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Trent University

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This article is about Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. You might be looking for Nottingham Trent University in the UK
Trent University
File:Trent u logo.gif
MottoNunc cognosco ex parte (Now I know in part) - 1 Corinthians 13:12
TypePublic
Established1964
Endowment$21.2 million
ChancellorDr. Roberta Bondar
PresidentBonnie Patterson
Undergraduates7,160
Postgraduates230
Location
Peterborough
,
ON
,
Canada
CampusUrban
Sports teamsTrent Excalibur

Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Roberta Bondar is currently the chancellor of Trent, and its president is Bonnie Patterson.

The change to liberal arts and science has occurred due to new funding formulas from the Provincial Government which gives preference to funding science based programs at a higher level than arts programs.

The Symons campus of Trent is approximately 14.60 square kilometres, over half of which is a part of Trent's Nature Areas, an ecologically diverse wild-life preserve. It is divided into a series of colleges: Champlain, Lady Eaton, Catharine Parr Traill, Otonabee, Peter Gzowski, and Julian Blackburn. Each college has its own residence hall, dining room, and student government. The exception to this rule is Julian Blackburn, which does not house a residence, and is also used for administrative purposes. The campus plan and the original colleges were designed by the Canadian architect Ron Thom. A large portion of the main campus consists of land that was donated by GE Canada. This donation included a functioning hydroelectric power plant dating from the 1890s, and which still generates a substantial portion of the university's electricity; the power plant is being updated and a second generating plant being considered.

Trent also runs a full- and part-time program in Oshawa at the campus of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, with an enrollment of over 800 students. The university is represented in Canadian Interuniversity Sport by the Trent Excalibur.

Current political debates on campus include the introduction of a complaint-based non-academic code of misconduct that will monitor student behaviour. This has been put in place by the administration. Some students have chosen to question the process behind the policy which was heavily opposed when administration previously attempted to pass it in 1999 and in 2003 as they and other university constituents believe a misconduct policy is antithetical to the university's critical roots. Other students, however, are less critical of the proposed peer-judged system for regulating non-academic misconduct on Trent campus and at Trent events. The proposed NAMP committee is comprised of 24 student representatives and 5 Trent staff representatives, but the Graduate Student Association and Traill College have chosen not to participate in protest. Faculty have not been consulted or informed about the most recent attempt to implement the policy. "NAMP".

History

Trent University came about from public discussion in 1957 about the possibility of opening a post-secondary institution in the Trent Valley. In 1963, the university received a provincial charter and opened Rubidge Hall, Traill College, and Peter Robinson College in 1964. The first students were admitted in September, 1964.

Catharine Parr Traill College

Named after local biologist and writer Catharine Parr Traill, this college was one of the first to be opened, in 1964. It serves as the base for the Departments of English, Cultural Studies, and Canadian Studies. The college also includes the Alan Wilson reading room as well as the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies, where the M.A. and PhD. programs are housed. The last of Trent's "downtown" colleges, Traill acts as a link between Trent University faculty, staff and students and the Peterborough community.

Traill College consists of Wallis Hall, Bradburn, Stewart, Langton and Crawford Houses, which are residential; as well as Scott House — the original location of Catharine Parr Traill College in its entirety — Kerr house, and the Principal's Lodge, all of which are not.

It was decided that Traill will not be closed, but converted into a college for graduate programs, particularly in the Arts.

Champlain College

Located on Symons Campus along the Otonabee River, this college was opened in 1967. It is named after the early 17th century explorer Samuel de Champlain, who explored the Otonabee area in 1615 and founded Quebec City in 1608 and whose sword is featured in the Trent crest.

Lady Eaton College

The fourth college, established in 1968, it is named in honour of Lady Flora McCrea Eaton, one of the original sponsors of the university. It contains the offices for the departments of History, Philosophy, Women's Studies, and Modern Languages.

Otonabee College

Founded in 1972 and named for the river that runs through the university, Otonabee College was the fifth established college at Trent. Its name was the source of debate, with some suggestions including Norman Bethune, Lester B. Pearson, and Ojibwa for a tullibee. It is now the only college in the university to bear a name in a Native language (Ojibwa) and the only one not named after a person. Otonabee includes the offices for the Departments of Psychology, Anthropology, Computer Science, and Sociology. It is also the home of Trent's main auditorium, the Wenjack Theatre, named after Charlie Wenjack, a native student who suffered at the hands of the residential school system and died trying to escape back to his home.

Peter Gzowski College/Enweying

Founded in 2003 it is the newest of the Trent University colleges. It is named after CBC broadcaster Peter Gzowski who was the 8th chancellor of the school. At one point, the college had two campuses: one on Argyle Street, in buildings on lease from the Eastern Pentecostal Bible College which houses the Teacher Education and Nursing Programs, and the main one: in the building named Enweying (enweying, which in Anishinaabe language means "The Way We Speak Together") on the main Symons campus, which houses Indigenous Studies, Economics, Mathematics and Business Administration. All programs located at the Argyle location were moved to the main campus before the 2006-2007 academic year.

Peter Robinson College

The first college to open at the university, it is dedicated to Peter Robinson, the member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada who oversaw emigration of Irish settlers to the area in the 1820s. The city of Peterborough is also named in his honour. The college used to have a residence (apartment style) until its sale to a private landlord in 2004. The college was shut down by the university administration, although many Peter Robinson students and faculty protested the closure.

