University of Western Ontario facts for kids
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| Latin: Universitas Occidentis Ontariensis | |
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Other name
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Western University |
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Former names
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The Western University of London, Ontario |
| Motto | Veritas et Utilitas (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Truth and usefulness |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 7 March 1878 |
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Academic affiliations
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ACU, CARL, COU, CUSID, Fields Institute, Universities Canada, U15 |
| Endowment | CA$1.14 billion (2023) |
| Budget | CA$901.5 million |
| Chancellor | Kelly Meighen |
| President | Alan Shepard |
| Provost | Florentine Strzelczyk |
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Academic staff
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1,403 |
| Undergraduates | 33,879 |
| Postgraduates | 6,705 |
| Location |
43°00′30″N 81°16′21″W / 43.00833°N 81.27250°W |
| Campus | Urban, 455 hectares (1,120 acres) |
| Colours | Purple and white |
| Nickname | Mustangs |
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Sporting affiliations
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U Sports, OUA |
| Mascot | JW the Mustang |
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The University of Western Ontario (often called UWO or Western University) is a public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. Its main campus covers 455 hectares (1,120 acres) of land. It is surrounded by homes and has the Thames River flowing through its eastern side. Western University has twelve main academic departments and schools.
The university was started on March 7, 1878, by Bishop Isaac Hellmuth. It was first called the Western University of London, Ontario. It included Huron College, which began in 1863. The first four subjects taught were Arts, Divinity, Law, and Medicine. In 1908, the university became open to all faiths. After 1919, it partnered with several other colleges. The university grew a lot after World War II, adding many new departments.
Western is a university for both male and female students. It has over 24,000 students and more than 306,000 former students around the world. It is part of the U15, a group of top research universities in Canada. Western's sports teams are called the Western Mustangs. They compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference, which is part of U Sports.
Discover Western's History
The university began on March 7, 1878. Bishop Isaac Hellmuth started it as The Western University of London, Ontario. Its first leader was Chief Justice Richard Martin Meredith. It included Huron College, which started earlier in 1863. The first subjects taught were Arts, Divinity, Law, and Medicine. When classes began in 1881, there were only 15 students.
The university officially gained the right to give out degrees in arts, divinity, and medicine on June 20, 1881. In 1882, its name changed slightly to The Western University and College of London, Ontario. The first graduation ceremony happened on April 27, 1883. At first, it was connected to the Church of England, but in 1908, it became a university for everyone, regardless of their religion.
In 1916, the university bought the land where its campus is today. There are two plaques in University College that remember students and graduates who died in World War I. A third plaque honors those who served in a hospital unit during World War II, which was supported by UWO.
In 1923, the university was renamed The University of Western Ontario. The first two buildings on the new site were the Arts Building (now University College) and the Natural Science Building (now the Physics and Astronomy Building). Classes started on the current campus in 1924. The University College tower, a famous part of the university, is called the Middlesex Memorial Tower. It honors the soldiers from Middlesex County who fought in World War I.
In the early 1900s, some other schools became partners with Western. In 1919, Brescia College joined as a Roman Catholic partner. Assumption College also partnered with Western. Other schools that joined later included Waterloo College of Arts in 1925, St. Peter's College in 1939, and King's College in 1945. Waterloo College and Assumption College later became independent universities. Brescia, Huron, and King's are still connected to Western today.
Two World War II memorial plaques are on the Physics and Astronomy Building. They list students and graduates who served in the war.
The university grew a lot after World War II. It added new departments like the Faculty of Graduate Studies in 1947, the School of Business Administration (now the Ivey Business School) in 1949, and the Faculty of Engineering in 1957. Other additions included the Faculty of Law in 1959, the Faculty of Education in 1965, and the Faculty of Music in 1968.
In 2012, the university started using "Western University" as its main brand. This was to make the school seem more international. However, its official legal name is still "The University of Western Ontario." This name is used on official documents like diplomas.
Exploring Western's Campus
Western University is in London, a city in southwestern Ontario. Most of the campus is surrounded by homes. The Thames River flows through the eastern part of the campus. Western Road is the main street that runs through the university from north to south. The central campus, where most student homes and classrooms are, is about 170.8 hectares (422 acres) big.
Student residences take up the most space at Western, about 31% of all building areas. Classrooms and research labs are the next largest, using about 28% of the space. Most of this space (48%) is for research. Classrooms make up about 27% of these facilities.
