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Laurentian University (Université Laurentienne), founded in 1960, is a mid-sized bilingual university in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, approximately 350 km north of Toronto, and 395 km north-west of Peterborough. While LU's focus is primarily on undergraduate programming, the university also features Canada's most recent medical school, opened in 2005, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine offers a significant number of graduate-level degrees for med students. It is the largest bilingual provider of distance education in Canada.

Overview

The university's campus is located on the south side of Ramsey Lake, just south of Greater Sudbury's downtown core and near some of the city's wealthiest residential neighbourhoods. The city's Idylwylde golf course also borders on the university campus.

The university has a federated school structure, similar to that of the University of Toronto. The school also has an unusual and sometimes controversial student government structure — there are actually two separate student unions (in addition to the part time and graduate student associations). The Francophone Student's Association (AEF) is for francophones, while the Student's General Association (SGA) is for both anglophones and francophones. However, any student can affiliate with either union, regardless of language, and because the two unions do not offer identical student services, many students from one language group change their affiliation to the other student union depending on which services they want. Consequently, in practice the two student unions often simply compete with each other rather than serving distinct groups.

The university has great ties with the mining industry, being one of the few schools in Canada offering mining engineering and the only Canadian university located in a city where the major industry is mining. The Willett Green Miller Centre, a provincial building located on the site, is home to the Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO), a not-for-profit applied research and technical service company formed through collaboration between Laurentian University and the private and public sectors.

The university is also a key partner in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO), the world's deepest underground laboratory that has been providing, since 1998, new clues on the composition of the sun and the origins of the universe.

In 2004, the university, along with Lakehead University, formed the Northern Ontario Medical School. The university's campus radio station, CKLU, broadcasts at FM 96.7 in both English and French. Its campus newspapers are Lambda in English and L'Orignal déchaîné ("The Unchained Moose") in French. Its varsity teams in Canadian Interuniversity Sport are the Laurentian Voyageurs and the Laurentian Lady Vees.

Undergraduate Programs

Arts


Science and Engineering

Professional Programs

Commerce

Laurentian's school of commerce and administration was founded in 1960. Laurentian has embraced the world of international business by creating and maintaining relationships with other universities around the world. Laurentian's commerce program is regarded as the best in Northern Ontario. It is modeled off of the prestigious University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business. The school of commerce and administration offers a wide variety of programs, from MBAs to honours degrees in commerce, sports administration and e-business.

The school is a 'case school', in which it teaches through extensive use of business case studies. The case method enables class discussion of real business problems. Which will apply the concepts, decision making methods and tools to those situations to help develop analytical and decision making skills. They get involved in the community by studying real organizations of their choice, participating in research projects sponsored by businesses in the community and solving real problems.

Education

Currently, Laurentian has both English and French language education programs for teacher training.

  • L`École des sciences
In the Alphonse Raymond building, at the east end of campus, is L`École des sciences de l`éducation de l`Université Laurentienne. Named after Father Alphonse Raymond, and opened in 1974, the building houses classrooms, a cafeteria, an auditorium, a small gymnasium, and offices for more than a dozen professors. Students attending L'École des sciences have a variety of programs from which to choose. The school, for example, offers a traditional consecutive post-grad B.Ed., a newer concurrent B.A. Educ. degree that can be taken full or part-time, the possiblity of engaging in studies on-line, and the chance for certified teachers to complete additional qualifications. B.Ed. students who attend L'École des sciences must complete fifty days of practicum placement focusing on observation and practice teaching. The program provides many of the French-speaking teachers who work in Ontario's publicly-funded education system, particularly in schools located in the northeastern section of the province. See http://laurentienne.ca/educ/index.htm

  • English-language School
The English side of the education equation has been more chequered. In 1967 Nipissing University College (with its origins in the North Bay Normal School - commonly called a "Teachers’ College" in Ontario) became affilitated with Laurentian. But in 1992 Nipissing received its own charter and Laurentian lost its formal connection to an English language school of education. More than a decade later, in September 2003, Laurentian began offering its own bachelor of education program in English. This concurrent B.Ed. is a four or five year program taken along with an undergraduate degree. The primary goal of the English language bachelor of education program is to foster the development of a new generation of reflective educators who employ holistic teaching approaches. The curriculum features an emphasis on equity and diversity as well as the infusion of aboriginal issues and content. At the moment, the program is offered in just two of the three areas of potential concentration: the primary/junior and junior/intermediate divisions. At present, the faculty is located in the Parker Building, but a new school - based on sustainable environmental principles and located across from L`École des sciences at the east end of the campus - is slated for completion in 2007. See http://laurentian.ca/education/

Master's and Ph.D. Programs

Federated Schools

Nipissing University in North Bay, formerly a federated school of Laurentian, became an independent university in 1992.

