University of Manitoba facts for kids
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| Motto | Floreat (Latin) |
|---|---|
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Motto in English
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Flourish (or Prosper) |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1877 |
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Academic affiliations
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Campus Manitoba, CARL, CVU, U15, Universities Canada |
| Endowment | $878 million |
| Chancellor | Anne Mahon |
| President | Michael Benarroch |
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Academic staff
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5,252 |
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Administrative staff
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3,838 |
| Students | 30,370 |
| Undergraduates | 26,660 |
| Postgraduates | 3,710 |
| Location |
,
Canada
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| Campus | Urban, 691 acres (280 ha), Fort Garry Campus |
| Colours | Brown and gold |
| Nickname | Bisons |
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Sporting affiliations
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U Sports – CWUAA |
| Mascot | Billy the Bison |
The University of Manitoba (also known as U of M or UM) is a big public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was started in 1877 and was the very first university in Western Canada. It's the largest university in Manitoba, both by how many students it has and how big its campus is.
The main campus is in the Fort Garry area of Winnipeg. There are also other campuses around the city, including the Bannatyne Campus and the Université de Saint-Boniface, which teaches in French.
The University of Manitoba is known for its strong research programs. It does more research than any other university in the region. Its programs are often ranked among the best in the Canadian Prairies. For example, research at the university helped create canola oil in the 1970s.
Many famous people have studied at the University of Manitoba. These include winners of the Nobel Prize, Academy Awards, and Olympic medals. As of 2019, 99 students from the University of Manitoba have won the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. This is more than any other university in Western Canada.
The University of Manitoba is part of the U15, a group of top research universities in Canada. Its sports teams, called the Manitoba Bisons, compete in U Sports.
Contents
The University of Manitoba's Story
How It All Began
The University of Manitoba was founded by Alexander Morris. It officially started on February 28, 1877, under a special law called the University of Manitoba Act. This made it the first place for higher education in Western Canada.
The first leader of the university, called the Chancellor, was Robert Machray (from 1877 to 1904). The first Vice-Chancellor was Joseph Royal, who was also the one who suggested the law to create the university.
Early Colleges Joining the University
The university officially opened on June 20, 1877. It was formed by three existing colleges joining together. These colleges were:
- Collège de Saint-Boniface (a Catholic college)
- St John's College (an Anglican college)
- Manitoba College (a Presbyterian college)
Over the years, more colleges joined the university. In 1882, the Manitoba Medical College became part of the university. Then, in 1888, Wesley College (a Methodist college) also joined.
In 1900, the university became a teaching school, meaning it started teaching its own classes. Soon after, other colleges also became connected:
- Manitoba College of Pharmacy (1902)
- Manitoba Agriculture College (1906)
- St. Paul's College (1931)
- Brandon College (1938)
- St. Andrew's College (1981)
In 1938, Wesley College and Manitoba College combined to form United College. Later, in 1967, United College became the University of Winnipeg, and Brandon College became Brandon University.
However, Collège universitaire de St. Boniface, St. John's, St. Paul's, and St. Andrew's College are still connected to the University of Manitoba today.
Growing and Developing
The first exams at the university were held on May 27, 1878, with seven students taking them. Two years later, in 1880, the University of Manitoba gave out its first degree to Reginald William Gunn. He was a Métis student who graduated with honors in Natural Sciences.
In 1886, the first woman student, Jessie Holmes, was admitted to the university. She also became the first female graduate in 1889.
In the early 1900s, the university started offering more professional courses. It also began offering advanced degrees that involved special classes and a research thesis.
The university built its first teaching building, the science building, in 1901 in downtown Winnipeg. In 1904, the university hired its first dedicated teachers for the new Faculty of Science. These first six science professors were very important to the university's start.
The university's main campus eventually moved to Fort Garry. This was to be close to the Manitoba Agricultural College. The first buildings there were finished in 1912. In 1913, the university officially moved to this new site.
World War I and Its Impact
Many students from the University of Manitoba went to fight in the First World War. The university also became a training place for soldiers. In 1915, a special military group called the Western Universities Battalion was formed.
In 1914, the Manitoba Law School was started. It became an affiliated college of the university. In 1919, the University of Manitoba also opened the first school of architecture in Western Canada.
During the war, fewer students attended the university because many joined the military. After the war ended in 1918, a total of 1160 students and 14 staff members from the university had joined the military. Sadly, 123 of them died.
After World War I
After the war, many more students enrolled. In 1919, there were over 2,000 students.
The University of Manitoba Students' Union was created in 1919. The University of Manitoba Alumni Association, for former students, was formed in 1921.
By 1920, the university was the largest in the Canadian Prairies and the fifth largest in Canada. It had many different study areas, called faculties, including Arts, Science, Law, Medicine, and Engineering.
In the 1930s, the university moved its main offices to the Fort Garry campus. The Arts Building was completed there in 1931. The Faculty of Education was also started in 1934.
World War II and Beyond
The Second World War also had a big effect on the university.
