Bishop's University facts for kids
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Université Bishop's (French)
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Former name
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The University of Bishop's College |
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| Motto | Recti cultus pectora roborant (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Righteous ways makes strong the heart |
| Type | Liberal arts college |
| Established | 1843 |
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Academic affiliations
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AUCC, IAU, QSSF, CBIE, CUP, Maple League of Universities |
| Endowment | C$ 32.5 million |
| Chancellor | Daniel Fournier |
| Vice-Chancellor | Sébastien Lebel-Grenier |
| Principal | Sébastien Lebel-Grenier |
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Academic staff
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115 |
| Students | 2,867 |
| Undergraduates | 2,340 full-time students 219 part-time students |
| Location |
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Quebec
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Canada
45°22′0.16″N 71°50′43.67″W / 45.3667111°N 71.8454639°W |
| Campus | Rural, 220 ha (550 acres), 550 |
| Colours | Purple and silver |
| Nickname | Bishop's Gaiters |
| Mascot | Alligator |
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Bishop's University (French: Université Bishop's) is a smaller English-speaking university in Lennoxville, a part of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. It's known as a liberal arts university. This means it focuses on a wide range of subjects, not just one specific career path.
The university was started by George Mountain, who was an Anglican Bishop in Quebec. Bishop's is one of only three universities in Quebec that mainly teach in English. It began in 1843 and got a special permission, called a royal charter, from Queen Victoria in 1853.
Bishop's University is one of Canada's few universities that mostly offers undergraduate degrees (first degrees after high school). It used to be connected with the University of Oxford in England. The university was guided by the Church of England until 1947. Since then, it has been open to students of all faiths. Many talented students from Bishop's have won the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship.
The university shares its campus with Champlain College Lennoxville, which is another English-speaking public college.
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History of Bishop's University
Bishop's University started from a school called Lennoxville Classical School in 1836. This school was later called Bishop's College School. The university part, Bishop's College, was officially founded on December 9, 1843. It was created by Bishop George Jehoshaphat Mountain to educate members of the Church of England. In 1853, it became a full university.
In 1845, Reverend Jasper Hume Nicolls became the first leader of Bishop's College. He and Bishop Mountain helped the college become a university in 1853. He led the university for 32 years, even through tough financial times.
Bishop's used to have a medical school in Montreal, which opened in 1871. It later joined McGill University in 1905. A law school also existed in Sherbrooke from 1880 to 1888.
In 1922, Bishop's College School moved to a new campus. This happened after a big fire in 1891. However, the school and university still have many connections.
The Church of England managed the university until 1947. After that, a group of people and trustees took over the business side. A senate, made up of professors, handled academic matters. This system helped the university grow and offer more programs.
In 1993, Canada's Governor General, Ray Hnatyshyn, visited the university. He presented Bishop's with its official Coat of Arms and Flag.
Around 2007, the number of students at Bishop's started to drop. There were also money problems and staff strikes. People even worried the university might close. But by 2010, things got much better. New leaders were hired, and they worked hard to attract more students. The university's finances also improved a lot.
In 2023, there was a plan for students from outside Quebec to pay more tuition. This would have greatly affected English universities like Bishop's. The university's principal, Sébastien Lebel-Grenier, said it could be a "threat" to Bishop's. However, the Quebec government later announced that Bishop's University would be "exempted" from these tuition increases.
What Can You Study at Bishop's?
Bishop's University mainly offers programs for undergraduate students. But it also has some graduate programs. You can earn a Master of Arts (M.A.) or a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in education. There are also Master of Science (M.Sc.) degrees in computer science and physics.
Bishop's has five main academic areas:
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These areas aim to give students a broad education. In 2017, the average class size was about 35 students in first and second-year courses. For older students, the average class size was about 19.
Bishop's works with other groups on research. For example, in 2004, it joined with Université de Sherbrooke to create SIXtron. This company develops special coatings for the solar power industry. In 2009, the Psychological Health and Well-Being Laboratory was started. It studies how to improve people's mental health.
As of 2018, Bishop's had 2,867 students. These students come from all over Canada, many U.S. states, and over 50 other countries.
Williams School of Business
The Williams School of Business is the business part of Bishop's University. It is recognized by the Network of International Business Schools (NIBS). Students can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) with a major in business. There's also a program where students can gain work experience. About 22% of Bishop's students study business.
The Williams School of Business offers different specializations, such as:
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Campus Life and Buildings
The Bishop's campus covers 550 acres of land. It is located where the Saint Francis and Massawippi rivers meet in Quebec. The campus has 25 buildings. It is sometimes called 'Oxford on the Massawippi' because of its old, grand architectural style. Many buildings are in the Gothic Revival style. One of the most historic buildings is St. Mark's Chapel. Building started in 1846, and the newest building, the Library Learning Commons, opened in 2017. The campus has also been used as a setting for movies.
