University of Ottawa facts for kids
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Université d'Ottawa
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| Latin: Universitas Ottaviensis | |
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Former names
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College of Bytown (1848–1861) College of Ottawa (1861–1866) |
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| Motto | Deus scientiarum Dominus est (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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God is the master of the sciences |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1848 |
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Academic affiliations
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ACU, ACUFC, CARL, COU, CUSID, Fields Institute, IAU, Universities Canada, U15 |
| Endowment | CA$321.3 million (2022) |
| Budget | CA$1.456 billion (2023) |
| Chancellor | Claudette Commanda |
| President | Jacques Frémont |
| Provost | Jill Scott |
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Academic staff
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2,911 |
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Administrative staff
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2,839 |
| Students | 48,800 |
| Undergraduates | 39,770 |
| Postgraduates | 8,600 |
| Location |
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Canada
45°25′20″N 75°40′57″W / 45.4222°N 75.6824°W |
| Campus | Urban, 42.5 hectares (105 acres) |
| Language | English and French |
| Colours | Garnet and Grey |
| Nickname | Gee-Gees |
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Sporting affiliations
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U Sports, OUA, QSSF |
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The University of Ottawa (French: Université d'Ottawa), also called uOttawa, is a large public university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is special because it is a bilingual university. This means it offers programs in both English and French. Its main campus is in the Sandy Hill neighbourhood, near Downtown Ottawa.
The university started in 1848 as the College of Bytown. It was founded by Joseph-Bruno Guigues, a Catholic bishop. Later, it was run by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. In 1861, its name changed to the College of Ottawa. Five years later, it became a university with a special permission called a royal charter. In 1889, it received another special permission from Pope Leo XIII. This made it a pontifical university, linked to the Catholic Church.
In 1965, the university became independent from religious organizations. It became a public university, funded by the government. The University of Ottawa is now the biggest English-French bilingual university in the world. It offers many programs through its ten faculties. These include Arts, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Medicine, Science, Social Sciences, and the Telfer School of Management.
The University of Ottawa Library has 12 locations. It holds over 4.5 million books and other items. The university is part of the U15 group. This group includes Canada's top research universities. In 2022, the university had a research income of CA$420 million.
The school has nearly 40,000 undergraduate students. It also has over 6,000 graduate students. About 2,300 students are in the French Immersion Studies program. Around 10,600 international students from 150 countries attend the university. This means about 26% of all students are from other countries. The university has more than 195,000 former students, called alumni. The university's sports teams are called the Gee-Gees. They compete in U Sports.
Contents
University History
Early Beginnings
The university began on September 26, 1848. It was first called the College of Bytown. Joseph-Bruno Guigues, the first Catholic bishop of Ottawa, founded it. He asked the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to manage it. The college was first in Lower Town, next to the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica.
The college quickly needed more space. It moved twice in 1852. In 1856, it moved to its current spot in Sandy Hill. Louis-Theodore Besserer donated the land for the college. In 1861, the college was renamed College of Ottawa. This happened after the city's name changed from Bytown to Ottawa.
In 1866, the college received its first special permission, a royal charter. This gave it university status. It was the last school in Canada to get a royal charter from London. This was before education became a provincial responsibility in 1867. By 1872, the university was giving out bachelor's degrees. Master's degrees started in 1875, and doctoral degrees in 1888. In 1889, Pope Leo XIII gave the university a pontifical charter. This made it a pontifical university.
Challenges and Growth
A big fire destroyed the main building on December 2, 1903. After the fire, the university hired architect A. O. Von Herbulis. He designed the new building, Tabaret Hall. It was one of the first fireproof buildings in Canada. It was made of strong concrete. Women were first allowed to enroll in 1919.
In 1939, a military training program started at the university. It was for Canadian officers. By 1941, 550 men were part of this unit. Air force and naval training programs were also created. Students over 18 had to join one of these groups. However, they did not have to fight in the war. During World War II, 1,158 students and alumni joined the Canadian Forces. Fifty of them died overseas.
In 1964, the Eastern Ontario Institute of Technology opened a new campus. This campus was later sold to the University of Ottawa in 2007.
On July 1, 1965, the university changed its structure. It became a public organization, separate from any religious group. The original charters were given to the new Saint Paul University. The University of Ottawa kept its other academic programs.
In 1970, the university bought 100 Laurier East. This building was built in 1894. It used to be a school for young men studying for religious life. After the university bought it, the large cross on top was removed. Today, it houses the university's Visual Arts department.
In 1974, the government of Ontario made a new rule. It said the university must strengthen its bilingualism. This meant promoting both English and French cultures.
In 1989, Dr. Wilbert Keon performed Canada's first baby artificial heart transplant. This happened at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
In 1998, the university celebrated its 150th anniversary. Two plaques were put up in Tabaret Hall. They remember 1,000 people from the university who served in wars. They also list the 50 who died.