- From 1940 to 1941, the Canadian Army used the student residences at Fort Garry.
- All healthy 18-year-old male students had to take military training.
- Many women students took courses to help with the war effort, like auto mechanics.
In 1943, the first degrees for Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy were given out. The School of Social Work was also created around this time.
After the war, in 1946, a large number of war veterans (3,125) enrolled, bringing the total student number to over 9,500.
Recent History and Achievements
In 1963, the University College was finished. In 1967, two colleges that were part of the University of Manitoba became their own universities: the University of Winnipeg and Brandon University.
In 1966, the Manitoba Law School became a full part of the university as the Faculty of Law.
Today, St. Boniface College and St. John's College are still part of the University of Manitoba. St. Boniface is the only college that teaches in French.
In 1993/94, the University of Manitoba was the first university in Canada to offer a master's degree in interior design.
In 1999, the university launched Smartpark. This is a large research and technology park on the Fort Garry Campus.
In 2002, Canada Post even released a stamp to celebrate the University of Manitoba's 125th anniversary!
In 2019, the university created a new leadership role called "Vice-President (Indigenous)". This person helps lead programs and research focused on Indigenous communities.
How the University is Run
The University of Manitoba is governed by a special law called The University of Manitoba Act. This law sets up two main groups that run the university:
- The Senate: This group handles all academic matters, like what courses are taught.
- The Board of Governors: This group manages all the money and business side of the university.
The Chancellor
The Chancellor is like the official head of the university. They give out all the degrees and act as an ambassador for the university. Since it started, the University of Manitoba has had fourteen Chancellors.
The President
The President of the University of Manitoba is chosen by the Board of Governors. They are also the Vice-Chancellor. The President helps connect the Senate and the Board of Governors and leads the university. The university has had 12 presidents since it was founded.
University Campuses
Fort Garry Campus
The main campus is the Fort Garry Campus. It's located on the Red River in south Winnipeg. It has over 60 main buildings for teaching and research, covering a huge area of land.
- 33 buildings are used for teaching.
- 4 of these are colleges: St. John's College, St. Paul's College, St. Andrew's College, and University College.
- Other buildings include labs, offices, research centers, and student housing.
In 2013, the university held a competition to plan how to make the Fort Garry Campus even better. The goal was to improve the student experience and guide future growth.
Other Campuses Around the City
The William Norrie Centre is a campus for the "Inner City Social Work Program." This program helps older students (21 or older) from low-income areas in Winnipeg who want to study social work.
The James W. Burns Executive Education Centre is where the Asper School of Business offers training for professionals and leaders. This building is in downtown Winnipeg and is a historic site.
Agricultural Research Sites
The Glenlea Research Station is a farm where the university does agricultural research. It covers about 1,000 acres and is located south of the Fort Garry campus. It opened in 1966.
At the Glenlea Research Station, you can find the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre. This is a hands-on place where visitors can learn how food is made in Canada, from farming to selling it in stores.
The Ian N. Morrison Research Farm is another farm research facility. It's located in Carman, Manitoba, and is used for teaching, research, and helping the community.
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and Bannatyne Campus
The University of Manitoba Bannatyne Campus is a group of ten buildings in central Winnipeg. This campus is for the university's health sciences programs. It's located next to Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre.
The Rady Faculty of Health Sciences brings together many health education programs. These include:
- The Max Rady College of Medicine
- The Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry
- The College of Rehabilitation Sciences
- The College of Pharmacy
- The College of Nursing (which is still on the Fort Garry campus)
At this campus, there is also a memorial dedicated to the graduates and students of the Medical College who died in past wars.
Health Sciences Buildings and Departments
The Brodie Centre is the main building on the Bannatyne campus. It connects many health education facilities, including the Neil John MacLean Health Sciences Library and the Joe Doupe Fitness Centre.
The College of Pharmacy moved to the Bannatyne campus in 2008 when the Apotex Centre opened. This center is a large, modern building for pharmacy studies.
The Dental Building houses the Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry. This college offers all dental education at the university, including the School of Dental Hygiene.
The Max Rady College of Medicine has 27 different departments spread across the Bannatyne campus and other health facilities in Winnipeg. These departments are involved in teaching, research, and helping patients.
Research and Innovation
The University of Manitoba is known for being a top research university. It does more research each year than any other university in the region. Its research has led to important discoveries, like the creation of canola oil and a treatment for a blood disease called Rh hemolytic disease.
The university is also a leader in a group called Intelligent Sensing for Innovative Structures (ISIS) Canada. This group works on better ways to build and fix structures like bridges and buildings.
The Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the university studies important topics about defense and safety in Canada.
Smartpark Research and Technology Park
Smartpark Research and Technology Park is a special area next to the Fort Garry campus. It connects university research with businesses. It has 100 acres of land and 7 buildings where over 30 research and development companies work with the university.
Smartpark is the main research park in Manitoba. It started in 1999. Today, it has at least 9 buildings with lots of research space.
