Royal Roads University

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Royal Roads University
Motto Living Our Learning
Established 1940 Royal Roads Military College converted into Royal Roads University 1995
Type Public university
Endowment $50 million
Chancellor Dr. Peter Meekison
President Dr. Allan R. Cahoon
Academic staff 400 full-time, plus 400 associate faculty
Students 2,772
Location Canada Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
48°26′04″N 123°28′22″W / 48.43444°N 123.47278°W / 48.43444; -123.47278Coordinates: 48°26′04″N 123°28′22″W / 48.43444°N 123.47278°W / 48.43444; -123.47278
Campus urban
Colours White      & blue     
Affiliations AUCC, IAU, CVU, CBIE
Website www.royalroads.ca
Top.logo.blue.gif

Royal Roads University is a public university located in Colwood, Greater Victoria, British Columbia, that describes itself as "Canada's University for Working Professionals".[1]

Contents

[edit] Overview

In 1995, Royal Roads Military College at Hatley Memorial Park on the Esquimalt Lagoon, where Canada's Pacific naval fleet is stationed, was closed and the government of British Columbia granted Royal Roads University license to open as a public university with an applied and professional focus.[2] Royal Roads University maintains strong ties with the Canadian Forces.[3]

Royal Roads' programs were initially targeted towards military personnel and other public servants.[3] The alumni of Royal Roads Military College are considered alumni of Royal Roads University and are always invited by the university to participate in alumni events and the alumni network. Bob Skene, Royal Roads University Chancellor from 2003-2006 stated "As a national institution of higher learning, I believe we should be adopting and honouring our military legacy as an institution with 66 years of history".[4]

[edit] History

Royal Roads Military College Stained-Glass Window
Royal Roads Military College Mace at Royal Roads University

The university's main building, Hatley Castle, was completed in 1908 for coal and rail baron James Dunsmuir, who was Lieutenant Governor and Premier of British Columbia during the first decade of the 1900s. At the outbreak of World War II, plans were made for King George VI, his wife Queen Elizabeth, and their two daughters, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, to reside in Canada. Hatley Castle was purchased by the federal government in 1940 for use as the King's royal palace,[5] however, it was decided that having the Royal Family leave the UK at a time of war would be too big a blow to morale, and the family stayed in London.

After the death of Dunsmuir and then his widow Laura, the family sold the estate to the federal government in 1940 to be used by the military. HMCS Royal Roads (named after an offshore naval anchorage) was commissioned in December 1940 to train reserve officers for service in World War II.[6] The institution had several names before it eventually became Royal Roads Military College in 1968 (achieving full degree-granting status in 1975).

Petty Officer First Class Gabby R. Bruner, Royal Roads bandmaster from 1979-85 composed `Hatley Park` as the official quick march for RRMC and `Dunsmuir Castle` for the Visit of Queen Elizabeth to Royal Roads in 1983. [7]

When the military college closed, many of the academic staff stayed on.[8] The historic buildings of the military college, and the extensive gardens, which were part of the estate of Lord and Lady Dunsmuir, continue to be a centrepiece of the campus. Hatley Castle, the former residence of the Dunsmuir family, houses a small Canadian Military museum.

In 1995, Royal Roads became a degree-granting affiliate of the University of Victoria.[9]

A replica of Lord Horatio Nelson's quote, "Duty is the great business of a sea officer: All private considerations must give way to it however painful it is." which hung over the entrance to the Grant Building, was returned to Royal Roads University campus for Homecoming in 2011.

[edit] Royal Roads University Museum

The museum is located in the lower level of Hatley Castle, on the campus of the Royal Roads University and former campus of the Royal Roads Military College. The Museum mandate is to collect, conserve, research and display material relating to the history of the Royal Roads Military College, its former cadets and its site.

The Royal Roads Military College Museum is a member of the Canadian Museums Association and the Organization of Military Museums of Canada Inc. The Royal Roads Museum is an accredited museum within the Canadian Forces Museum System.[10] The museum has formed a cooperating association of friends of the museum to assist with projects.[11] The museum is open to public.

[edit] Academics

Royal Roads University offers applied and professional programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level, focussing on graduate level career development. The programs are primarily offered on line, with periodic on campus residencies for face to face intensive sessions. This format is designed to favour working professionals, who may complete the programs at a distance. The University offers three formats: i) on-site with 100% face to face learning, ii) blended, with part of the program taught in a face to face residency and the balance on line; and iii) completely on-line. Residency based programs range from one to three weeks, and are often held on-campus, but select programs host their residencies in unique locations around the world.[12] Mature students are welcome, and credits are available for prior experience in the subject area. University also offers some on campus undergraduate programs. Most popular on campus programs are Professional Communications and Commerce. Royal Roads University is not a major research centre.