In 2005, the engineering building was named Colonel By Hall. It honors Lieutenant-Colonel John By, a Royal Engineer.
University Campus
Campus Location and Buildings
The main campus of the university is in the Sandy Hill neighborhood. It is near the ByWard Market and the Rideau Canal. The campus covers about 42.5 hectares (105 acres). The university also owns other properties in the city.
The main campus moved twice before settling in 1856. It was first next to the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica. Then it moved across from the National Gallery of Canada. Finally, it moved to its current spot.
The university buildings are of different ages. Some are very old, like 100 Laurier (1893). Others are very new, like 150 Louis-Pasteur Private (2018). In 2011, the average age of buildings was 63 years. The university has 30 main buildings. It also has many research labs, teaching labs, and classrooms.
The main campus has two parts: Sandy Hill and Lees Campus. Lees Campus was bought in 2007. It used to belong to Algonquin College. It is a short walk from Sandy Hill. An O-Train station, uOttawa station, is right next to the campus.
University Library
The University of Ottawa Library has twelve locations. It has about two million printed books and one million e-books. It also has many maps and music items. The library spends about CA$15 million on new items each year. It has made over 20,000 French books available online.
The main library is in Morisset Hall. This building also has the Media Centre and special collections. The university has five other specialized libraries. These include the Law Library, Health Sciences Library, and Music Library.
The Morisset Library is named after Auguste-Marie Morisset. He was the chief librarian from 1934 to 1958. The Brian Dickson Law Library is named after Brian Dickson, a former chief justice of Canada. The Archives in Morisset Library have many items about the feminism movement in Canada. They have the largest collection of feminist publications in Canada.
The library also has the Learning Crossroads. This area has lecture halls and study rooms. It has cool technology like a huge 8K screen and virtual reality equipment. The University of Ottawa Library is part of several important library groups.
Library History
The library started when the university was founded in 1848. In 1903, a fire destroyed the main university building. All the books and treasures in the library were lost. After the fire, rebuilding the library was a top goal. It received donations from Canadian and foreign governments. In 1932, the Carnegie Corporation of New York gave the library US$1,500. This helped start the library again. In 1938, the French Government donated CA$800 for books. A group called the Society of Friends of the Library was also created to help.
Museum and Galleries
The University of Ottawa Museum of Classical Antiquities opened in 1975. It has ancient artifacts from 700 BC to 700 AD. These items show daily life from that time. The museum also hosts traveling exhibits.
The university also has a student-run gallery called Gallery 115. It is on the main floor of 100 Laurier East. This gallery lets students work in a gallery setting. It gives them a chance to show their own art. Students from Visual Arts, Art History, and Art Administration programs are involved.
Student Housing and Facilities
Most students live off-campus. However, the university has eleven student residences. These include Leblanc Hall, Marchand Hall, and 90 University. There are different types of housing. Some have single or double bedrooms. Others are apartment-style with 2-4 bedrooms. In 2018, a new residence called The Annex opened. It has units with 1-5 bedrooms.
Students living in residences are represented by the Residents' Association of the University of Ottawa (RAUO). This group helps improve life in residences. Each building elects a representative to the RAUO.
The Jock Turcot University Centre (UCU) is a main spot for student life. It was finished in 1973. In 2017, a larger rooftop patio was added. The center is named after Jock Turcot, a former student leader. The university has over 35 places to eat. These include several popular restaurant chains.
Off-Campus Locations
The university has other locations around Ottawa. The Health Science campus is in the Riverview neighborhood. It is about 7.2 hectares (17.8 acres). This campus is mainly for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Roger Guindon Hall is the main building there. This campus is near The Ottawa Hospital and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Many doctors and researchers from these hospitals teach at the university. Medical students also learn by working at these hospitals.
The university also runs the Centre for Executive Leadership. It is in Downtown Ottawa. This center is mostly used by the Telfer School of Management for its business programs. It has classrooms and meeting rooms.
There is also a small campus in Kanata. This campus helps students find jobs at technology companies in the area.
Sustainability Efforts
The Office of Campus Sustainability started in 2006. It helps plan and carry out activities for a greener campus. The university wants to be a leader in environmental responsibility. It has signed agreements like the Talloires Declaration.
The university has many programs to be more sustainable. One is RecycleMania. This is a competition where universities try to recycle the most. In 2011, the University of Ottawa won first place among Canadian universities.
Another program is the Free Store. Students can drop off items they don't want. Other students can pick up items for free. This helps reduce waste. Items include clothes, textbooks, and electronics. The Free Store is at 647 King Edward.
In 2010, the university stopped selling bottled water on campus. This was to reduce plastic waste. They also spent money to improve water fountains.