McGreer Hall
McGreer Hall is named after Arthur Huffman McGreer, who was the Principal from 1922 to 1947. The first part of the hall was built in 1846. It was damaged by fire in 1876 but was rebuilt and made bigger. A library wing was added in 1909.
Bishop Williams Hall
Bishop Williams Hall is a place for lectures and presentations. It was first built in 1891. Funds for it were raised by former students of Bishop's College School. They wanted to celebrate Bishop James William Williams. The hall was destroyed by fire in 1891 but was rebuilt in 1892.
Bandeen Hall
Bandeen Hall was once a gym for students. In 1950, it became a dining hall. Later, it was used as a student pub. In 1990, it was turned into a concert hall. It was named after Robert Bandeen, a former Chancellor of the university, and his wife, Mona Blair Bandeen.
Centennial Theatre
Centennial Theatre opened in 1967. It is a performing arts center for English-speaking people in the Eastern Townships. It has a wide auditorium like a Greek amphitheater and seats 549 people.
Old Library and Archives
This building was added to McGreer Hall in 1909 and served as the university library. It now holds the University Archives. These collections include books, photos, maps, and historical documents. The room is also used for lectures and events.
Library Learning Commons
The Library Learning Commons helps students and teachers from both Bishop's University and Champlain College. It was renovated in 2018. The building was first built in 1959 and has been expanded several times. The library has over 598,000 items, including books and online journals.
Art Gallery
Bishop's University has the Foreman Art Gallery. It shows modern and historical art by students, teachers, and artists from Canada and other countries. The university's art collection has 150 works.
Nicolls Building
The Nicolls Building is named after Reverend Jasper Hume Nicolls. There is an observatory on its roof. The observatory has a special telescope and is open to the public.
Old Lennox Golf & Ski
Bishop's campus is unique because it has its own golf course and cross-country ski club. The Old Lennox Golf & Ski club was founded by the university in 1897. It is one of the oldest golf courses in Canada. The club also has over 7 km of cross-country ski trails.
St. Mark's Chapel
St. Mark's Chapel was built in a Gothic style and opened in 1857. It was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1891. But it was rebuilt in the same spot. The chapel is now considered a Cultural Property by Quebec.
Student Societies
Bishop's University has student groups called sororities and fraternities. These are social organizations for students.
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Sports at Bishop's
The sports teams at Bishop's University are called the Bishop's Gaiters. They compete in various university sports leagues. The name "Gaiters" actually refers to a leg covering worn by Anglican bishops. The Gaiters have seven main varsity teams, including Football, Basketball, and Rugby. They also have four club teams like Men's Lacrosse and Women's Hockey.
The Gaiters football team plays at Coulter Field. This field is also used by the Montreal Alouettes, a professional Canadian football team.
In football, the Gaiters have reached the national semifinals five times. In basketball, the women's team won national championships in 1983 and 1984. The men's team won a national championship in 1998. This was the last time a men's basketball team from a Quebec university won a national title.
As of 2019, three former Bishop's football players were playing in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
University Traditions
School Song
Bishop's official school song, "Alma Mater," was written in 1937. However, another song called "Raise a toast to Bishop's University" became the unofficial song. It was written in 1964 by some students for a musical comedy.
The Gait
The Gait is Bishop's on-campus bar. It is run by students, for students. It's a place where students can work and where student musicians and DJs perform. The Gait also helps students raise money for different projects.
WinterFest
WinterFest is the biggest event at Bishop's University. About 900 people attended in 2019. It started in 2003 and happens every year. This two-day outdoor festival includes a ski competition called the Rail Jam. There is also a large concert held in the Quad, the main area of campus. Famous artists have performed there.
Orientation Week
Orientation Week, also known as Frosh Week, is a week-long event for new students. It happens before classes start in the fall. During this week, first-year students get to know the campus, the town of Lennoxville, and meet their new classmates.
Charitable Work
Bishop's University is a registered charity in Canada. It focuses on several areas:
- Universities and colleges (95% of its efforts)
- Research (scientific, medical, environmental, etc.) (3%)
- Cultural programs (1%)
The university provides education and research. It also offers financial help like scholarships and bursaries to its students. Additionally, it runs cultural programs and reaches out to the community.
The Bishop's University Foundation is also a charity. It helps Bishop's University with its educational, sports, scholarship, and research programs.
Legacy
On January 28, 2003, Canada Post released a special stamp. It was called Bishop's University, 1853-2003. This stamp was part of a series celebrating Canadian universities.
Chancellors of Bishop's University
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Principals of Bishop's University
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Famous People Who Went to Bishop's
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In 1906, Reginald Fessenden sent the first radio audio broadcast.
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The Rev. Canon Frederick Scott, a senior chaplain during World War I.
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Dr. Maude Abbott, one of Canada's first female doctors.
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Scott Griffin, who started the Griffin Poetry Prize.
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Allen Chastenet, a former Prime Minister of St. Lucia.
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See also
- Bishop's College School
- Bishop's University Students' Representative Council
- Champlain College Lennoxville