[edit] Centres

Royal Roads is the home to the Centre for Non-Timber Resources (CNTR), Centre for Teaching and Educational Technologies (CTET), Centre for Health Leadership and Research (CHLR), and The Todd Thomas Institute for Values-Based Leadership.[13] It is also the future home of the Robert Bateman Art and Environmental Education Centre and will house Bateman's artwork. It will also house the Canadian Centre for Environmental Education (CCEE)--a current partnership between Royal Roads and ECO Canada[14]

[edit] Student government

The Royal Roads University Student Association represents students at the University. Current student associations president is Lindsey Poepping.

[edit] Campus and grounds

Royal Roads University.jpg
Coronel Memorial Library at Royal Roads University
Building (Year built) Significance
Arbutus Building
  • Academic classrooms, administrative offices, a computer lab, and a canteen[15]
Boat House (1989)
  • In 2007 renovations to the Boathouse were completed and the space became the new home of Royal Roads University Foundation.
  • The Go Rowing and Paddling Association of Canada also runs rowing activities out of this building.[16]
Guard House Building 38
  • Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2002[17]
Belmont Road Main Gatehouse BEL 13 (1908)
  • Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000[18]
Cow Barn / Dairy RR6 (1912–16)
  • Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000[19] The original Tudor-style dairy and cattle barns were converted into laboratories and classrooms for physics and oceanography. The building was refurbished in 1998 into research and computer laboratories
Gatehouse Lodge RR8 (1912 to 1916)
  • Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000[20]
Grant Building Building 24 (1942)
Gymnasium - sports complex (1942)
Hatley Castle (1908)
  • administrative centre of Royal Roads University. From 1941 until 1943 when Grant Block was completed, the Castle served as dormitory and mess hall for cadets and staff officers at RRMC. *Classified Federal Heritage Building 1986, Registry of Historic Places of Canada[23]
Hatley Park / Former Royal Roads Military College (1908–13)
  • designated National Historic Site of Canada 1995[24]
Millward Wing (of the Nixon Building) (1991)
  • Offices, dormitories, named for former Commandant Air Vice-Marshal James Bert Millward DFC (Bar), GdG(F), CD, RCAF 1949-52 the 4th Commandant of RRMC.
Nixon Block RR24A (1954 to 1956)
  • classrooms, dormitories named after the former Commanding Officer Nixon of the Royal Naval College of Canada, when it was re-established in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1918.
  • Opened in 1955 by The Princess Royal ([[Her Royal Highness The Princess Mary, The Princess Royal and The Countess of Harewood (Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary Lascelles, née Windsor; 25 April 1897 – 28 March 1965) was a member of The British Royal Family the third child and only daughter of Their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary]]).
  • The building and was named after the Commanding Officer of the Royal Naval College of Canada when it was re-established in Esquimalt in 1918.[25]
  • Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000[26]
Stable / Garage RR4 (1914)
  • Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000[27] James Dunsmuir's stables and garage were later converted to classrooms, dormitory, social center known as the Mews Conference Centre.
Swimming Pool RR22A (1959)
  • two-storey, white concrete building composed of horizontal cubic volumes.
  • Recognized Federal Heritage Building 2000[28]
Royal Roads University Hatley Park plaque
Prometheous and the Vulture, sculpure by Jay Unwin 1995, Royal Roads University

The campus and surrounding grounds of Royal Roads University are situated at Hatley Park National Historic Site. Royal Roads leases the land from the Department of National Defence for $1 per year and assumes all stewardship responsibilities related to the site including the cost of site management, operations, the protection, preservation and restoration of heritage assets, which include all buildings on the site as well as many heritage gardens and educating the public about the site's historic and natural attributes.

The grounds, a mix of landscaped gardens and natural woodland, still go by the name of Hatley Park that the Dunsmuir family gave their estate (it is not a designated park). Hatley Castle and its surroundings have made appearances in numerous movies and TV series programs such as Smallville where it serves as the Luthor Mansion, and the second and third X-Men films where the university is transformed into Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

Visitors to the 565-acre (229 ha) Hatley Park can tour the extensive walking trails, as well as the Hatley Castle museum. The museum is free to enter, and contains historic, local memorabilia as well as a gift shop. Tours of the castle itself are available (schedule is seasonal) and access to the heritage gardens (approx 20 acres) have a visitor fee that helps offset the cost of preserving the site.

In a visit to the university in August 2009 Prime Minister Stephan Harper stated: "There is surely no more beautiful campus in Canada than Lord Dunsmuir’s magnificent castle and the majestic forest and gardens of the Hatley Park National Historic Site. But beneath the Edwardian grandeur of Royal Roads lies a cutting-edge modern university".[29]

During the life of the college, the HMCS Royal Roads Bell was displayed in the porte-cochere of Hatley Castle. After the closing of Royal Roads Military College, the HMCS Royal Roads Bell was kept in the Museum at CFB Esquimalt. It was officially repatriated on 10 Sep 2010 during the Royal Roads University 2010 Homecoming. The Bell is prominently displayed in the new entrance to Grant block in the foyer that will link Grant block and the new academic building.

