadcast nationally in the United States, tape delayed on the College Sports Television Network CSTV.

South Campus Stadium track.
South Campus Stadium track.

The Women's Volleyball team, coached by Marilyn Douglas had a tremendous year in 2005-06 as they captured their first ever OUA Ontario Championship. The team was led by senior captain Kelly Paolini, who was named the MVP of the OUA Final Four that year. The program has produced professional beach volleyball players and European circuit players like Caitlin Morrissey who plays in France.

The Men's Hockey team plays at Adie Knox Arena and has been led by standout forward Jordie Preston. Preston had an outstanding year in 2006-07 as he led the country in scoring with 55 points in only 28 games. He was honoured as the Ontario Men's Hockey Player of the Year and named a CIS First Team All-Canadian.

In 2007, led by Head Coach Chris Oliver, the Lancer Men's Basketball team captured the Wilson Cup Championship as the Ontario Champions. At a sold out St. Denis Centre, they defeated four-time National Champs Carleton Ravens and won the Wilson Cup OUA title. The victory earned an automatic entry to the CIS National Championship tournament in Halifax, their first appearance since 1975[9]. Coach Oliver was named the OUA West Coach of the Year, while stars Kevin Kloostra and Ryan Steer were named OUA Men's All-Stars. The Lancer Women's Basketball team is coached by Chantal Valléeand is led by their star shooting guard Dranadia Roc.

[edit] Administration

The University's current President is Dr. Ross Paul. His term ends on June 30, 2008. Dr. Alan Wildeman will be installed on July 1, 2008, as the University’s sixth President and Vice-Chancellor.

[edit] Upcoming projects

The university is currently in talks with the provincial government and City of Windsor to build a $150-million state-of-the-art world-class engineering facility in downtown Windsor. It would bring over 1500 full and part-time students as well as 30 to 40 faculty members to the downtown core. Construction began for a new Medical Education Building in June, 2007, with the first 24 full-time medical students to be admitted in September, 2008. The medical education program is in conjunction with the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry from the University of Western Ontario.[10]

[edit] Presidents

  1. Eugene Carlisle LeBel, 1963-1964
  2. John Francis Leddy, 1964-1978
  3. Mervyn Franklin, 1978-1984
  4. Ronald W. Ianni, 1984-1997
  5. Ross H. Paul, 1998-2008

[edit] Notable alumni and faculty

[edit] Faculty

[edit] Federated or affiliated colleges

  • Assumption University, a graduate college that offers a degree in Pastoral Ministry and Religious Education
  • Canterbury College, a liberal arts college within the U of W with a Christian background
  • Iona College, a small theological college

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

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