Toronto Metropolitan University facts for kids
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Former names
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| Motto | Mente et artificio (Latin) | ||||||
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Motto in English
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With mind and skill | ||||||
| Type | Public | ||||||
| Established | September 16, 1948 | ||||||
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Academic affiliation
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AACSB, COU, IAU, Universities Canada | ||||||
| Endowment | C$136.285 million | ||||||
| Chancellor | Janice Fukakusa | ||||||
| President | Mohamed Lachemi | ||||||
| Provost | Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano | ||||||
| Undergraduates | 44,400 | ||||||
| Postgraduates | 2,950 | ||||||
| Location |
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Canada
43°39′27.85″N 79°22′48.64″W / 43.6577361°N 79.3801778°W |
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| Campus | Urban; 121 acres (49 ha) | ||||||
| Colours | Blue and gold
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| Nickname | TMU Bold | ||||||
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Sporting affiliations
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U Sports, OUA | ||||||
| Mascot | Falcon | ||||||
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Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU or Toronto Met) is a large public university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its focus on research. The main campus is in the Garden District of downtown Toronto. TMU also has other buildings around the city.
The university has seven main academic areas, called faculties. These include Arts, Community Services, Engineering and Architectural Science, Science, The Creative School, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, and Ted Rogers School of Management. Many of these faculties have smaller departments and schools. TMU also offers courses for adults who want to keep learning through the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education.
The university started in 1948 as the Ryerson Institute of Technology. It was named after Egerton Ryerson, who helped create the public school system in Canada West. Over the years, the school grew and changed its name several times. It became a full university in 1993. In 2022, the university changed its name to Toronto Metropolitan University. This change happened because of concerns about Egerton Ryerson's connection to the Canadian Indian residential school system.
TMU is a university for both male and female students. In 2019–20, about 44,400 undergraduate students and 2,950 graduate students attended. As of 2017, almost 170,000 people have graduated from TMU. The university's sports teams are called TMU Bold. They compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of U Sports.
Contents
History of Toronto Metropolitan University
How the University Started
After World War II, leaders in Toronto saw a need for special schools. These schools would train returning soldiers for specific jobs. One of these leaders, Howard Hillen Kerr, visited a famous school in the US, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He wanted to create a similar place in Canada. This led to new laws that helped create vocational schools and technical institutes in Ontario.
In 1948, the Ryerson Institute of Technology officially opened. It was named after Egerton Ryerson. He had helped set up the Toronto Normal School in 1847 on the same land. Ryerson also played a big role in developing education in Canada West. The new institute started with about 250 students. Its main goal was to provide career training.
The school grew quickly. In 1958, work began on Kerr Hall, the first building made just for the institute. It was finished in 1963. Other buildings were later added around a central courtyard.
Becoming a University
In 1964, the school was renamed Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. It gained the power to grant some degrees in the 1970s. This included degrees in applied arts, technology, and business.
By 1993, the institute became a full polytechnic university. It was renamed Ryerson Polytechnic University. This meant it could also focus more on research. In 1997, a school for graduate studies was created. In 2002, the name was shortened to Ryerson University to show its wider scope.
Name Change to Toronto Metropolitan University
After a report about the Canadian Indian residential school system came out in 2015, people started to question the university's name. Egerton Ryerson had a role in creating this system, which harmed Indigenous children.
In 2018, the university began a process to address these concerns. A plaque was placed next to the statue of him to explain his role in the residential school system.
Pressure to change the name grew in 2021. This happened after unmarked graves were found at a former residential school. In June 2021, the statue of Egerton Ryerson was removed. The university decided not to replace it. In August 2021, the university announced it would change its name. On April 26, 2022, the new name, Toronto Metropolitan University, was announced. The name change became official in December 2022.
Campus Life and Buildings
TMU's main campus is in downtown Toronto. It blends in with the city, so it doesn't have clear borders like some other universities. Many of the campus streets are open to the public. Some streets, like Gould Street, have been closed to cars to create pedestrian-only areas.
