Nipissing University
Nipissing University is a public university located in North Bay, Ontario, Canada. The campus overlooks Lake Nipissing.
History
Northeastern University (1960–1967)
The roots of Nipissing University date back to 1947, when residents of North Bay formed a committee with the goal of establishing a university within the city. The 1958 Northeastern University Committee continued their efforts in the following years. By 1960, Northeastern University was established and for a short time in 1960–1961, the institution offered first year university courses in Arts, Science, and Commerce in facilities provided by a local Catholic boys' high school. Its application to the Ontario Ministry of Education for a degree-granting university charter was denied on February 28, 1961, and the classes ended shortly thereafter.By mid-1962, Northeastern University had leased new space on Cassells Street in North Bay and arranged for Laurentian University professors to teach extension night classes there. This arrangement continued through mid-1967, with students receiving credits from Laurentian for the coursework done in these classes.
Nipissing College (1967–1992)
To ensure its funding as a university-level institution, Northeastern University changed its name to Nipissing College and signed an affiliation agreement with Laurentian University in 1967. Students attending Nipissing College in North Bay were also officially students of Laurentian University with Laurentian being the degree-granting institution.In 1972, the College Education Centre officially opened. This building, which is still home to Nipissing University, was shared between multiple other educational institutions including Canadore College, a school of nursing, and a teachers' college. In 1973, the North Bay Teachers' College was incorporated into Nipissing College as the Faculty of Education.
Nipissing University (since 1992)
Nipissing University received its charter as an independent university in 1992, thus allowing the school to grant baccalaureate degrees. On December 12, 2001, the government of Ontario passed a bill revising the university's charter to permit it to grant graduate degrees.The governance of Nipissing University is modelled on the provincial University of Toronto Act of 1906, which established a bicameral system of university government consisting of a senate, responsible for academic policy, and a board of governors exercising exclusive control over financial policy and having formal authority in all other matters. The president, appointed by the board, is to provide a link between the two bodies and to perform institutional leadership.
Academics
The university is composed of three faculties: the Faculty of Applied and Professional Studies; the Faculty of Arts and Science; and the Schulich School of Education; as well as the School of Graduate Studies. Nipissing University has approximately 5000 undergraduate students, the majority of which are full-time students, and 150 graduate students. Applicants entering from high school must have a minimum of 70%, or 75% if applying for a degree in Criminal Justice or Concurrent Education, to be considered for full-time study. Cut-off averages for each program change annually. The graduation rate at Nipissing University is 85.9%, which is higher than the average Ontario graduation rate of 77.3%.Nipissing University offers over 30 areas of study, many of which have opportunities for internships or experiential learning. Some partnership programs, such as Environmental Biology and Technology, Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Social Welfare and Social Development allow students to earn both a bachelor's degree and a college diploma from Canadore College in four years. Nipissing also has a collaborative nursing program with Canadore, giving students access the college's nursing simulation labs.
Formally known as the Faculty of Education, the Schulich School of Education was established in 2010 due to a donation from philanthropist Seymour Schulich. Programs within the Schulich School of Education include both Concurrent and Consecutive Bachelor of Educations degrees as well as a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education.
Undergraduate programs
Nipissing University offers the following undergraduate degrees:- Bachelor of Arts with majors in: Anthropology, Child and Family Studies, Classical Studies, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Economics, English Studies, Environmental Geography, Gender Equality and Social Justice, Geography, History, Liberal Arts, Mathematics, Native Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religions and Cultures, Social Welfare and Social Development, and Sociology
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Fine Arts
- Bachelor of Physical and Health Education
- Bachelor of Science with majors in: Biology, Computer Science, Environmental Biology and Technology, Environmental and Physical Geography, Liberal Science, Mathematics, and Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in nursing
- Bachelor of Social Work
- Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science combined with Bachelor of Commerce
- Concurrent Bachelor of Arts /Bachelor of Education
- Concurrent Bachelor of Business Administration /Bachelor of Education
- Concurrent Bachelor of Physical and Health Education /Bachelor of Education
- '''Concurrent Bachelor of Science /Bachelor of Education '''
Graduate and professional programs
- Consecutive Bachelor of Education
- Master of Arts in sociology
- Master of Education
- Master of Environmental Science
- Master of Environmental Studies
- Master of Science in kinesiology
- Master of Science in mathematics
- '''PhD in education with a focus on Educational Sustainability'''
Additional credentials
- Aboriginal Leadership
- Applied Behaviour Analysis - Lifespan
- Bilingualism
- Digital Classics
- Digital Humanities
- Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention - Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Entrepreneurial Finance
- Environmental Management
- Financial Services
- Financial Product Sales Professional
- Forest Resource Management and Conservation
- Game Design and Development
- Geomatics
- Health Studies and Gerontology
- Human Resources Management
- iLEAD Business Experience
- Neuroscience
- Peace and Violence Prevention
- Program Evaluation and Applied Research
Joint programs
- The Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice policing stream involves courses at Nipissing University and Canadore College, allowing students to obtain a college diploma and a university degree at the same time
- Students in the Bachelor of Arts Honours Specialization degree in Social Welfare and Social Development can also obtain a Social Service Worker college diploma from Canadore College while completing their university degree
- The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program has partnered with Canadore, allowing students to access Canadore's simulation labs
- The Environmental Technology and Science program offers students both a Bachelor of Science degree from Nipissing and an Environmental Technician - Protection and Compliance diploma from Canadore
Student life
Student union
The Nipissing University Student Union is the official body representing the student point of view at Nipissing. All students, both full-time and part-time, belong to the Student Union and fund the organization through their incidental fees. NUSU deals with many aspects of student life on campus, including the academic governance of the university and social events.Nipissing University students are able to elect student executive representatives. These roles include: President, VP Governance & Legal Affairs, VP Finance, VP Communications, and VP Services.
The executives are also part of NUSU's Board of Directors, which includes another 10 student positions. The Directors-at-Large are part of the highest decision-making body of NUSU and hold accountable the executives to their job while making decisions on behalf of the student population.
NUSU's executives sit on Nipissing University's Board of Governors and Academic Senate. Elections are held annually for executive positions, NUSU Board of Director positions and Student Senator positions. NUSU's student membership belongs to the Canadian Federation of Students.
Clubs and activities
Nipissing University has a variety of clubs and activities. Clubs are sanctioned by NUSU and run by students. Common club categories include academics, recreation, volunteerism, current social topics, and religion.Nipissing University has over 20 km of trails. These trails are accessible for hiking in the warmer months and for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in the winter. Points of interest include the Lookout Tower and Duchesnay Falls.
Students at Nipissing may also partake in intramural sports, such as dodge ball, slo-pitch, and ultimate Frisbee. Fitness classes, which include Zumba, kickboxing, and yoga, are held in the R.J. Surtees Student Athletics Centre and vary by semester.