The new Social Sciences Building is a very green building. It opened in 2012. It cost $112.5 million to build. It has many eco-friendly features. For example, it uses recycled building materials. It has a five-story living wall of plants. This wall helps clean the air. It is the tallest living biofilter wall in North America. The building also has a green roof. This roof was built in 1971 on the Colonel By building. The university aims to get a LEED Gold Certification for its green buildings.
In 2006, the university started its first community garden. It has grown to over thirty pots around campus. The university also has a boreal forest and wetland environment. It is creating a living classroom for students.
The University of Ottawa also has a bike share program. Students can rent bikes for free. They can also get free bike repairs. The university encourages students to use public transit. It has special bus passes for students.
The university received a silver star from the STARS program in 2011. This program measures how sustainable universities are. The Office of Campus Sustainability continues to create events and programs. These help students learn about and practice sustainability.
How the University is Run
The university is run by two main groups: the Board of Governors and the Senate. The Board of Governors handles the overall management and money. It has up to 32 members. These members are chosen from different parts of the university.
The Senate sets the rules for education. It decides on academic programs and admission standards. It also gives out degrees and diplomas. The Senate has 72 members. This includes the president and deans of each faculty. Students from each faculty are also part of the Senate.
The Chancellor is the university's official head. They attend important ceremonies. The Chancellor is chosen by the Board. The President is the chief executive officer. They manage the academic work and daily operations. The President is also the head of the Senate. The President is chosen by the Board.
University Money
In 2022, the university's total money (net assets) was about CA$1.793 billion. Its income increased to $1,246.1 million. Most of this money comes from tuition fees and government grants. Expenses also increased to $1,160.4 million. This was mainly due to salaries, student aid, and costs from the COVID-19 pandemic. The university's special fund (endowment) was valued at CA$321.3 million in 2022.
The university is a registered charity in Canada. In 2011, the university and its students, staff, and visitors brought about CA$4.12 billion into the local economy.
Court Challenges Program
Since 2018, the University of Ottawa has managed the Court Challenges Program (CCP). This program helps people get legal support for human rights and language rights cases. Experts who are independent from the university and government make the decisions. The government chose the University of Ottawa to host this program. This ensures the program works fairly and independently.
Academics and Learning
The University of Ottawa is a research university. It is part of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. The school year is divided into two main sessions: fall/winter and spring/summer. Most students are undergraduates. In fall 2022, there were 39,770 undergraduate students. There were 8,128 graduate students. In 2015, the university gave out many degrees. This included 7,449 bachelor's degrees and 208 doctoral degrees.
Students can also study abroad. The university has agreements with over 250 schools in more than 52 countries. This allows students to earn credits while studying in another country.
Bilingualism at uOttawa
As of 2016, the University of Ottawa was the world's largest English-French bilingual university. It is one of only three bilingual universities in Ontario. The university has always supported both English and French. In 1965, the government made bilingualism an official university policy. The law says the university should promote both languages and French culture in Ontario.
The university has the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI). This institute helps promote English-French bilingualism. It also supports research in official languages. The university is a member of a group that promotes French education and research in Canada.
Students do not have to be bilingual to attend. Most courses are offered in both languages. In 2023, 30% of students used French as their main language of education. 70% used English. In 2009, most professors and staff in bilingual roles were actively bilingual.
Co-operative Education
The university offers a cooperative education program. This program lets students get paid work experience as part of their studies. It is available for both undergraduate and some graduate programs. The program started in 1980.
The University of Ottawa's co-op program is the second largest in Ontario. It has a very high success rate for placing students. Students alternate between working and studying. The work is related to their field of study. The co-op program is available for many programs. It can be done in French or English. Students can even do a work term abroad.
University Rankings
| University rankings | |
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| Global rankings | |
| ARWU World | 201–300 |
| QS World | 203 |
| Times World | 177 |
| U.S News & World Report Global | 215 |
| Canadian rankings | |
| ARWU National | 8–11 |
| QS National | 10 |
| Times National | 8 |
| U.S News & World Report National | 9 |
| Maclean's Medical/Doctoral | 6 |
| Maclean's Reputation | 14 |
The University of Ottawa is ranked among the top universities. In 2022, it was ranked 9th to 12th in Canada by the Academic Ranking of World Universities. The 2023 QS World University Rankings placed it 9th in Canada. The 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings put Ottawa 137th in the world and 7th in Canada. In the 2022–23 U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking, it was 9th in Canada. Maclean's magazine ranked the university 6th in its 2023 Medical Doctoral university rankings.
The university's graduates have good job prospects. The average employment rate for graduates is 97%. This shows the university helps students get ready for their careers.
Research at uOttawa
The university is a member of the U15. This group includes Canada's top research universities. Research at the university is managed by the Office of the Vice-President, Research. The university has 40 research centers and institutes. These include the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
In 2018, Research Infosource ranked Ottawa 9th among Canada's top 50 research universities. The university received $324.581 million for research in 2017. Most research funding comes from the federal government.