By referendum in March, 2003, Trent students voted to create and operate a non-profit educational and cultural student facility, to be shared with the community as a whole. Chosen to house this new facility was Sadler House: one of the original university buildings at the PR site, it holds special historical significance for both the Trent and Peterborough communities. Funded by a new student levy and organized as the P.R. Community and Student Association (PRCSA), the students' offer to purchase the property was accepted by the current non-university owners. The Trust secured a mortgage for the property and the students took possession of Sadler House on 27 February, 2004. Currently, each student pays a levy fee each year of over $25 to support the mortgage on the house.

The PRCSA facility at Sadler House is completely independent from the influence of Trent University administrators.

Julian Blackburn College

This college has programs for part-time students in Peterborough, and part-time and full-time students in Oshawa. It is named after Julian Blackburn, who was one of the original professors who helped establish Trent.

Trent in Oshawa

Trent runs a full time program in Oshawa at the campus of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Durham College. Administered by JBC, Trent has a history of over 30 years of offering courses in the Oshawa area. Over 800 students attend Trent in Oshawa (formerly Trent@UOIT), which is home to a number of tenure-track professors, as well as staff who are based at the main campus. Students may obtain degrees in Oshawa in Anthropology, Biology, Computer Studies, Cultural Studies, English, Environmental & Resource Studies, History, Psychology, Sociology and Women's Studies. Trent in Oshawa has a unique feel, with small classes and a tightly knit student body.

Trent's other undergraduate programs include the Queen's University/Trent concurrent education program, the Trent University School of Education, a joint program with Fleming College, in which students earn a B.Sc.F.S. in Forensic Science, as well as a B.Sc.N. program in Nursing.

Graduate studies

Trent has a small number of graduate programs, including Anthropology M.A. (current focus is in physical anthroplogy and Archaeology), Applications of Modelling / Natural & Social Sciences M.A. / M.Sc., Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies M.A. Canadian Studies Ph.D., Theory, Culture and Politics M.A., Indigenous Studies Ph.D. Watershed Ecosystems Ph. D / M.Sc, and Materials Science M.Sc. The university's Indigenous/Native Studies program was the first in Canada, and only the second in North America. In addition, the Joint Carleton/Trent Canadian Studies Ph.D. Program was the first program in Canada. The new Ph.D Program in Cultural Studies is the first in Canada.

Famous Graduates

Media

  • Arthur is a student-published newspaper at Trent. Most of the articles are seen as left-leaning. The 'Conservative Sass' column is often pointed to as counter evidence of this trend. The paper is distributed on the Trent campus and around the Peterborough community free of charge; All students pay a levy in their student fees to support the publication of Arthur.
  • Absynthe Magazine is a student paper at Trent. It was founded in 1999. It is a submissions-based publication, reliant on members of the Trent community to provide content. It is, like Arthur, distributed free of charge. Absynthe is published by Absynthe Media, and receives a refundable levy from each full-time student of Trent University.
  • Toast was a summer newspaper affiliated with Arthur. Toast was founded in summer 2004 in response to a need for a summer publication at Trent. Arthur ends publication in April and resumes in September, leaving the Trent community without a newspaper. In summer 2005 Toast published three issues on a biweekly basis, similar to Arthur in scope and content but with a slightly irreverent, cheeky twist.

Administration

Chancellors

Athletics

There are many varsity and intramural sports at Trent. Trent competes at the varsity level under the name Excalibur in men's and women's rugby union, volleyball, fencing, rowing, competitive swimming, and soccer.

Trent University installed a new artificial turf athletics field in the summer of 2005. The field was built as part of Trent's bid to hold the 2007 U19 Women's Lacrosse Championships. Currently there is only one set of bleachers, but there are plans to expand the seating to fit 1,000 spectators.

Trent Summer Sports Camp, a sports and leadership camp affiliated with the university's athletics department, offers a full range of activities to children 4 to 16 during the summer months. The camp's director is Bruce Emmerton.

Trent University takes pride in its rowing club. Each autumn, Trent in conjunction with the Peterborough Rowing Club[1] hosts the Head of the Trent rowing regatta, a 5 kilometre head-style race along the Trent Canal and Otonabee River, finishing under the Faryon Bridge on the Trent University campus. The day-long event is open to university, club, and high school crews. Head of the Trent weekend is also homecoming at Trent University and includes a wide range of athletic and festive events.

Clubs and Groups

Trent has a variety of clubs and groups including a number of theatre groups, social interest groups, newspapers, religious groups, and academic societies. These groups include Trent Model United Nations, Anne Shirley Theatre Company, and Sustainable Trent. These groups are showcased during Introductory Seminar Week (ISW) for the benefit of new students. The University has traditionally provided extensive outlets for student voice and input. Almost all decisions at the University, whether they be academic or relating to student life, must be discussed and voted on at various levels of committee, all of which contain student representatives. However, in recent years the student voice has been scaled back or co-opted. While the University thinks most large decisions utilise numerous town-hall meetings and other opportunities for open discussion, historically these have only happened after extensive pressure from student groups.


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