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$ 74.593 million (2023) |
| 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 for its focus on liberal arts. This means it offers a wide range of subjects, not just specialized ones.
The university was started by George Mountain, who was an Anglican Bishop. He also helped start McGill University. Bishop's is one of only three universities in Quebec that mainly teach in English. The others are McGill and Concordia University in Montreal.
Bishop's University began by taking in the Lennoxville Classical School in the 1840s. The university itself was officially founded in 1843. It received a special permission, called a royal charter, from Queen Victoria in 1853. This charter allowed it to grant degrees.
It is one of the few universities in Canada that mainly focuses on undergraduate studies. This is similar to how many liberal arts colleges work in the United States. Bishop's is also part of a group called the Maple League, which includes three other universities.
From its start until 1947, the university was connected to the Church of England. Since then, it has been a non-religious school. Many talented students have graduated from Bishop's University, including fifteen Rhodes Scholars. The university shares its campus with Champlain College Lennoxville, which is a public college.
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History of Bishop's University
Bishop's University started from a school called the Lennoxville Classical School in 1836. This school was founded by Rev. Lucius Doolittle and Edward Chapman. The university part, Bishop's College, was created by Bishop George Jehoshaphat Mountain on December 9, 1843. It was meant to educate members of the Church of England. In 1853, it officially became a university.
Teaching began in 1845, and the first degrees were given out in 1854. In 1845, Reverend Jasper Hume Nicolls became the first principal. He and Bishop Mountain helped the college become a university in 1853. He led Bishop's for 32 years, even through tough financial times.
A medical school was opened in Montreal in 1871. It closed in 1905 and joined McGill University. A law school also opened in Sherbrooke in 1880 but closed in 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 kept many connections.
The Church of England managed the university until 1947. After that, a group of trustees and a senate took over. The trustees handle business, and the senate deals with school matters. This system helps the university run smoothly.
In 1993, a special ceremony was held to celebrate 150 years of Bishop's University. The Governor General of Canada, Ray Hnatyshyn, presented the university's Coat of Arms and Flag.
Around 2007, the number of students at Bishop's was decreasing. The university also had money problems. However, new leaders were hired in 2008. They worked hard to attract more students. By 2010, student numbers went up by 20 percent, and the university's finances improved a lot.
In October 2023, Quebec officials announced that Canadian students from outside Quebec would pay more tuition. This new rule would affect English-language universities the most. Bishop's leaders worried this could greatly harm the university. However, in November 2023, Quebec Premier Francois Legault announced that Bishop's University would not have to follow these new tuition rules. This was good news for the university.
Academic Programs
Bishop's University mainly offers programs for undergraduate students. However, it also has some graduate courses. Students can earn M.A. and M.Ed. degrees in education. They can also get a M.Sc. in computer science and physics.
Bishop's has five main academic areas:
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Each area aims to give students a well-rounded education. In 2017, the average class size was about 35 students for first and second-year courses. For older students, the average class size was about 19.
In 2004, Bishop's worked with the Université de Sherbrooke to create SIXtron. This company develops special coatings for the solar 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 every part of Canada. They also come from 18 U.S. states and over 50 other countries.
Williams School of Business
The Williams School of Business is the business school at Bishop's University. It is recognized by the Network of International Business Schools (NIBS). The school has won many international business case competitions.
It offers courses for a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree. Students can also choose a Bachelor of Arts (BA) with a major in business. A program where students work and study at the same time is also available. About 22% of Bishop's University students are in the Williams School of Business.
The Williams School of Business offers different areas of study for the BBA:
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Campus Life and Buildings
The Bishop's campus is very large, covering 550 acres. It is located where the Saint Francis and Massawippi rivers meet. The campus has 25 buildings. It is known for its beautiful architecture, which looks like the Gothic Revival style. Some call it 'Oxford on the Massawippi'.
The campus has some of Quebec's oldest buildings, like St. Mark's Chapel. Building started in 1846 with "Old Arts." The newest building, the Library Learning Commons, was finished in 2017. The campus has also been used as a setting for movies like Lost and Delirious (2001) and The Covenant (2006).