Western's campus started to develop in the 1920s. Many of the first buildings were designed in a Collegiate Gothic style, which looks like old European colleges. In the late 1960s, as the campus grew, new buildings used more modern styles like brutalist and modernist. In 2000, the campus plan changed. The central part was set aside only for academic buildings. The oldest building on the central campus is the boiler room/power plant, built in 1922. The oldest academic buildings are University College and the Physics and Astronomy Building, both finished in 1924. The newest academic building is the Amit Chakma Engineering Building, opened in 2018. The Western Interdisciplinary Research Building (WIRB) is the newest building. It has advanced research facilities for studying the brain and mind.
Western's Libraries and Art Galleries
Western's library system, called Western Libraries, has six libraries. They hold over 2.45 million books, plus many online books and journals. Some of the libraries include the Allyn and Betty Taylor Library, the D. B. Weldon Library, and the Music Library. The D. B. Weldon Library also keeps the university's old records and special collections. Western Libraries also has a shared catalog that lets students and teachers access books from Western and its partner colleges like Brescia, Huron, and King's.
Western also has two art galleries: the Artlab Gallery and the McIntosh Gallery. The Artlab Gallery shows about 14 projects each year, focusing on new and experimental art. The McIntosh Gallery is a public art gallery that opened in 1942. It shows art history and modern visual art. It is the oldest university art gallery in Ontario. In 2014, 683 pieces from the gallery's collection were displayed around the main campus.
Western also works with the Museum of Ontario Archaeology. This museum started from a collection of old items kept in different buildings, including Western's University College. The museum officially opened in 1978. Even though it is a separate charity, the university's leaders still help guide it.
Student Homes and Facilities
The main campus has nine student residences. These homes are for first-year students or older students. In 2015, almost a quarter of all undergraduate students lived on campus. This included most (78.69%) of the first-year students. Each residence has its own student council. The residences are either traditional style, suite style, or a mix of both.
Traditional residences include Delaware Hall and Saugeen-Maitland Hall. Suite-style residences include Alumni House and Elgin Hall. Perth Hall and Ontario Hall are hybrid styles. Alumni House and London Hall are only for older students. Saugeen–Maitland Hall is the largest, housing 1,252 first-year students. Alumni House is the smallest, with 224 older students. The university also has three apartment buildings for older and graduate students.
Over 500 older students work in the residences to help new students. They help new students get used to university life. These helpers include Residence Staff, Sophs, and Community Leaders.
The University Community Centre is Western's main student hub. It is where student groups meet and where many social, cultural, and fun activities happen. It has offices for student organizations, including the undergraduate student union (University Students' Council) and the graduate student union (Society of Graduate Students). The Community Centre also has shops, food places, and study rooms.
Off-Campus Locations
Western University owns other properties outside its main campus in Southwestern Ontario. These properties include research facilities. They are grouped into three research parks managed by Western Research Parks. These parks help connect university research with businesses.
Discovery Park is the oldest research park, started in 1989. It is next to the main campus and has government labs and large research centers. It also has a hotel and conference center. The Advanced Manufacturing Park is another research park. It was created with Fanshawe College and the City of London. This park has the WindEEE Dome, the world's first hexagonal wind tunnel. It can test buildings and bridges in strong winds, even simulating tornados. In 2003, Western opened the Sarnia-Lambton Research park with Lambton County and Sarnia. This park is home to Canada's largest clean technology business incubator.
The university also manages some homes outside the central campus. Gibbons Lodge is the official home of the university president. It was built in 1932 and bought by the university in 1960. Western also has Platt's Lane Estates, which are townhouses and apartments for older students and students with families.
Being Green at Western
Western's efforts to be sustainable are guided by the President's Advisory Committee on Environment & Sustainability. This committee works to include sustainability in teaching, research, and campus operations. They use eco-friendly landscaping and build energy-efficient buildings. Western has signed pledges to be environmentally responsible, like "Ontario Universities Committed to a Greener World" and the Talloires Declaration.
How Western University is Run
Western University is governed by two main groups: the Board of Governors and the Senate. The Senate was the first governing body, created when the university started in 1878. The Board of Governors was added later in 1892. The Board manages the university's money and overall operations. It includes the university's chancellor, president, the mayor of London, and other elected or appointed members.
The Senate is in charge of the university's academic rules and policies. It includes the chancellor, president, vice-presidents, deans, and the university librarian. It also has elected members from the faculty, students, and partner colleges. In total, there are 103 members in the Senate.
The president and vice-chancellor is the university's chief executive officer. They oversee all academic and administrative work. Alan Shepard became the tenth president on July 1, 2019. The chancellor is the honorary head of the university. This role lasts for four years. The current chancellor is Kelly Meighen, who started on July 1, 2023.