[edit] General ranking

Based on the 2008 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), Royal Roads University was ranked 1st for an active and collaborative learning experience, 2nd for level of academic challenge, 4th for senior year student satisfaction, 5th for supportive campus environment, 28th for student-faculty interaction, and 37th for enriching educational experience. See MacLean's and Royal Roads media release. In 2009, again Royal Roads ranked 1st for active and collaborative learning experience; and 3rd of level of academic challenge.[30]

In 2008 the Globe and Mail Canadian University Report gave Royal Roads grades in particular categories along with 55 other universities. The grades are based on the Globe and Mail student satisfaction survey. Royal Roads was one of the 14 universities in the under 4000 students assessment pool and received a grade of B-:[31]

In both the 2009 and 2010 Globe and Mail Canadian University Report Royal Roads received and overall average of A-.[32] For a detailed break down of grades see past footnote.

[edit] Business school ranking

The BCom and MBA programs at Royal Roads were ranked by Corporate Knights Magazine in July 2007. The Royal Roads BCom program placed 28th out of the 47 BCom programs in Canada. The MBA placed 20th out of 35 MBA programs.[33] In 2008 Corporate Knights Magazine dropped the Bcom ranking from 28th to 36th out of 47 Bcom programs in the country.[34] The MBA program dropped from 20th to 31st with the assessment pool for the ranking growing from 35 to 38 MBA programs.[34] In 2009 Corporate Knights Magazine ranked the Bcom 25th overall out of 47 universities and 4th in the Small Sized Business School category.[35] The MBA ranked 22 overall out of 35 universities and 4th in the Small Sized Business School category. It should be noted that Corporate Knights magazine bases its rankings on "the integration of environmental and social issues into university and college programmes."[35]

[edit] Notable alumni

Hatley Castle
  • Dwain Bell, Vice President Distribution of Terasen Gas Inc.[36]
  • Kellie Garret, Senior Vice President of Farm Credit Canada and named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Woman by the Women’s Executive Network in 2007.[37]
  • Capt. Kelly Williams, Director of Maritime Strategy for the Department of National Defense.[36]
  • Doug Stables, President of Bluewater Technologies Corporation.[38]
  • Peter Robinson, CEO of the David Suzuki Foundation and former CEO of Mountain Equipment Co-op.[39]
  • Lorraine McLachlan, President and CEO of the Canadian Franchise Association.[40]
  • Jennifer Walinga, Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion in rowing.[41]
  • Vice-Admiral Jean-Yves Forcier, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, Commander Canada Command, currently Head of Program for the Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management at Royal Roads.[42]
  • Dave Mori, President of the Entrepreneurs Association of Tokyo.[43]
  • David Hamilton, Deputy Minister of the Legislative Assembly and Chief Electoral Officer of the Northwest Territories.[44]
  • Hugh MacDonald, former VP Strategic Alliance Management at CIBC, currently owner of HR Macdonald Training and Development, Inc.[45]
  • Greg Moore, Mayor of Port Coquitlam.[46]

[edit] International Branch Campus

Royal Roads university has an international branch campus in Bangladesh. Students can achieve MBA degree on Human Resources Management, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Digital Technologies Management, Finance & Risk Management and Banking. Royal Roads University Bangladesh Campus is located in Dhaka city.

[edit] Media Appearances

Royal Roads was used as a location for filming the second X-Men movie called X2. Trees were damaged during filming.