McGreer Hall
McGreer Hall is named after Arthur Huffman McGreer, who was 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.
Bishop Williams Hall
Bishop Williams Hall is a place for lectures and presentations. It was first built in 1891. Money for its construction came from former students of Bishop's College School. They wanted to celebrate Bishop James William Williams, a former headmaster. The hall was destroyed by fire in the same year but was rebuilt in 1892.
Bandeen Hall
Bandeen Hall was once a gymnasium. Later, it became a dining hall and then 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 and can seat 549 people.
Old Library and Archives
This building was added to McGreer Hall in 1909 and was the university's library. It was later changed into office space. In 1993, it was restored to its original look.
The Old Library now holds the university's archives. These include books, photos, maps, and old documents. It also hosts lectures and special events.
Library Learning Commons
The Library Learning Commons used to be called the John Bassett Memorial Library. It was renovated in 2018. This library helps students and teachers from both Bishop's University and Champlain College.
The building was first built in 1959 and has been expanded several times. The library has over 598,000 items, including books and online materials. It also has government documents and maps.
Art Gallery
Bishop's University has the Foreman Art Gallery. It shows modern and old paintings, sculptures, and videos. These works are by students, teachers, and artists from Canada and other countries. The campus also has about 150 artworks displayed in its buildings.
Nicolls Building
The Nicolls Building is named after Reverend Jasper Hume Nicolls. There is an observatory on the roof of this building. The observatory has a special telescope and is open to the public.
Old Lennox Golf & Ski
The Bishop's campus is unique because it has its own golf course and cross-country ski club. The club, called The Old Lennox Golf & Ski, was started by the university in 1897. It is one of the oldest golf courses in Canada. The club also has over 7 km of ski trails.
St. Mark's Chapel
St. Mark's Chapel was built in a style called Perpendicular Gothic. It was officially opened in 1857. A fire almost destroyed it in 1891, but it was rebuilt in the same spot. The chapel was recognized as a Cultural Property by Quebec in 1989.
Student Societies
Bishop's University has several student groups, including fraternities and sororities.
Athletics and Sports
The sports teams at Bishop's University are called the "Gaiters." They compete in different leagues like U Sports and RSEQ. The name "Gaiters" actually refers to a type of leg covering worn by Anglican bishops.
The Gaiters have eight main varsity teams: Football, Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Rugby, Women's Soccer, Men's & Women's Golf, and Women's Hockey. They also have three club teams: Men's Lacrosse, Men's Hockey, and Men's Soccer.
Sports have a long history at Bishop's. In the early days, students played cricket and football. Rugby football started in 1888, and Canadian football became a varsity sport in the 1930s. The Gaiters football team plays at Coulter Field.
As of March 2019, three former Bishop's football players were playing in the CFL. These players were Adrian Clarke, Stephen Adekolu, and Junior Turner.
University Traditions
School Song
Bishop's official school song, "Alma Mater," was written in 1937. However, another song, "Raise a toast to Bishop's University," became the unofficial song. It was written in 1964 for a musical comedy. This tune became very popular among students.
Charitable Work
Bishop's University is a registered charity in Canada. It focuses on several areas to achieve its goals:
- Universities and colleges (95% of its efforts)
- Research (3% of its efforts)
- Cultural programs (1% of its efforts)
The university provides education and research programs. It also offers financial help like scholarships and bursaries to its students. Additionally, it supports cultural programs and community outreach.
University Legacy
On January 28, 2003, Canada Post released a stamp called Bishop's University, 1853-2003. This stamp was part of a series about Canadian universities. It was designed by Denis L'Allier and based on a photo by Guy Lavigueur.
Chancellors of Bishop's University
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Principals of Bishop's University
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Notable Alumni
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Reginald Fessenden transmitted the first radio audio broadcast in 1906.
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The Rev. Canon Frederick Scott, Senior Chaplain, First Canadian Division.
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Dr. Maude Abbott, one of Canada's first female medical graduates.
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Scott Griffin, founder of the Griffin Poetry Prize.
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Allen Chastanet, former Prime Minister of St. Lucia.
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