University of Victoria


The University of Victoria is a public research university located in the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. Established in 1903 as Victoria College, the institution was initially an affiliated college of McGill University until 1915. From 1921 to 1963, it functioned as an affiliate of the University of British Columbia. In 1963, the institution was re-organized into an independent university.

History

The University of Victoria is the oldest post-secondary institution in British Columbia. First established in 1903 as Victoria College, an affiliated college of McGill University, it gained full autonomy and degree-granting status through a charter on July 1, 1963.
Between 1903 and 1915, Victoria College offered first- and second-year McGill courses in the arts and sciences. Administered locally by the Victoria School Board, the college was an adjunct to Victoria High School and shared its facilities. Both institutions were under the direction of a single Principal: E.B. Paul, 1903–1908; and S.J. Willis, 1908–1915.
File:Craigdarroch Castle, 2010-07-31.jpg|thumb|left|The second incarnation of Victoria College was housed in Craigdarroch Castle from 1921 to 1946
In 1915, the opening of the University of British Columbia, established by Act of Legislature in 1908, obliged the college to suspend operations in higher education in Victoria. In 1920, as a result of local demands, Victoria College began the second stage of its development, reborn in affiliation with the University of British Columbia. Though still administered by the Victoria School Board, the college was now completely separate from Victoria High School, moving in 1921 into Craigdarroch Castle. Over the next two decades, under Principals E.B. Paul and P.H. Elliott, Victoria College provided courses in first- and second-year arts and sciences. It was also during this period that future author Pierre Berton edited and served as principal cartoonist for the student newsletter, The Microscope. Between 1921 and 1944, enrolment at Victoria College seldom exceeded 250. However, in 1945, 128 servicemen returning from World War II pushed enrolment up to 400, and 600 in 1946.
The final stage was between the years 1945 and 1963. It saw the transition from two-year college to university, under Principals J.M. Ewing and W.H. Hickman. During this period, the college was governed by the Victoria College Council, representative of the parent University of British Columbia, the Greater Victoria School Board, and the provincial Department of Education. In 1946, the college was forced by postwar enrolment to move from Craigdarroch to the Lansdowne campus of the Provincial Normal School, the current location of Camosun College's Lansdowne Campus. The Normal School joined Victoria College in 1956 as its Faculty of Education. Late in this transitional period the 284-acre now 385-acre campus at Gordon Head was acquired. In 1961 the college, still in affiliation with UBC, awarded its first bachelor's degrees.
In the early part of this century, professional education expanded beyond the traditional fields of theology, law and medicine. Graduate training based on the German-inspired American model of specialized coursework and the completion of a research thesis was introduced. The policy of university education initiated in the 1960s responded to population pressure and the belief that higher education was a key to social justice and economic productivity for individuals and for society.
The university gained its full autonomy in 1963 as the University of Victoria. The University Act of 1963 vested administrative authority in a chancellor elected by the convocation of the university, a board of governors, and a president appointed by the board; academic authority was given to the senate which was representative both of the faculties and of the convocation.
The university's Arms were registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on April 3, 2001. The historical traditions of the university are reflected in the coat of arms, its academic regalia, and its house flag. The BA hood is solid red, recalling the early affiliation with McGill, along with the martlets in the coat of arms. The BSc hood, of gold, and the BEd hood, of blue, show the colours of the University of British Columbia. Blue and gold have been retained as the official colours. The motto at the top of the Arms, in Hebrew characters, is "Let there be Light"; the motto at the bottom, in Latin, is "A Multitude of the Wise is the Health of the World."

Department of Political Science Chilly Climate Report

On May 11, 1992, the Department of Political Science created the committee to Make the Department More Supportive to Women as a response to concerns regarding the experiences of graduate and undergraduate students. The committee was made up of five female undergraduate students and Dr. Somer Brodribb, an untenured professor working in the department. Later, this committee was unofficially called the "Chilly Climate" or Climate Committee within the department. "Chilly Climate" is a term used by the Project on the Status and Education of Women.
A preliminary report published by the Climate Committee to the Department of Political Science on March 23, 1993, which looked at the experience of both faculty and students at the University of Victoria issued recommendations that, in their eyes, would make the department more hospitable to female students while also highlighting the experiences of female students which the committee found troubling. These recommendations included the establishment of a committee for addressing issues that were raised in the report, the creation of formal policies addressing race and gender discrimination, and workshops for faculty on race and gender issues in the classroom environment. Notably, the preliminary report also highlighted the importance of including classroom content from feminist perspectives and more texts authored by female scholars.
In response to this report, tenured professors of the political science department Robert Bedeski, Colin Bennett, Ron Cheffins, Warren Magusson, Terry Morley, Norman Ruff, Rob Walker, and Jeremy Wilson challenged what they perceived to be slander from Dr. Brodribb, who chaired the committee. They requested that Dr. Brodribb allow an investigation into the allegations of sexist behaviour in the Chilly Climate report. Dr. Bodribb refused, stating that this went against the agreement her committee made with the women interviewed and could expose them to further discrimination. If the evidence was not handed over the tenured professors requested a complete withdrawal of the statements made in the Chilly Climate report and an apology that would be distributed to all those who saw the report. They also mentioned seeking further action if Dr. Brodribb did neither of these things. To review documents related to the report, one can go to the University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections.
A review committee was established by University of Victoria President David Strong, requesting advice from lawyers Beth Bilson and Thomas R. Berger to assist in evaluating the climate of the political science department. They published a report in August 1993, which included recommendations that Strong later endorsed.

