Algoma University

Infobox_University
name = Algoma University


motto = "Truth, Knowledge and Wisdom"
established = 1967
type = Public
president = Dr. Celia Ross
city = Sault Ste. Marie
state = ON
country = Canada
undergrad = 1200
postgrad = 07
faculty = 38
campus = urban
mascot = Thunderbirds
website = [http://www.algomau.ca/ www.algomau.ca] |

Algoma University (AU) is a postsecondary institution in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, offering undergraduate university degrees in more than 25 academic programs. The student population has increased substantially in recent years and Algoma now has about 1200 students.

From its founding in 1967 until June 18, 2008, Algoma was an affiliated college of Laurentian University in Sudbury, and was officially known as Algoma University College. On May 31, 2007, the government of Ontario announced that it would introduce legislation to charter Algoma as a fully independent university. On June 18, 2008 the Algoma University Act was given royal assent by David Onley, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, granting independent university status to Algoma [ [http://www.soonews.ca/viewarticle.php?id=17692 Sault Ste. Marie News and Video :: soonews.ca :: It's Official! ] ] . Nipissing University in North Bay, also formerly an affiliated college of Laurentian, similarly received status as an independent university in 1992.

History

On the site of a former Anishnabek residential school, Algoma College officially opened in September 1967. Initially its program was limited to the first year of studies for both the Bachelor of Arts, and the Bachelor of Science degree programs. It wasn't until 1972 that the College offered the entire three-year program.

Algoma's independence from Laurentian University was first proposed in 1994. The original proposal would have seen the school renamed Shingwauk University, but was not ultimately pursued by the MTCU. As noted, in the university's new independence plan, Shingwauk will be the name of a new federated institution dedicated to Anishnaabe education.

Programs

Algoma provides three and four year Bachelor's degrees in disciplines such as English, history, psychology, sociology, biology, business, computer science and fine arts. A new integrated technologies building recently opened in 2005, which plays host to the newly added Master of Computer Games Technology program in conjunction with the University of Abertay Dundee, Scotland. It also houses a new cafeteria, student centre, and student pub named 'The Speak Easy'.

Partnerships

The Algoma Conservatory of Music, which offers music lessons to about 1000 students in the community has a working relationship with AU.

Concurrently with AU's charter as an independent university, "Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig" (University), an Anishinaabe cultural and linguistic federated school is poised to open in the fall of 2008. [ [http://www.sootoday.com/content/news/full_story.asp?StoryNumber=30375 "New Anishinaabe university starts this fall at Algoma U"] , "sootoday.com", February 21, 2008.]

Buildings & Features

The university has a sports centre, the George Leach Centre, which has a 200 metre indoor track as well as numerous basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, and exercise facilities.

In 1975 the college purchased Shingwauk Hall, the building that housed the aforementioned residential school, and 37 acres of land including property along the St. Mary's River front. In 1989 the Arthur A. Wishart library opened, followed by expansion in 1992 with the opening of the George Leach Centre. Student residence buildings were constructed in 1995 and later expanded in 2001.

2005 was a significant year for the school, as a $6 million technology wing saw expansion unprecedented in the school's young past. Included in the wing are state-of-the-art technology and computer labs, the 'Great West Life Amphitheatre' (a 250+ seat lecture hall), a new student centre, cafeteria, faculty offices, bookstore/campus shop, and a new pub. [ [http://www.auc.ca/pdf/AUC_2006_Calendar.pdf intro ] ]

ee also

*Algoma Ink

References

External links

* [http://www.auc.ca/ Algoma University]
* [http://www.thunderbirdsix.org/ thunderbird six, the AU podcast]
* [http://www.aucc.ca/can_uni/our_universities/algoma_e.html Algoma University]