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This page is about the Canadian university. For other universities with 'Victoria' in their name, see Victoria University (disambiguation).
The University of Victoria (usually known as UVic) is located in Greater Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (northeast of Victoria). It is a medium-sized university, with approximately 19,000 students, as of 2006. The campus is famous for its beautiful gardens, mild climate and rabbits. It attracts many students in part because of its size, its picturesque location, and its cooperative education program, which is the third largest in Canada.
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History
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The University of Victoria came into being on July 1 1963, but it had enjoyed a prior tradition as Victoria College of sixty years distinguished teaching at the university level. This 60 years of history may be viewed conveniently in three distinct stages.
Between the years 1903 and 1915, Victoria College was affiliated with McGill University, offering first- and second-year McGill courses in Arts and Science. Administered locally by the Victoria School Board, the College was an adjunct to Victoria High School and shared its facilities. Both institutions were under the direction of a single Principal: E.B. Paul, 1903-1908; and S.J. Willis, 1908-1915. The opening in 1915 of the University of British Columbia, established by Act of Legislature in 1908, obliged the College to suspend operations in higher education in Victoria.
In 1920, as a result of local demands, Victoria College began the second stage of its development, reborn in affiliation with the University of British Columbia. Though still administered by the Victoria School Board, the College was now completely separated from Victoria High School, moving in 1921 into the magnificent Dunsmuir mansion known as Craigdarroch Castle. Over the next two decades, under Principals E.B. Paul and P.H. Elliott, Victoria College built a reputation for thorough and scholarly instruction in first- and second-year Arts and Science. It was also during this period that future author Pierre Berton edited and served as principal cartoonist for the student newsletter, The Microscope.
The final stage, between the years 1945 and 1963, saw the transition from two year college to university, under Principals J.M. Ewing and W.H. Hickman. During this period, the College was governed by the Victoria College Council, representative of the parent University of British Columbia, the Greater Victoria School Board, and the provincial Department of Education. Physical changes were many. In 1946 the College was forced by postwar enrollment to move from Craigdarroch to the Lansdowne campus of the Provincial Normal School (This is the current location of the Camosun College Lansdowne Campus). The Normal School, itself an institution with a long and honourable history, joined Victoria College in 1956 as its Faculty of Education. Late in this transitional period (through the co-operation of the Department of National Defence and the Hudson's Bay Company) the 284 acre (1,1 km²) now 385 acre (1.6 km²) campus at Gordon Head was acquired. Academic expansion was rapid after 1956, until in 1961 the College, still in affiliation with UBC awarded its first bachelor's degrees.
In granting autonomy to the University of Victoria, the University Act of 1963 vested administrative authority in a Chancellor elected by the Convocation of the University, a Board of Governors, and a President appointed by the Board; academic authority was given to a Senate which was representative both of the Faculties and of the Convocation.
The historical traditions of the University are reflected in the Arms of the University, its academic regalia and its house flag. The BA hood is of solid red, a colour that recalls the early affiliation with McGill. The BSc hood, of gold, and the BEd hood, of blue, show the colours of the University of British Columbia. Blue and gold have been retained as the official colours of the University of Victoria. The motto at the top of the Arms of the University, in Hebrew characters, is "Let there be Light"; the motto at the bottom, in Latin, is "A Multitude of the Wise is the Health of the World."
The current president of the university is David H. Turpin, and its chancellor is Ronald Lou-Poy.
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Athletics
The university is represented in the Canada West Universities Athletics Association (CanWest) Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS)and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) by the team Victoria Vikes.
The University Currently has teams in the following sports:
Basketball (M/W)
Cross Country & Track (M/W)
Field Hockey (M/W)
Golf (M/W)
Rowing (M/W)
Rugby (M/W)
Soccer (M/W)
Swimming (M/W)
The university has a sports hall of fame. The Charter Inductees are as follows:
Lorne Loomer: Rowing Coach - Builder/Administrator
Wally Milligan: Men's Soccer Coach - Builder/Administrator
Gareth Rees: Rugby - Athlete Category
Ken Shields: Basketball - Coach Category
Kathy Shields: Basketball - Coach Category
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Faculties and divisions
Humanities - Includes the following departments and programs: English, French, Germanic and Russian Studies, Greek and Roman Studies, Hispanic and Italian Studies, History, Linguistics, Medieval studies, Pacific and Asian Studies, Philosophy, and Women's Studies.
