University of Calgary

http://www.ucalgary.ca/

University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a comprehensive research university, ranked one of Canada’s top seven research universities and a member of the 13 most research intensive universities in Canada (the G13), combining the best of long-established university traditions with the city of Calgary’s vibrant energy and diversity.

The U of C campus occupies a beautiful, park-like setting covering more than 200 hectares, an area larger than Calgary’s entire downtown. The university is home to scholars in 14 faculties (offering more than 100 academic programs) and more than 30 research institutes and centres.

More than 29,000 students are currently enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. The U of C has graduated 140,000 alumni over its 44-year history, including the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper and Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk.

The university’s academic foundations are prevalent in all the university’s work. They are: student success, excellence in research, scholarship and creative activity, interdisciplinary education and research, and return to community.

The U of C is in the midst of its largest capital expansion ever. Fuelled by Alberta’s nation-leading economic growth, the university has embarked upon a plan to add capacity for more students and a host of new teaching and research activities. These major developments, including the Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL), the U of C downtown campus and the new Energy, Environment and Experiential Learning building, are fulfilling distinct academic strategies and creating progressive learning environments.

The main campus features over 20 academic buildings—many of which are interconnected by enclosed walkways. The MacEwan Student Centre is a hub of activity at the university, with a food court, wellness centre and large concert hall. There is also a museum and art gallery, four performance theatres, two childcare centres and residences for single students and students with families.

The U of C has over 1,800 academic staff actively engaged in research, scholarship and teaching in Canada and around the world, and about 2,200 support staff. The university produces an economic impact of $1 billion in the Calgary area alone.

Academics
The University of Calgary has a full complement of academic programs ranging from pure science to social science in areas such as psychology and economics, to several options in the field of health sciences. With access to several professional schools, including the Haskayne School of Business, the Schulich School of Engineering, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, students keep their options open, and discover their own personal passion. The U of C also encourages multi-disciplinary programs, meaning students can combine their interest areas and create an education that suits them.

The U of C has 14 faculties with more than 60 departments and more than 30 research institutes and centres. The 14 faculties are: Arts; Law; Nursing (Calgary); Nursing (Qatar); Social Work; Education; Environmental Design; Haskayne School of Business; Kinesiology; Medicine; Schulich School of Engineering; Science; Veterinary Medicine; Graduate Studies; and Continuing Education.

In August 2007, the university welcomed its first students to the campus in Doha, Qatar, offering internationally accredited nursing degrees to students in the Middle East. University of Calgary-Qatar works with the Hamad Medical Corporation to offer world-class clinical nursing education to educate nurses for clinical specialties and to develop a sustainable nursing workforce. Graduates from the Qatar program will meet the same Canadian and international standards for nursing as students from the Calgary campus.

Canada's fifth veterinary school and the first newly created program in more than 20 years—the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-opened its doors to students in September 2008. This innovative four-year doctor of veterinary medicine program leverages the principles of integration, collaboration and technology to offer a multi-species/multidisciplinary core as well as four areas of emphasis: Production Animal Health, Investigative Medicine, Equine Health and Ecosystem & Public Health.

The Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are located on the south campus adjacent to the Foothills Hospital. The Kananaskis Field Station, located a short drive from the city on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, located in the foothills south of the city, represent satellite institutes of the university.

Student Success
The university offers quality undergraduate education characterized by the synthesis of research, teaching and learning. We enhance the undergraduate learners’ experience by using a student-centred focus that maximizes opportunities to provide a distinctive learning experience that fully integrates the features of a research university. The university is broadening opportunities for students to take inquiry based courses that lead to greater critical thinking skills, increased exposure to research methods and greater access to leading edge scholars. Students also participate in opportunities for experiential learning, including international study, co-op programs, internships, undergraduate research and community service learning.

In fall 2008, the U of C became the first university in Canada to offer a four-year graduation guarantee to students embarking upon four-year degree programs in the faculties of Science and Arts. Through a mutual commitment on behalf of students and the university, the Graduation Guarantee program offers incoming students an agreement that ensures they will be able to graduate within four years, or the U of C will pay the tuition for any extra courses needed to finish. For more information, visit www.ucalgary.ca/graduateguarantee.

The Co-Curricular Record is the university's official document that recognizes a student's community, leadership and volunteer activities outside of the classroom. Since being introduced in 2008, more than 6,008 students have signed up. This complete record of a student’s accomplishments is invaluable to the student and future employers. The U of C has had a larger take up of this program than any other university in Canada. We are also the only university in Western Canada with a Co-Curricular Record.

The U of C is the only university in Canada that gives millions of dollars each year to our students through Quality Money—a partnership between the university and Students' Union whereby the university has given more than $8 million to students to invest as they wish in enhancing the overall student experience. Past projects include a campus bike initiative, wellness centre, and undergraduate peer mentorship programs.