University of Winnipeg


The University of Winnipeg is a public research university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It offers undergraduate programs in art, business, economics, education, science and applied health as well as graduate programs. UWinnipeg's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged to form United College in 1938. The University of Winnipeg was established in 1967 when United College received its charter.
The governance was 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, was a link between the bodies to perform institutional leadership.
The university is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate and a member of U Sports.

History

The UW's founding colleges were Manitoba College, 1871, and Wesley College, 1888, which merged to form United College in 1938. In 1967, United College received a charter and became the University of Winnipeg. George Creeford Browne & S. Frank Peters designed Wesley Hall, which is now part of the University of Winnipeg.
The University of Winnipeg was established on 1 July 1967 when United College received its charter. United College was formed in 1938 from the union of Manitoba College, founded in 1871, and Wesley College, founded in 1888. Originally affiliated with the University of Manitoba, United College received its charter in 1967 and became the University of Winnipeg.

Campus

The campus of The University of Winnipeg is made up of 23 buildings spreading over several full blocks of Downtown Winnipeg, located directly on Portage Avenue. Over the past decade, the campus has undergone over 10 new building construction or major renovation projects. Through its revitalization, the university has become an engine for downtown renewal and improvement.
The Rice Centre is the home of the university's administration and student services.
The Buhler Centre was constructed to house the Faculty of Business and Economics, as well as PACE, a division of the University of Winnipeg. The doors to the Buhler Centre opened September 2010. Designed by PSA+DPA+DIN collective a collaborative effort between Peter Sampson Architecture Studio inc, David Penner Architect, and DIN Projects. The Buhler Centre also houses the Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art and Stella's Cafe on the main floor.
McFeetors Hall: Great-West Life Student Residence is a student dormitory. It was partially funded by Raymond L. McFeetors, Chairman of The Great West Life Assurance Company who donated $2.67 Million for a dormitory to be built on newly acquired property west of the campus. The money came from his personal resources and from Great West Life.
The Asper Centre for Theatre and Film provides facilities for theatre and media studies.
The Axworthy Health & RecPlex opened in 2014. It offers a range of sport and recreation facilities.
Leatherdale Hall is a shared multi-use building that is mainly used by the collegiate.
Downtown Commons which is located on Colony Street is a 14-storey apartment complex that offers accommodation for students and others.
Wesley Hall is a stone-clad brick structure built in 1894–95 and is on the Registry of Historic Places of Canada. It is located on 515 Portage Ave. near Portage Place Mall.
The institute for stained glass in Canada has documented the stained glass at the University of Winnipeg. Specifically at the convocation hall.

Campus development

Campus development at the University of Winnipeg is overseen by the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation, a not-for-profit subsidiary of the university. The UWCRC manages planning, construction, and redevelopment projects with a stated focus on environmental, social, economic, and cultural sustainability.

Governance

The UWCRC board is chaired by the university’s president. The corporation operates at arm’s length from traditional university governance structures, a model that has been described as uncommon among Canadian post-secondary institutions. In addition to university projects, the UWCRC undertakes real-estate development and provides project and property management services for other post-secondary institutions, non-profit organizations, and First Nations partners.

Major projects

Recent development initiatives include:
  • Asper Centre for Theatre and Film
  • Richardson College for the Environment and Science Complex
  • Axworthy Health and RecPlex
  • McFeetors Hall
  • UWSA Daycare
A 14-storey mixed-use apartment complex for students and community residents began construction in 2015.

Financial structure

The UWCRC’s financial statements are not subject to public disclosure legislation. Its operating funds are drawn from the university’s budget.

Academic

The University of Winnipeg is a provincially and privately funded post-secondary institution with undergraduate and a growing number of graduate programs including Canada's only master's degree in development practice with a focus on Indigenous development, as well as a professional, applied and continuing education and a high school division.

Students and faculty

Students at the university are represented by the University of Winnipeg Students' Association. CKUW is the student radio station based at the University of Winnipeg. The Uniter is the campus newspaper. The Student Services staff are represented by AESES.

Faculties

  • Faculty of Arts offers Honours degree programs in Classics, Conflict Resolution Studies, Criminal Justice, Developmental Studies, Disability Studies, English, French Studies, German Studies, History, History of Art, Human Rights, Indigenous Studies, Interdisciplinary Linguistics, International Development Studies, Mennonite Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Religion & Culture, Rhetoric, Writing and Communications, Sociology, Spanish Studies, Theatre & Film, Urban and Inner-City Studies, Women's & Gender Studies.
  • Faculty of Business and Economics offers undergraduate programs in Business & Administration, Economics, Economics and Finance. It also offers a joint program with Red River College.
  • Faculty of Education
  • Gupta Faculty of Kinesiology and Applied Health offers programs in Kinesiology, Physical and Health Education, Athletic Therapy.
  • Faculty of Science offers programs in Applied Computer Science, Bioanthropology, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies and Sciences, Geography, Mathematics, Neuroscience, Physics, Psychiatric Nursing, Statistics.
  • Faculty of Graduate Studies offers a growing number of graduate programs. These include Masters of Arts programs in Applied Economics, Cultural Studies, Indigenous Governance, Environmental and Social Change, and Criminal Justice, Master of Science programs in Applied Computer Science and Society, and Bioscience, Technology and Public Policy; Professional Programs in Indigenous Development, and Technology, Innovation and Operations. It also offers several joint programs with the University of Manitoba. These include Masters programs in History, Public Administration, Religious Studies and in Peace and Conflict Studies There are several Postgraduate certificates: Higher Education Teaching Certificate and the Postgraduate Professional Skills Certificate
  • United Centre for Theological Studies offers a variety of courses in theology. The Masters in Sacred Theology and Master of Arts Spiritual Disciplines & Ministry Practices are under review.

    Colleges

There are three interdisciplinary colleges located on the campus:
  • Global College is an interdisciplinary centre designed to bring together students, faculty and international visitors in dialogue about global citizenship. It hosts a BA in Human Rights and MAs in Indigenous Development and Peace & Conflict Studies.
  • Menno Simons College is a centre for International Development Studies and Conflict Resolution Studies. It is located on the UofW campus and is a program of Canadian Mennonite University in affiliation with the University of Winnipeg.
  • Richardson College for the Environment is a modern science research facility conducting research in biology, chemistry, environmental studies, Indigenous science and the social sciences. It is one of the most energy efficient educational buildings in North America.

    Research

The university has a growing research profile. Research grant income rose from $6M in 2015-16 to $12M in 2019-20. It has established a number of research centres including the Centre for Access to Information and Justice, the Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Research, the Centre for Research in Cultural Studies, and the Centre for Research in Young People's Texts and Cultures.
It has Canada Research Chairs in Fundamental Symmetries in Subatomic Physics, Quantum Materials Discovery, Culture and Public Memory, Human-Environment Interactions, Health & Culture, Indigenous People, History and Archives, Environmental Influences on Water Quality, and in Indigenous Arts, Collaboration and Digital Media.
The university is an active member of the University of the Arctic. UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of more than 200 universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arctic region.