| Laval University Université Laval |
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|---|---|
| Motto | Deo favente haud pluribus impar |
| Motto in English | By the grace of God, to no one equal |
| Established | 1663 Séminaire de Québec now Université Laval (1852-present)[1] |
| Type | Public |
| Endowment | $108.3 million |
| Rector | Denis Brière |
| Undergraduates | 28,902 |
| Postgraduates | 8,689 |
| Location | Quebec City, QC, Canada |
| Campus | Urban/Suburban |
| Sports teams | Rouge-et-Or |
| Colours | Red and gold |
| Affiliations | AUCC, CARL, IAU, AUFC, UArctic, ACU, CIS, QSSF, CBIE, U15 |
| Website | ulaval.ca |
Laval University (Fr: Université Laval) is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French. Its main campus is located in Quebec City, Quebec, the capital of the province, on the outskirts of the historic city.
The university is ranked among the top ten Canadian universities in terms of research funding.[2]
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The origins of the university are the Séminaire de Québec founded in 1663 by François de Laval, the first bishop of New France. The Séminaire de Québec was granted a Royal Charter on December 8, 1852, by Queen Victoria, creating Université Laval with 'the rights and privileges of a university'.[3]
Bishop Bourget of Montreal suggested interesting the Séminaire de Québec in the establishment of Université Laval. The Principal, M. Louis Casault, visited Europe to obtain a Royal charter, and studied the best university systems. The charter was signed in 1852. Pope Benedict XV approved the scheme, and authorized the erection of chairs of theology and the conferring of degrees.[4]
In 1878, the university opened a second campus in Montreal, which later became the Université de Montréal on May 8, 1919, by a writ of Pope Benedict XV. In 1971, a second charter vesting supreme authority in the Université Laval council was proclaimed.[3]
Laval composed by Wilfrid Beaudry was dedicated to the students at Laval University and the University of Montreal. The music for piano was published in Québec by J. Beaudry, circa 1906.[5]
While the main campus moved out from the Séminaire de Québec since then, the architecture school returned to that heritage building (now affectionately referred to as Le Vieux Séminaire) in 1989.
The governance structure at Laval incorporates the powers of board and senate. The governance was modelled on the provincial University of Toronto Act of 1906 which established a bicameral system of university government consisting of a senate (faculty), responsible for academic policy, and a board of governors (citizens) exercising exclusive control over financial policy and having formal authority in all other matters. The president, appointed by the board, was to provide a link between the 2 bodies and to perform institutional leadership.[3] In 1911, the Medical Faculty of Université Laval set up courses on public hygiene.
In the early part of this century, professional education expanded beyond the traditional fields of theology, law and medicine. Graduate training based on the German-inspired American model of specialized course work and the completion of a research thesis was introduced.[3]
The policy of university education initiated in the 1960s responded to population pressure and the belief that higher education was a key to social justice and economic productivity for individuals and for society.[6]
The establishment of Laval University by Royal Charter in 1852 was designated a National Historic Event in 1972 and plaqued in 1975. [7]
Maurice Perrault designed Laval University on St. Denis Street, 1893-94. [8]
Joseph Simeon Bergeron (architect) designed several buildings at Laval University including: School of Chemistry, (1923); Ste. Famille Street, major addition, 1931; Mining School (1938) and cafeteria building (1945) [9]
Université Laval's main campus covers 1.2 km2 and has over 30 buildings, all linked by 10 km of underground walkways, which are frequently used, particularly in the winter, when temperatures drop below the freezing point. Of the campus lands, 56 per cent are wooded areas, grasslands, and sports fields. The campus is home to the Roger-Van den Hende botanical garden and a plethora of different flora and fauna, including some 67 species of deciduous and coniferous trees and 60 different species of birds.
As of 2002, Université Laval offers over 350 programmes to more than 38,000 students, 20 per cent of whom are studying at the postgraduate level. The university also attracts more than 2,500 foreign students annually, and has close to 1,000 students drawn from Canadian provinces outside of Quebec. Many students also come to the university for the Français pour non-francophones programme that offers instruction in French as a second language to students from Canada and around the world. It is also the only university in Quebec which trains forestry engineers. From the mid-80s, Université Laval also offers distance learning. As of now over 30 programmes and over 400 courses are offered by distance learning, of which 80% are accessible from the internet.
* The Département des Sciences des Aliments et de Nutrition has an accredited dietetic program. The university is accredited by a professional organization such as the Dietitians of Canada and the university's graduates may subsequently become registered dietitians. See also: List of universities with accredited dietetic programs
** The Faculty is part of the AUFSC and has accredited baccalaureate of science programs with specializations in forestry & environmental management; forestry operations (co-op) and forestry engineering.
| University rankings | |
|---|---|
| Université Laval | |
| ARWU World[11] | 201-300 |
| Canadian rankings | |
| ARWU National[12] | 9-18 |
| Maclean's Medical/Doctoral[13] | 12 |
Les Presses de l'Université Laval, which was founded in 1950, deals with Canadian civilization, literature, medieval studies, law, social sciences, physical sciences and engineering.[14]
The Coopérative de l'Université Laval is a cooperative engaged in the sale of products to customers throughout the university, such as books, lecture notes and computers.
Athletics take place at the vast PEPS complex. Laval's varsity sports team are named the Rouge-et-Or (Red & Gold). The men's football Laval Rouge-et-Or are the 2010 Canadian champions and have won the past five of eight Vanier Cups.
Numerous public figures, including Prime Ministers of Canada, Premiers of Quebec, Supreme Court Justices, federal Cabinet Ministers, Senators, and Lieutenant-Governors as well as national and international athletes. Some of the more prominent today are:
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