The university's research is also recognized in global rankings. In 2019, the Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities ranked Ottawa 147th in the world. The University Ranking by Academic Performance 2018–19 rankings placed it 152nd in the world.
The University of Ottawa Press is a publishing house. It publishes academic books and journals for the university.
Admissions and Financial Aid
Admission requirements are different for students from Ontario, other Canadian provinces, and international students. This is because grading systems vary. The university aims for an admission rate of at least 73%. In 2018, the average high school grade for admitted students was 85.1%.
Students can apply for financial help. This includes programs like the Ontario Student Assistance Program and Canada Student Loans and Grants. Aid can be in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, and work programs. In 2011–2012, the university gave out $71.458 million in financial aid and scholarships.
Student Life
| Undergraduate | Graduate | |
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| Male | 40.6% | 44.4% |
| Female | 59.4% | 55.6% |
| Canadian student | 88.6% | 72.6% |
| International student | 11.4% | 27.4% |
The main student unions are the University of Ottawa Students' Union (UOSU) for undergraduate students. The Graduate Students' Association (GSAÉD) is for graduate students. Students who work as teaching assistants or research assistants are also part of a union called CUPE2626.
The UOSU was chosen as the new undergraduate student union in 2019. This happened after the previous union's agreement with the university ended.
Most faculties also have student groups that represent them. Students living in residences have their own group, the Residents' Association. There are over 175 student clubs. These cover many interests like academics, culture, and sports. Many clubs meet at the student activity center.
Two independent student newspapers are published. The Fulcrum is in English. La Rotonde is in French. The campus radio station, CHUO-FM (89.1 FM), started broadcasting in 1984. The UOSU recognizes three fraternities and ten sororities.
University Athletics
Sports and recreation at the university are managed by Sports Services. Varsity teams compete in Ontario University Athletics or Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec conferences. The university has 29 competitive clubs, including 10 varsity teams.
The first sports group at the university started in 1885. Garnet and grey became the official team colors. These colors also became the official colors of the university. The teams were called "Garnet and Grey" in English and Grenat et Gris in French. People started calling them "GG" for short. Since "gee gee" also means the lead horse in a race, a horse became the university's mascot.
The university's teams have a rivalry with the Carleton Ravens. They play in the Capital Hoops Classic basketball game. They also play in the Colonel By Classic ice hockey game and the Panda Game in Canadian football.
The university has three sports facilities. Montpetit Hall and Minto Sports Complex are on the main campus. Another is on Lees Campus.
Montpetit Hall is in the center of campus. It is home to the basketball and swimming teams. The Minto Sports Complex has two ice rinks. It also has Matt Anthony Field for soccer and rugby. In 2013, the university opened Gee-Gees Field. This new stadium is for the varsity football team. It holds over 4,000 fans. It is the first on-campus home for the football team in 120 years.
All sports facilities are used by both students for fun and by the varsity teams.
The university does not give full athletic scholarships. For fun, the university offers intramural sports leagues. These include badminton, volleyball, basketball, and soccer. About one in eight students participate.
Notable People
Many graduates of the University of Ottawa have become successful. They work in many different fields. As of 2011, the university had over 167,000 alumni. Faculty and graduates have won many awards. These include Governor General's Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Famous winners include Michel Bock and Carol Shields.
Several Chancellors of the university have been important figures in Canada. These include Pauline Vanier and Michaëlle Jean, who was a Governor General of Canada. Many alumni have also worked in government. Four have been heads of government. These include Paul Martin, who was the 24th Prime Minister of Canada. Others include Philémon Yang from Cameroon and Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed from Somalia. The 36th Argentine Vice President, Gabriela Michetti, also studied at the university.
Important business leaders include Daniel Lamarre, former head of Cirque du Soleil. Also, Paul Desmarais and André Desmarais from Power Corporation of Canada. Calin Rovinescu was the head of Air Canada. André Ouellet was the head of Canada Post.
Alex Trebek, the host of the game show Jeopardy!, was an alumnus. A building on campus is named after him. Philippe Falardeau is a well-known film director. Cathleen Crudden is a chemistry professor. Dafydd Williams, a Canadian astronaut, also graduated from the university's medical school.
Arms
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Images for kids
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Tabaret Hall under construction in 1903 (completed in 1905). Construction began earlier in the year after fire destroyed the university's main building.
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Constructed in 1893, 100 Laurier Avenue East is the oldest building at the university. The building was acquired by the university in 1970.
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The green wall in the Faculty of Social Science building is the tallest living biofilter in North America. The green wall is one example of the university's sustainability projects.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Ottawa para niños
- Higher education in Ontario
- List of Canadian universities by endowment
- List of schools in Ottawa
- List of universities in Ontario
- Revue générale de droit