[edit] See also

[edit] Books


[edit] References

  1. ^ "Royal Roads University - About RRU". Royalroads.ca. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/. Retrieved 2009-02-23. 
  2. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Roads_Military_College
  3. ^ a b "Royal Roads University - Long history with Canadian Forces". Royalroads.ca. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/news-events/inroads-newsletter/2007-dec-jan-2008/Long_history_with_Canadian_Forces.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  4. ^ http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/news events/convocation/2007/fall/Installation+of+the+Chancellor.htm
  5. ^ Office of the Lieutenant Governor: Speech by Iona Campolo, Retired Heads of Mission Association's Gala Dinner, Royal Roads University, Hatley Castle, Victoria, BC, February 5, 2007[dead link]
  6. ^ "Royal Roads University - Historic Overview". Royalroads.ca. Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080530025452/http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/campus-information/campus-map/historic-overview.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  7. ^ RRMC band
  8. ^ "Royal Roads University - Rebirth of Royal Roads". Royalroads.ca. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/news-events/rru-news/2006/rebirth-of-rru.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28. [dead link]
  9. ^ Pound, Richard W. (2005). 'Fitzhenry and Whiteside Book of Canadian Facts and Dates'. Fitzhenry and Whiteside. 
  10. ^ Royal Roads Museum
  11. ^ Canadian Forces Museums http://www.admfincs.forces.gc.ca/admfincs/subjects/cfao/027-05_e.asp
  12. ^ "Royal Roads University - Royal Roads University Coat of Arms". Royalroads.ca. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/governance/rru-coat-of-arms.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  13. ^ "Royal Roads University - Faculties, Schools and Centres". Royalroads.ca. http://www.royalroads.ca/programs/faculties-schools-centres/. Retrieved 2009-02-20. 
  14. ^ "press release". Royalroads.ca. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080822055747/http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/news-events/news-releases/2006/rru-home-of-bateman-art.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-28. 
  15. ^ "Royal Roads University - Arbutus Building". Royalroads.ca. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/campus-information/campus-map/arbutus-building.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  16. ^ "Royal Roads University - Boathouse and Waterfront". Royalroads.ca. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/campus-information/campus-map/boathouse-waterfront.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  17. ^ Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings
  18. ^ Registry of Historic Places of Canada
  19. ^ Registry of Historic Places of Canada
  20. ^ Registry of Historic Places of Canada
  21. ^ Registry of Historic Places of Canada - Grant Building
  22. ^ Registry of Historic Places of Canada - Gymnasium
  23. ^ Registry of Historic Places of Canada - Hatley Castle
  24. ^ |Registry of Historic Places of Canada - Hatley Park
  25. ^ "Royal Roads University - Nixon Building". Royalroads.ca. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/campus-information/campus-map/nixon.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  26. ^ Registry of Historic Places of Canada - Nixon block
  27. ^ Registry of Historic Places of Canada - Nixon block
  28. ^ Registry of Historic Places of Canada - Swimming pool building
  29. ^ http://www.royalroads.ca/rru-news/prime-minister’s-speech-royal-roads-university
  30. ^ http://www.royalroads.ca/news/nsse-student-report-lists-royal-roads-university-first-active-and-collaborative-learning
  31. ^ The Globe and Mail (Toronto). http://www.theglobeandmail.com/v5/content/education/CUR_charts_2009.pdf. 
  32. ^ http://www.globecampus.ca/navigator/royal-roads-university/
  33. ^ "Home". Corporateknights.ca. http://www.corporateknights.ca/. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  34. ^ a b "Knight Schools 2008". Corporateknights.ca. http://www.corporateknights.ca/special-reports/68-knight-school-guide/166-knight-schools-2008.html. Retrieved 2008-12-28. [dead link]
  35. ^ a b http://www.corporateknights.ca/special-reports/68-knight-school-guide/419-knight-schools-2009.html
  36. ^ a b Shulgan, Christopher (2008-12-28). "globeandmail.com: 2005 executive education guide". Toronto: Theglobeandmail.com. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050930.gtrob10guide/BNStory/einsider/?pageRequested=all. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  37. ^ "Royal Roads University - Kellie Garrett - MAL". Royalroads.ca. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/people-at-rru/profiles/fsas/Garrett-Kellie-MAL.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28. [dead link]
  38. ^ "Royal Roads University - Alumni News". Royalroads.ca. http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/news-events/inroads-newsletter/2007-June-July/Alumni_News.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  39. ^ "Royal Roads University - Speech - Peter Robinson". Royalroads.ca. Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080530045904/http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/news-events/convocation/2007/fall/Speech+-+Peter+Robinson.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  40. ^ "University of Toronto Alumni Association (UTAA) - UTAA Board of Directors 2007-2008". Alumni.utoronto.ca. http://alumni.utoronto.ca/s/731/index.aspx?sid=731&gid=7&pgid=816. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  41. ^ "Board of Directors". Pacificsport.com. http://www.pacificsport.com/Content/Main/Victoria/Board.asp. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  42. ^ http://www.mdn.ca/site//newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=2583
  43. ^ "Feature - Kevin Pereira, Creative Director, Hypu Advertising". Itvjapan.com. http://www.itvjapan.com/our_hosts.asp. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  44. ^ "NEB - Reports - 2007 Annual Report". Neb.gc.ca. 2008-07-09. http://www.neb.gc.ca/clf-nsi/rpblctn/rprt/nnlrprt/2007/nnlrprt2007-eng.html. Retrieved 2008-12-28. 
  45. ^ The Arts of Influence: Soft Power and Distant Relationships. Victoria: Trafford
  46. ^ "Biography". City of Port Coquitlam. http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/City_Hall/Mayor_s_Office/About_Greg/Biography.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-25. 

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