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Campus
The main Campus is located in the Gordon Head area of Greater Victoria. With a total area of 403 acres (1.6 km²), the campus spans the border between the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich. The original campus plan was prepared by the San Francisco firm of Wurster, Bernardi and Emmons, Architects and Planners. The general concept of the original design is still being followed with the academic portions of the campus located inside Ring Road which forms a perfect circle 600 m in diameter. Outside of ring road are the parking, Student Union Building, residence buildings, the sports facilities as well as some of the academic facilities that are more self contained (Law and Theatre for example). Some of the more prominent buildings on campus are:
Business and Economics Building - besides the obvious, this building also houses the offices of senior university administrators.
Clearihue - Faculty of Humanities, including the Departments of English, Philosophy, Linguistics, Greek and Roman Studies, Medieval Studies, Slavonic Studies, History, Women's Studies, Pacific and Asian Studies, and languages. Also included are the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, student computing facilities, the UVic Computer Store, and classrooms. The Clearihue is the oldest building on campus, originally constructed in 1962 and augmented by an addition in 1971.
Cornett - includes classrooms and the Departments of Anthropology, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.
Cunningham - includes the Department of Biology, a herbarium, numerous specialized research laboratories and the Centre for Forest Biology.
David Strong - classrooms, seminar rooms and the Mathews and McQueen auditorium.
Elliott - includes the Departments of Chemistry and Physics and Astronomy, as well as a number of classrooms and laboratories. The building is topped by the Climenhaga Observatory.
Engineering Buildings - includes the Engineering Office Wing, the Engineering Lab Wing and the Engineering Computer Science building - home to the Faculty of Engineering, which includes the Departments of Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Fraser - formerly known as the Begbie building - houses the Faculty of Law, the Institute for Dispute Resolution and the Centre for Pacific-Asia Initiatives. The building also houses classrooms, seminar rooms, a moot courtroom and the Diana M. Priestly Law Library.
Hickman - formerly called the Centre for Innovative Teaching - includes "Smart" classrooms featuring closed-circuit cameras and remote projection systems to link teachers and students with other classrooms.
Ian Stewart Complex - the main fitness facility. Includes tennis courts, an ice rink, an outdoor pool and a gym.
MacLaurin - includes the Faculty of Education and School of Music, as well some classrooms and the David Lam Auditorium.
McKinnon Gymnasium - the School of Physical Education, the main Gymnasium and an indoor swimming pool.
Petch Building - the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, and School of Earth and Ocean Sciences.
Phoenix Theatre - the Theatre department.
University Centre - includes many administrative offices (Accounting, Payroll, Advising, Record Services) as well as the main public cafeteria, Maltwood art gallery and the Farquhar auditorium.
Sedgewick - School of Environmental Studies, Centre on Aging, Centre for the Study of Religion in Society, Centre for Global Studies; administration offices.
Student Union Building - popularly known as "the Sub", it houses a movie theatre, food services, a bookstore, and the headquarters of several clubs and campus organizations, including a radio station (CFUV). There is also a student pub, Felicita's, and a defunct nightclub, Vertigo, which is now study space.
Construction has recently started on a Math and Social Science building as well on as a new Science building. An expansion to the McPherson Library is underway.
The university also offers on-campus housing for over 3200 students. A variety of housing is available, including single and double rooms, apartment-style housing with 4 people per unit (Cluster Housing) and family housing (Lam Family Housing).
Much of the university property has been dedicated to nature, notably Finnerty Gardens and Mystic Vale, a 44,000 m² forested ravine. The campus is home to deer, owls, squirrels, the occasional cougar and many other wild animals native to the area. The large population of domestic rabbits, which likely descended from abandoned house pets from the surrounding community, is a memorable feature of the campus. Well-fed by both students and staff, these adorable 'Campus Bunnies' provide an excellent distraction from class.
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Presidents
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Clubs
UVic has dozens of clubs representing a huge variety of activities, and beliefs. Some of those clubs include:
The UVic Outdoors Club is one of the larger clubs on campus. The club plays a vital role in preparing members for a life of healthy active living. Hiking, climbing, biking, and kayaking are just some of the trips that are regularly planned on a weekly notice.
The UVic Sailing Clubis dedicated to teaching sailing to UVic students and staff, as well as provide an opportunity for experienced sailors to sail, race, and advance their racing skills by providing top tear coaching to members for the lowest possible fee.
The Surf Club goes on surfing trips to Tofino BC regularily.
The Ski and snow board club provides opportunities for all interested students to take part in group trips, and events.
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Student affairs
CFUV - A campus/community radio station serving Greater Victoria at 101.9 and, via cable on 104.3, Vancouver Island and many areas in the lower mainland and North Western Washington State. The station also has a large international listernership on the internet at cfuv.uvic.ca.
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See also
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