The campus has several parks and green spaces. These include Devonian Square and the Kerr Hall quadrangle. Devonian Square has a reflecting pool and large, ancient rocks from the Canadian Shield. There's also a green roof and urban farm on top of the George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre. This farm grows different crops.
The university owns and operates more than 40 buildings. These buildings vary in style, from historic ones like Oakham House (built in 1848) to modern ones like the Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex (opened in 2019). Many early buildings were built in a style called Brutalist. The campus has grown a lot since 2000.
University Buildings
TMU uses many buildings for classes, labs, and student life. Some buildings are shared with other groups. Here are some of the main facilities:
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Library and Museum
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The Toronto Metropolitan University Library is the main library. It is in an 11-story building finished in 1974. The library has over 522,000 books and many online resources. Next to the library is the Student Learning Centre, completed in 2015. It's a modern building designed by Snøhetta that offers more study space.
The Image Centre is a museum and home to the School of Image Arts. It has several galleries, including one for student art. The center also stores the university's large collection of photographs, which includes works from publications like Life and The New York Times.
Student Housing and Facilities
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TMU has three student residences on campus: the Daphne Cockwell Complex, the International Living & Learning Centre, and Pitman Hall. These residences offer about 1,144 beds. Most students at TMU live off-campus, but about 18% of first-year students live in residence. The university also has themed floors in residences, like a "fashion floor" for fashion students.
The Student Campus Centre is a hub for student activities. It has offices for student groups, including the Toronto Metropolitan Students' Union, and the student newspaper The Eyeopener. It also has lounges, study areas, and restaurants for students.
Off-Campus Facilities
TMU also has facilities outside its main downtown campus. The Toronto Metropolitan University Aerospace Engineering Centre is a research center at Downsview Park. It works with companies like Bombardier on aerospace research. The university's soccer teams also use sports facilities at Downsview Park.
In 2022, TMU announced plans to open a medical school in Bramalea, a district of Brampton.
How the University is Run
TMU is governed by two main groups: a board of governors and a senate. The board of governors manages the university's money and property. The senate is in charge of the university's educational policies.
The chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university. They mostly give out degrees. The current chancellor is Janice Fukakusa. The university president is the chief executive officer. They manage the university's daily operations. Mohamed Lachemi is the current president.
Money Matters
Toronto Metropolitan University gets most of its money from government grants. Student fees and tuition are also a big source of income. The university's total income in 2019–20 was about $833 million.
Academics and Research
| Faculty | # of students |
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| Faculty of Arts | 4,710 |
| The Creative School | 5,660 |
| Faculty of Community Services | 6,841 |
| Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Sciences | 5,484 |
| Faculty of Science | 3,284 |
| Ted Rogers School of Management | 11,596 |
The university's school year has three terms: fall, winter, and spring/summer. TMU offers many different programs through its seven faculties. The newest faculty is the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, which started in 2020.
Most faculties are divided into smaller departments or schools. For example, the Faculty of Arts has ten departments for humanities and social sciences. The Creative School has nine schools focusing on media, design, and creative industries.
Graduate programs are managed by the Yeates School of Graduate Studies. TMU also works with Sheridan College and York University on some programs. The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education offers over 400 courses for adult learners.
In 2018, TMU awarded over 7,000 bachelor's degrees and over 1,000 master's degrees. The graduation rate for students who started in 2011 was 74.2%.
TMU is part of many national and international university groups, like Universities Canada. Its business school is also recognized by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
University Rankings
TMU is recognized in various university rankings.
- In Maclean's 2023 Canadian university rankings, TMU was ranked 8th among comprehensive universities.
- In global rankings, TMU was placed in the 801–1000 range by the 2023 QS World University Rankings and the 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
- The university also ranks well for how easily its graduates find jobs. In 2022, Times Higher Education ranked TMU 192nd globally for graduate employability.
Research at TMU
TMU is involved in a lot of research. As of 2021, the university and its faculties operate 37 research centers and institutes. In 2018–19, TMU published over 1,300 academic papers.