Great Hall

The Great Hall is a multipurpose dining hall and auditorium that plays a prominent role in the life of the University. During special events, invited speakers and dignitaries may address the University population or general public from the Great Hall. Many conferences held in Sudbury may book the hall for lectures or presentations. Even bands touring Canadian campuses may schedule concerts at the Great Hall.

On a more routine basis, the Great Hall serves as the dining area of the university cafeteria, and is a popular place for student, staff, and faculty alike to grab a snack at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. (The adjacent servery features a made-to-order sandwich bar, Pizza Pizza counter, stir-fry station, grill, and baked goods stand.)

The hall's outdoor balcony has a view of the greens of the Idywylde Golf and Country Club.

Fraser Auditorium

The Fraser Auditorium in the Fraser Building is another large-volume auditorium, though it is more formal than the Great Hall and is regularly used for the larger first-year classes. The Fraser Auditorium is also used for special events and conferences, but a student's most memorable visit will likely be for convocation ceremonies, held within the auditorium each spring. In addition the Fraser Auditorium has hosted the Falconbridge Lecture Series hosting such guests as Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, and Senator Roméo Dallaire (March 2006).

The auditorium also sometimes hosts cultural events, such as theatre and concert performances, and was the original home of the city's Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario.

The Fraser Auditorium is also home to the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra.

Residences

The Laurentian Residences offers four unique residences under the supervision of the main campus and three located at the main campus under the supervision of the federated colleges.

Single Student Residence (SSR)

The Single Student Residence is an apartment style complex consisting of 4-6 people in personal apartment containing a living room, kitchen, storage room and washrooms. Then entire complex includes rooms for 387 students in 72 apartments. Student Street, consisting of a cafeteria and store, doctor’s office and various other services is located at the bottom of the SSR complex.

University College Residence (UC)

The University College Residence is an eleven floor tower dormitory style residence providing accommodations for 240 students in 150 apartments.

Married/Mature Student Residence (MSR)

The Mature Student Residence offers furnished apartments for those who are over 21 years of age. The residence is generally thought of as the overall quietest at Laurentian. The rooms consist of one bedroom, a living room, bathroom and kitchen.

The West Residence

This residence is the newest residence at Laurentian. It is designed for students who have spent at least two years at the university and obtained a minimum of at least 60 credits. The residence will consist of same sex apartment style rooms.

Thorneloe Residence

The Thorneloe University College Residence provides accommodations for 58 students. This residence offers large kitchens, sauna, and common rooms with large pool tables. In 2004 the former administrative offices were transformed into a suite for four students. Thorneloe University College, although founded by the Anglican Diocese of Algoma, welcomes the best students at Laurentian.

University of Sudbury

The University of Sudbury Lucien Matte Residence houses 174 students in 92 single and 41 double bedrooms. The University of Sudbury, although associated with the Roman Catholic Church welcomes, those of all religions.

Huntington University

The Huntington University College Residence houses 184 students. The residence is located with the Academic complex which includes classrooms and a library. Huntington University is affiliated with the United Church of Canada, but does not require religious affiliation.

Notable alumni

Noted faculty

Student Unions

Student General Association

The SGA is the largest student union at Laurentian, with around 4500 students. It offers services in both English and French, although in recent years the English services have became predominant. The association is presided over by a board of directors consisting of representatives of each of the academic departments and residences, as well as commissioners representing groups within the school (francophone, aboriginal, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, international students, women and cultural affairs), three university senators and the executive. Under the by-laws the board only comes into existence on the first day of classes of the fall session and is dissolved at the end of the winter session, for the remainder of year the executive has the full powers of the board.

The executive consist of the president, and two vice-presidents (student issues and services), supplemented by an executive director and a receptionist. The staff of the association is relatively small — the president, executive director and receptionist are all full time employees. The vice-president of services is a full time employee from May 1 until the first day of classes in the fall term, when he or she becomes part time. The vice-president of student issues is a part time employee from the second Monday in August onward. The Chief Returning Officer is a part time employee during the election campaign. The editor of Lambda, the director of CKLU, the manager of Pub Down Under and the manager of the games room are part-time employees of arm length operations.

Laurentian University Political Science Association

The Laurentian University Political Science Association (LUPSA) represents students from the SGA, AEF, and LAMPS. Its services are offered in both English and French. Students who have an interest in politics will typically join LUPSA. Because of its diversity, this organisation is one of the largest student unions on the Laurentian University campus.

The executive consist of the LUPSA President, and several vice-presidents, supplemented by a faculty advisor. The staff of the association is relatively small — and the president, vice-presidents and members of the subcommittee volunteer their efforts. The term lasts one year from April to March.

Each year, members of LUPSA strive for excellence by providing insight into the challenges of Canada’s political system while exploring strategies for overcoming possible changes in the political climate. In 2007, LUPSA will organise its 15th annual Model Parliament.

External links

Laurentian University | Nursing schools in Canada | Educational institutions established in 1960

Université Laurentienne

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Laurentian University".

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