Companies at Smartpark work on many different research areas, such as:
- Information and communications technology
- Engineering and advanced materials
- Health and biotechnology
- Agricultural and nutritional science
Currently, 18 companies are located at Smartpark, employing 1,200 people. Many of these are students or graduates from the university.
Academic Programs
The University of Manitoba has about 26,000 students and offers programs in 24 different faculties (study areas). Most areas offer advanced degrees like master's or doctoral degrees. In 2022, the University of Manitoba was ranked 14th among Canadian universities that focus on research.
The university's Price Faculty of Engineering is the oldest engineering school in Western Canada.
There are five colleges that are part of the University of Manitoba:
- Université de Saint-Boniface (where classes are taught in French)
- St. John's College
- St. Paul's College
- St. Andrew's College
- University College
In 2015, the Faculty of Human Ecology was closed, and its departments joined other faculties. This faculty had started in 1910 as a diploma program.
Faculties and Schools
The University of Manitoba offers many different programs through its various faculties and schools:
- Agricultural and Food Sciences (started 1906)
- Faculty of Architecture (started 1913)
- Faculty of Arts (started 1970)
- School of Art
- I. H. Asper School of Business
- Dr. Gerald Niznick College of Dentistry
- School of Dental Hygiene
- Faculty of Education
- Price Faculty of Engineering
- Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources
- Division of Extended Education
- Faculty of Graduate Studies
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Kinesiology & Recreation Management
- Robson Hall Faculty of Law (started 1966)
- Max Rady College of Medicine
- Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music (started 1964)
- College of Nursing
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Rehabilitation Sciences
- Faculty of Science (started 1970)
- Faculty of Social Work (started 1943)
- University 1 (a program for first-year students)
Indigenous Community Support
The University of Manitoba offers many services for Indigenous people from both cities and rural areas.
The university's Department of Indigenous Studies is the oldest of its kind in Western Canada. It offers undergraduate, master's, and PhD programs. Indigenous Elders are also present on campus at Migizii Agamik (Bald Eagle Lounge), the university's Indigenous Centre. They provide support to students.
In 2017, Indigenous knowledge became a formal part of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences with the creation of Ongomiizwin. This is the largest Indigenous education and health unit in Canada.
The university also has tutoring services for Indigenous students in programs like Medicine, Engineering, and Social Work. Many Indigenous Access programs include summer courses to help new Indigenous students get used to campus before the school year starts. The university also works with First Nations communities to encourage younger students to consider university through programs like Curry Biz Camp.
Libraries, Museums, and Archives
The University of Manitoba has many resources for learning and research.
- The Anthropology Laboratory Museum collects and displays artifacts from the Manitoba Region.
- The University of Manitoba Press was started in 1945 and publishes books.
- There are several art galleries on campus, including the "School of Art Gallery."
The University of Manitoba Libraries include many different libraries, such as:
- Albert D. Cohen Management Library
- Architecture/Fine Arts Library
- Archives & Special Collections (which includes a Rare Book Room)
- Donald W. Craik Engineering Library
- Eckhardt Gramatté Music Library
- E.K. Williams Law Library
- Elizabeth Dafoe Library
- Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library
- Sciences and Technology Library
Scholarships and Awards
The university offers many scholarships, bursaries, and awards to help students pay for their education. One example is the Diane Loranger Memorial Scholarship, given to geology students with good grades.
Student Life and Activities
Student Groups and Representation
All students at the university are part of the University of Manitoba Students' Union (UMSU). UMSU represents students and offers programs and support. Graduate students also have their own group, the University of Manitoba Graduate Students' Association (UMGSA).
There are also many sororities and fraternities on campus, as well as the University of Manitoba Orchestra for students who love music.
University Publications and Media
The Manitoban is the university newspaper. It was started in 1914.
In 1923, the university started its own radio program called University Hour. It featured lectures by university professors. In 1968, the university also had its own TV show called A View of Our Own on CBC.
Sports and Recreation
The university's sports teams are called the Manitoba Bisons. They compete in U Sports, which is the national sports organization for Canadian universities.
The university offers many recreational programs all year round. The athletic facilities on campus include:
- The Frank Kennedy Centre
- Max Bell Centre
- The Investor's Group Athletic Centre
- Princess Auto Stadium (which opened in 2013)
These facilities have indoor tracks, a swimming pool, workout areas, an ice hockey rink, and courts for basketball, volleyball, squash, and racquetball. The Frank Kennedy Centre also has rooms for dance, combat sports, gymnastics, and indoor tennis courts.
The university held its first track meet in 1914 against the University of North Dakota. It was a success, and they decided to make it an annual event.
Images for kids
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The historic Administration Building on the Fort Garry Campus.
See also
- Faculty of Medicine – University of Manitoba
- Robert B. Ferguson Museum of Mineralogy
- List of agricultural universities and colleges
- List of universities in Manitoba
- Higher education in Manitoba
- Education in Canada