Western's Partner Colleges
Western University is connected to three university colleges. Brescia University College is an all-women's Catholic college. It is the only women's college left in Canada. It was founded in 1919 and moved next to Western's campus in 1925. Huron University College started in 1863 as Huron College. It was renamed Huron University College in 2000. Huron and Western share the same founder, Bishop Issac Hellmuth. Huron moved next to Western's campus in 1951. King's University College started in 1954 as a Catholic liberal arts college. It changed its name to King's College in 1966 and King's University College in 2004. Even though these colleges have religious ties, students of all faiths can attend.
Western also works with St. Peter's Seminary through its connection with King's University College. St. Peter's was founded in 1912 as a seminary for the Roman Catholic Diocese of London. The campuses of King's University College and St. Peter's Seminary are east of Western's main campus.
Academics at Western
Western is a public research university. Most students are full-time undergraduate students. In total, there are 30,665 undergraduate students and 5,297 graduate students. In 2008–2009, the university awarded many degrees, including bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Students can get financial help like loans and grants from the government to pay for their studies.
The university has 11 main departments and schools. These include the Don Wright Faculty of Music, Faculty of Arts & Humanities, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Information & Media Studies, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Social Science, Ivey School of Business, and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. In 2016, most undergraduate students were in the Faculty of Social Sciences. The Faculty of Health Science had the most graduate students.
To get into Western, students need different grades depending on where they went to high school. In September 2012, the average grade for new first-year students was 89.3 percent. In 2013, 45,000 students applied for only 4,900 spots.
Western also lets students study abroad. They can earn credits through exchange programs, internships, or special trips led by professors.
Western's Reputation
| University rankings | |
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| Global rankings | |
| ARWU World | 301–400 |
| QS World | 114 |
| Times World | 201–250 |
| U.S News & World Report Global | 300 |
| Canadian rankings | |
| ARWU National | 12–17 |
| QS National | 6 |
| Times National | 9–10 |
| U.S News & World Report National | 10 |
| Maclean's Medical/Doctoral | 11 |
| Maclean's Reputation | 13 |
Western University is highly ranked around the world and in Canada. In 2024, the QS World University Rankings placed Western 114th globally and sixth in Canada. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings in 2023 ranked Western among the top 201–250 universities worldwide and 8–10 in Canada. U.S. News & World Report ranked Western 300th globally and tenth in Canada for 2022–23. In Maclean's 2023 rankings, Western was 11th among Medical-Doctoral universities.
The university is also known for helping its graduates find jobs. In QS's 2022 ranking for graduate employment, Western was 43rd in the world and third in Canada.
Research at Western
Western focuses on four main areas of research: life sciences and human health, culture and values, human and physical environments, and social and economic trends. In 2018, Western was ranked 10th among Canadian research universities. In 2017, it received over $249 million for research from outside sources. The Canadian government provides 46% of Western's research money. Private companies contribute 10%.
Western's research impact is also noted in global rankings that look at how often its academic papers are cited. In 2019, the Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities ranked Western 197th globally and ninth in Canada.
Research on the human brain is a big focus at Western. The Brain and Mind Institute studies cognitive neuroscience. In 2011, they found that blind people might use echolocation by using the part of their brain normally used for sight. Another study suggested that people deaf from birth might use their hearing part of the brain to improve their sight. Western also has the Institute for Earth and Space Exploration, which is the first in Canada to offer a degree in planetary science.
In 2014, the university planned a new facility for research in medicine, science, and technology. This facility studies HIV and other serious human diseases. Western's Department of Microbiology and Immunology is well-known for Dr. Chil-Yong Kang's work on an HIV/AIDS vaccine. This vaccine, SAV001-H, is the first and only preventive HIV vaccine made from a modified killed HIV-1 virus. Early tests showed it was safe and boosted antibodies. It is the only HIV vaccine being developed in Canada and one of only a few worldwide.
Student Life at Western
| Undergraduate | Graduate | |
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| Male | 43.9% | 45.0% |
| Female | 56.1% | 55.0% |
| Canadian student | 90.1% | 78.0% |
| International student | 9.9% | 22.0% |
The two main student groups that deal with university rules and policies are the University Students' Council for undergraduate students and the Society of Graduate Students for graduate students. The University Students' Council recognizes over 180 student groups and clubs. More than 19,500 students are members of these clubs, which cover many interests like academics, culture, religion, and sports. The University Students' Council also runs a campus movie theater, a pub/restaurant, a clothing store, and a print shop. These are all in the University Community Centre.
There are also many fraternities and sororities for students to join.
Western is known for its lively student social scene. In 2019, Maclean's magazine ranked it 7th among Canada's top party schools.