The university receives millions of dollars for research from the government and other sources. In 2020, Research Infosource ranked TMU 23rd out of 50 Canadian research universities.
One famous research project from TMU was hitchBOT. This was a hitchhiking robot created by a TMU professor to study how humans interact with robots.
Business Incubator Network
TMU has Canada's largest network of university-based business incubators. These are called the Zone Learning network. They help new businesses grow.
The first and largest "zone" is The DMZ. It started in 2010. The DMZ helps technology start-ups by connecting them with investors and mentors. As of 2023, The DMZ has helped over 750 businesses and created many jobs. In 2018, it was named the world's best university-based business incubator.
Student Life
| Undergraduate | Graduate | |
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| Male | 44.42% | 47.57% |
| Female | 55.58% | 52.43% |
| Canadian student | 93.77% | 86.79% |
| International student | 6.23% | 13.21% |
In the 2019–20 school year, TMU had about 44,400 undergraduate students and 2,950 graduate students. Most students are from Canada, with nearly 80% coming from the Greater Toronto Area.
Many students use public transit to get to campus. A 2015 survey showed that about 54% used local transit, and 23% used GO Transit.
Student Groups and Organizations
Full-time undergraduate students are represented by the Toronto Metropolitan Students' Union (TMSU). Graduate students have their own union, the Toronto Metropolitan Graduate Students' Union. These unions offer services like academic help and health insurance.
Each faculty also has its own student society. These groups plan events like frosh week (orientation for new students), formal dances, and professional development events. There are also many cultural, social, and recreational clubs at TMU. While fraternities and sororities are not officially recognized by the university, some operate unofficially.
Student Media
TMU has several student-run media outlets. CJRU, also known as Ryerson Radio, is a campus and community radio station. It started in 2016.
The Eyeopener is a student newspaper that has been running since 1967. It is funded by student fees. Students from the School of Journalism also publish a journal called the Review of Journalism and a newspaper called On the Record.
Athletics: TMU Bold
The university's sports teams are called TMU Bold. They compete in the U Sports' Ontario University Athletics conference. Varsity sports include basketball, hockey, soccer, volleyball, and more. TMU also has many other sports clubs.
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TMU has three main athletic facilities: the Recreation and Athletic Centre, Kerr Hall Gymnasium, and the Mattamy Athletic Centre. The Mattamy Athletic Centre is located in the upper levels of Maple Leaf Gardens. It has an ice-hockey rink, a basketball court, and a fitness center.
The university's mascot used to be a ram named Egerton. In 2022, the mascot was changed to a falcon, matching the new team name, TMU Bold.
University Symbols
TMU uses a crest and a seal to represent itself. The university's official coat of arms was granted in 1966. It was registered in Canada in 1999. The coat of arms includes symbols like rams (representing creativity) and torches (symbolizing education and knowledge).
The university's official colors are blue (azure) and gold. Blue stands for loyalty and truth, and gold represents generosity and learning.
Motto and Song
The university's Latin motto is Mente et Artificio. This means "With Mind and Skill". This motto was inspired by MIT's motto, "With Mind and Hand".
TMU also has a school song called The School Song. It was created in the 1950s.
Coat of Arms Details
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Famous People from TMU
Many people connected to TMU have become well-known. As of 2017, nearly 170,000 people have graduated from the university. Graduates are part of the Toronto Metropolitan University Alumni Association.
Some famous alumni in business include Patrick Dovigi (founder of GFL Environmental) and Isadore Sharp (founder of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts). In the arts, notable actors and actresses who attended TMU include Nina Dobrev, Mena Massoud, and Eric McCormack. Famous writers include Louise Penny and Robert J. Sawyer.
Several important people have also taught or worked at the university. These include David Crombie, a former Canadian government official, and Jack Layton, a former leader of a major Canadian political party. G. Raymond Chang, a business leader, was also the university's chancellor.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Metropolitana de Toronto para niños
- Education in Toronto
- Higher education in Ontario
- List of Canadian universities by endowment
- List of colleges and universities named after people
- List of universities in Ontario
- Open College (Toronto)