Campus and grounds

The campus is situated 7km north of downtown Victoria and is spread over 403 acres. UVic also has an offsite study center at the Jeanne S. Simpson Field Studies Resource Center in Lake Cowichan. Despite its name, no part of the university's main campus is located in the City of Victoria proper, instead split between the municipalities of Saanich and Oak Bay. The campus is several hundred feet from the Pacific Ocean at Cadboro Bay. The six-hectare Queenswood campus was acquired from the Sisters of St. Ann and converted into a national laboratory. The Legacy Art Gallery on Yates Street and a proposed redevelopment on Broad Street make up the properties owned by the university in downtown Victoria.
The University of Victoria's campus was designed in part by American architectural firm Wurster, Bernardi & Emmons, which had previously completed major buildings at Stanford University and UC Berkeley. The principles and concept of the original design are still being followed, with the academic portions of the campus located inside the Ring Road, forming a perfect circle in diameter.
The following is a list of prominent buildings on the University of Victoria campus:
  • Bob Wright CentreHome to the School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, the Department of Chemistry, and the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling & Analysis. Also features the Department of Astronomy dome and telescopes, lecture theatres, offices, meeting rooms, labs, and SciCafe dining outlet.
  • Business and Economics BuildingBesides the obvious, the Business and Economics building also houses the offices of senior university administrators and contains a student computing facility.
  • Centre of Accessible Learning "CAL" Facilitates academic accommodations for students with accessible needs and extra support with professors, as well as full serve note taking services which is fee based, and a Learning Assistance Program that helps navigate courses and assist with time management and planning for individual needs
  • Campus Security ServicesSecurity Officers patrol and respond to Campus needs, provide first aid, and maintain a safe campus. The office also contains parking services, emergency planning, and lost & found.
  • Campus Services BuildingIncludes Career Services, the UVic Bookstore, the Computer Store, the Centre for Accessible Learning, and a Starbucks. Located near Campus bookstore and Bus loop.
  • CARSA BuildingCARSA is the Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities on the UVic campus. It houses the UVic Vikes athletics and recreation programs, as well as offices, labs and a machine shop for CanAssist, which develops customized technologies, programs and services for people living with disabilities.
  • Čeqʷəŋín ʔéʔləŋ Completed in 2023, Čeqʷəŋín ʔéʔləŋ combines student residences and a primary dining facility for students. The building has an Indigenous name to acknowledge the Songhees and Esquimalt nations.
  • Clearihue BuildingOrganized around a central court, it is home to the Faculty of Humanities, houses the Departments of English, French, Germanic and Slavic Studies, Greek and Roman Studies, Hispanic and Italian Studies, History, Linguistics, Medieval Studies, Pacific and Asian Studies, Philosophy, and Gender Studies. Contains numerous classrooms as well as student computing facilities, including the Computer Assisted Language Learning facility and the Computer Help Desk. It is the location of the Department of University Systems, which is largely responsible for the systems, networking and support of the university, including student computing facilities and language labs. Clearihue is the oldest building on campus, originally constructed in 1962 and augmented by an addition in 1971. It is named after Joseph Clearihue, who was chairman of Victoria College from 1947 until it gained university status in 1963. In 2013, the Clearihue Building underwent a major $15 million redevelopment. Recognizable across campus for its clock tower, the Clearihue clock is notoriously stuck at 1:55.
  • Cornett BuildingA sprawling complex of different courts and staircases, which includes classrooms and houses the Departments of Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology. The Cornett Building is often described by freshmen undergraduates as being an unrelenting maze.
  • Cunningham BuildingContains the Department of Biology, the Centre for Forest Biology, a herbarium, and numerous specialized research facilities.
  • David Strong BuildingContains classroom spaces, including seminar rooms, breakout rooms, and the Mathews and McQueen auditorium.
  • David Turpin BuildingThe David Turpin Building is best known as the home of the Geography Department. The building also includes the School of Environmental Studies, Statistics, and Mathematics. The Turpin Building also hosts the government-funded Water & Climate Impacts Research Centre. It includes a grass roof and LEED energy-efficient engineering.
  • Elliott BuildingIncludes the Departments of Chemistry and Physics and Astronomy, as well as a number of offices, classrooms, and laboratories. The building is topped by the Climenhaga Observatory.
  • Engineering BuildingsIncludes the Engineering Office Wing, the Engineering Lab Wing and the Engineering/Computer Science building. Home to the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, which includes the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Software engineering.
  • Fine Arts BuildingContains the departments of Writing and History in Art as well as many offices, classrooms, a major lecture theatre, a photography darkroom, Arts Place dining outlet, and a multi-purpose lobby that may be used for readings and performances.
  • First Peoples HouseAnthropological building that provides for Indigenous students. Features two large statues in front of the modern, glass building. It is located between Centre Quadrangle and West Quad.
  • Fraser BuildingFormerly known as the Begbie Building. Houses the Faculty of Law and the Institute for Dispute Resolution. The building also contains classrooms, seminar rooms, a moot courtroom, and the Diana M. Priestly Law Library.