Western Mustangs Athletics
Sports at Western are managed by Sports & Recreation Services. The university's sports teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference, which is part of U Sports. The teams are called the Western Mustangs. Western does not give full athletic scholarships, which is common for U Sports members.
The university has many sports facilities for its teams and students. The Western Student Recreation Centre, opened in 2009, has a large pool, weight rooms, cardio areas, and three gyms. It also has spaces for fitness classes and clubs.
Western Alumni Stadium (formerly TD Stadium) has been the university's main stadium since 2000. It can hold over 8,000 people. It is home to the university's football team and has hosted big events like the World Lacrosse Championships. The Thompson Recreation & Athletic Centre has an ice rink, tennis courts, and a track. It is home to the ice hockey and track and field teams. Alumni Hall is another sports venue for basketball, volleyball, and other indoor events.
Many Western students play in intramural sports leagues and tournaments. These offer different skill levels and many sports, from volleyball and basketball to dodgeball and inner tube water polo. Western also hosts high school football games at TD Stadium. Western has several school songs, including "Western", which is often played by the Western Mustang Band at football games.
Performances and Arts
The Don Wright Faculty of Music puts on almost 400 performances, workshops, and concerts each year. Most of these are open to the public. The Western University Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra perform regularly. The UWOpera group performs many types of opera in the Paul Davenport Theatre. There are also other student-run drama groups that put on shows every year.
Campus Media
Western's students run several media outlets on campus. The University Students' Council owns and operates the campus radio station CHRW-FM (94.9 FM). The first campus radio at Western started in 1971, but the current station, CHRW-FM, began in 1979.
The University Students' Council used to run a TV station called tvWestern.ca, which started in 1994. It stopped broadcasting in 2010.
The Student Newspaper
The Gazette, also known as the Western Gazette, is the student newspaper. It has been published since 1906. The Gazette publishes news online every day and in print on Tuesdays during the school year. It started as a handwritten newspaper in 1902 called In Cap And Gown. It became a printed newspaper in 1906 and changed its name to The Gazette in 1908. It stopped publishing during World War I but started again in 1919. In 1930, it changed its name to the University of Western Ontario Gazette. The Gazette now focuses on online content daily and prints once a week.
The Gazette has led to other publications. One was Occidentalia, which became the university's yearbook. The newspaper is owned by the University Students' Council (USC), but it makes its own editorial decisions. Many famous Canadian journalists have worked at the Gazette. Some notable former staff include Stephen Brunt, Susan Delacourt, Elliotte Friedman, Kevin Newman, Carol Off, Alan Thicke, and Paul Wells.
Student Life Programs
Leadership Education
The Leadership Education Program teaches students how to be good leaders, both on their own and in groups. The program has three levels: individual leadership, group leadership, and community leadership. To complete a level, students must finish at least five of its seven lessons.
Student Exchange Programs
Western University offers a student exchange program for students to study abroad at partner universities. Each year, almost 400 students come to Western from other countries as exchange students. Western's International Exchange Program lets its students study at over 85 different schools in 25 countries.
Famous People from Western
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John Robarts, former Premier of Ontario
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Sir Frederick Banting, Nobel Prize winner for insulin
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Margaret Chan, former head of the World Health Organization
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J. Carson Mark, mathematician who worked on the Manhattan Project
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Kevin O'Leary, TV personality and businessman
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Galen Weston, chairman of George Weston Limited
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Roberta Bondar, first Canadian woman in space
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Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party
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Simu Liu, Canadian actor
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Jane Philpott, Canadian doctor and former politician
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As of November 2007, over 220,000 people who attended Western University live in more than 100 countries. Many former students and teachers have become famous in different fields. They have won awards like the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize. Former teacher Frederick Banting won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering insulin. Alice Munro, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013, studied English at Western. Two Western graduates, Bjarni Tryggvason and Roberta Bondar, have even traveled to space.
Many former students have become important government leaders. These include James Bartleman, who was the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Sheila Copps, who was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. Western's alumni also include several provincial premiers, like John Robarts and David Peterson from Ontario, and Don Getty from Alberta. Some graduates have also held important international positions, such as Margaret Chan, former Director-General of the World Health Organization.
A large number of successful business and economics leaders also studied at Western. Some examples are Stephen Poloz, former Governor of the Bank of Canada; Kevin O'Leary, a TV personality and investor; and Galen Weston, chairman of George Weston Limited.
Western's Coat of Arms
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See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Ontario Occidental para niños
- 15025 Uwontario
- Old Four
- Western Mustang Band