  • Halpern Centre for Graduate StudentsColloquially known as "The Grad Centre", the building houses the Graduate Student Society general office, the "Grad House" restaurant, which is open to the public, and the David Clode lounge. There is also a meeting space that can be booked by contacting the GSS Office.
  • Hickman BuildingFormerly called the Centre for Innovative Teaching. Includes "Smart" classrooms featuring closed-circuit cameras and remote projection systems to link teachers and students with classrooms at remote locations.
  • Human and Social Development BuildingClassrooms and offices for Child and Youth Care, Dispute Resolution, Health Information Science, Indigenous Governance, Nursing, Public Administration, and Social Work.
  • Ian Stewart ComplexA former recreational facility containing tennis courts, squash/racquetball courts, an outdoor pool, a dance studio, a physiotherapy clinic, a gym, and a weight room. Only the ice rink remains in use, as other services have moved to McKinnon and CARSA. Also contains the Alumni Services, Development, Corporate Relations, and Advancement Services departments. Currently being redeveloped as part of a major expansion to house more post-graduates and international students.
  • Jamie Cassels CentreFormerly known as University Centre and renamed in 2020 after departing President Jamie Cassels. Adjacent to the West Quad, the Centre is a major complex with a distinctive copper roof. It includes the Registrar's Offices, as well as many administrative departments, the secondary dining facility, and the Farquhar Auditorium.
  • MacLaurin BuildingAn extensive modernist complex which includes the Faculty of Education and School of Music, as well classrooms, the David Lam Auditorium, and Mac's Bistro.
  • McKinnon BuildingEncompasses the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, an indoor swimming pool, fitness and weight room, dance studio, outdoor tennis courts, squash courts and a gymnasium.
  • William C. Mearns Centre for Learning - McPherson Library The Mearns Centre for Learning - McPherson Library is the major research library of the University of Victoria. It houses the university's extensive holdings, including the university archives, special collections, and the map library. Following a major donation, the 2008 expansion to the McPherson Library created the William C. Mearns Centre for Learning, which contains the Learning Commons, Digital Scholarship Commons, Special Collections & University Archives, a Historic Computing Lab, the Farallon Book Arts Lab, classrooms and group study rooms.
  • Medical Sciences BuildingThe home of the Island Medical Program and future home of the University of Victoria Medical School.
  • Michael Williams BuildingFormerly known as the Administrative Services Building. Accommodates the university's executive team as well as other administrative functions such as accounting, research services, pension, and payroll.
  • Petch BuildingHouses the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry and the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences.
  • Phoenix TheatreA major academic building notably located outside of Ring Road, it serves as the home of the Theatre department and includes many offices and classrooms. It has two theatre stages; the Chief Dan George and Roger Bishop.
  • Sedgewick BuildingsAn advanced research complex which houses the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives, Centre on Aging, Centre for the Study of Religion in Society, and Centre for Global Studies; as well as fundraising and administration offices.
  • Student Union BuildingPopularly known as the "SUB", it houses a movie theatre, restaurants, a stationery store, several book vendors, and the headquarters of several clubs, societies, and campus organizations, including the University of Victoria radio station. There is also a large student bar located in the SUB, known as Felicita's Campus Pub.
  • Student Wellness CentreProvides current students with primary care and mental health support, as well as counselling services and religion spiritual care. It is staffed with medical doctors, nurses and counsellors. The Centre can also assist students with documentation related to academic concession.
  • World War II Army FacilitiesNine single-storey, wood-frame utilitarian hut facilities from the Second World War on the northern part of the University of Victoria campus. These structures are retained for their historical significance and are listed on the Registry of Historic Places of Canada.
The university offers on-campus housing for over 3,200 students. A variety of housing is available, including single and double dormitories, Cluster Housing, bachelor and one-bedroom apartments, and family housing. Four buildings in one of the oldest residential complexes at the university are named for Emily Carr, Arthur Currie, Margaret Newton, and David Thompson. Construction on the South Tower Complex was completed in January 2011. The largest residence building in terms of capacity is Cheko'nien House, which holds 398 beds. The campus has become increasingly cycling-friendly.
Much of the university estate and endowment lands have been preserved as a nature setting, notably Finnerty Gardens and Mystic Vale, a forested area and park. The large campus is home to deer, owls, ravens, squirrels and many other wild animals native to the area. A large population of domestic rabbits was previously a feature of the campus. In May 2010, the university began trapping and euthanizing the rabbits as they had been known to put athletes at risk in the playing fields and cause extensive damage to university grounds. Local veterinarians offered to perform neutering of the male rabbits. As of July 2011, the UVic campus is free of rabbits. 900 rabbits were saved and sent to shelters. The majority of rabbits moved to shelters died between 2011 and 2016, after which the remaining survivors were relocated to a private sanctuary in Alberta.