University of Lethbridge
The University of Lethbridge is a public comprehensive and research university, founded in the liberal education tradition, located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with a second campus in the city of Calgary, Alberta.
History
The University of Lethbridge welcomed only 650 students when it first opened its doors in 1967. With the completion of University Hall in 1971, the University moved permanently to west Lethbridge with enrollment growing to over 1,200 students. The current location of the University was only chosen after fierce community debate with the Provincial Government who wanted the University to be located in east Lethbridge. After the University's first Convocation on May 18, 1968, more than 500 students, faculty and community members held a protest march in support of having the University located in west Lethbridge. Soon after, the government decided west Lethbridge would be the University's permanent location.University Hall was designed by the renowned architect Arthur Erickson and sits within the coulees above the Oldman River. University Hall was selected as one of four buildings to appear on a Canadian postage stamp celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Architectural Institute.
Over the next half century, the student population has grown to 8,155 undergraduates and 640 graduate students as of 2019. The University now offers over 150 undergraduate degree programs in the Arts, Sciences, Management, Education, Heath Sciences and Fine Arts. Further, the University has added over 50 Masters and PhD programs.
Development
The latest development at the University of Lethbridge is the "Destination Project", the first phase of which was a new $280M science and academic building. This facility, officially opened in September 2019, features laboratory and teaching facilities, as well as "outreach" and "maker" spaces. The building, known as the Science Commons, houses over 100 faculty researchers in physics, astronomy, chemistry, biochemistry, biological sciences, neuroscience, and psychology. In 2018, it was shortlisted for the World Architecture FestivalYear 2000 to 2010
The University experienced tremendous growth in campus buildings during this period.
Library
Also known as the LINC, it houses the library, numerous individual and group study spaces, and some of the best views on campus.Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN)
The CCBN is home to Canada's first Department of Neuroscience, state-of-the-art labs, and has attracted world-class researchers, including: Dr. Brian Kolb and Dr. Bruce McNaughton.The 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport & Wellness
The 1st Choice Savings Centre has become a hub of activity on campus and includes the following facilities:- A triple gymnasium, with retractable seating for 2000 spectators; suitable for hosting major sporting events as well as conferences and speaking engagements;
- A 2,000 square foot main climbing wall;
- A new expanded fitness centre along with a four-lane 200 metre indoor running track;
- Multi-purpose studios for yoga, dance and fitness classes allow for more fitness programming for all ages; and,
- Universal change rooms and expanded locker rooms with steam room.
Turcotte Hall
Alberta Water and Environment Science Building
The Alberta Water and Environment Science Building was completed in 2008 and contains numerous sustainable features that helped it earn silver LEED certification. The AWESB houses many of the country's most accomplished water researchers and is home to the Water Institute for Sustainable Environments.Community Sports Stadium
The $12-million facility was constructed through a partnership between the City of Lethbridge and the University of Lethbridge. The Stadium includes:- One artificial grass, regulation size combination soccer/rugby/football field with lights;
- One natural grass, regulation size soccer pitch;
- A 400-metre, eight lane synthetic outdoor track; and,
- Throwing areas, jumping pits and open spaces for various track and field events; grandstand stadium seating for 2000 spectator.
Markin Hall
President
The president of the University of Lethbridge, Mike Mahon, is in his second term and has led the institution since July 1, 2010. Mahon, who previously held the role of the dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation at the University of Alberta, is also the chair of the Board of Universities Canada.Academics
The University of Lethbridge offers both graduate and undergraduate degrees in four faculties and three schools, as described below.The university is accredited under Alberta's Post-Secondary Learning Act and is considered a "comprehensive academic and research university", which means offer a range of academic and professional programs that generally lead to undergraduate and graduate level credentials, and have a strong research focus.
Aboriginal
The University of Lethbridge provides special first-year bridging programs for Aboriginal students. The University of Lethbridge's Niitsitapi Teacher Education Program with Red Crow Community College was developed in partnership with specific Aboriginal communities to meet specific needs within Aboriginal communities.Research
The University of Lethbridge is a research-intensive university, named "Research University of the Year" in the undergraduate category in 2012, and consistently ranks highly in terms of TriCouncil funding, especially in the sciences, but increasingly in all fields of scholarly inquiry. It is home to 60 research chairs, 8 Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada, and 2 Order of Canada recipients.The university is home to 15 centres and institutes, which transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries, including include the Alberta Gambling Research Institute, Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Centre, Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Canadian Centre for Research in Advanced Fluorine Technologies, Centre for the Study of Scholarly Communication, Centre for Culture and Community, Centre for Oral History and Tradition, Centre for Socially Responsible Marketing, Health Services Quality Institute, Institute for Child and Youth Studies, Institute for Space Imaging Science, Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy, Small Business Institute, and Water Institute for Sustainable Environments.
The university's infrastructure in the sciences and information technology is accessible to undergraduate students and the university is a provincial leader in terms of undergraduate involvement in publishable and translational faculty research and innovation.
Faculties and schools
The University of Lethbridge offers over 150 degree programs. It has seven faculties and schools that administer its bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.- Faculty of Arts and Science
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Fine Arts
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Dhillon School of Business
- School of Graduate Studies
- School of Liberal Education
The Agility program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship was launched at the university in 2015. This program encourages transdisciplinary innovation, including social innovation, and will soon include a large makerspace in the new science and academic building to complement existing, specialized makerspaces. The university also partners with tecconnect, RINSA, and other organizations to encourage the production of spinoffs and collaboration with industry.
Rankings
The University of Lethbridge was ranked fifth in Canada in the primarily undergraduate university category for Maclean's 2020 university rankings.Athletics
The university is represented in U Sports by the Lethbridge Pronghorns, formerly known as the Chinooks. They have men's and women's teams in basketball, ice hockey, judo, rugby union, soccer, swimming, and track and field. They lack teams in volleyball after the men's team was cut in 1988 and the women in the early 1990s. The Pronghorns have won national championships in men's hockey and women's rugby. The university has an intramurals program.The home gymnasium for the Pronghorns is First Choice Saving Centre, which includes 3 full-size basketball courts, an indoor track field, a rock-climbing wall, and an exercise room. The construction was finished in 2006 and is open to public on a membership basis.
An outdoor stadium is situated in the southern campus and opened in fall of 2009. It is the home for Pronghorns soccer teams and the women's rugby team.
The men's and women's ice hockey teams play at Nicholas Sheran Arena located just west of the university campus.
Art gallery
The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery has one of the largest collections in Canada of 19th and 20th-century Canadian, American and European art, with over 13,000 pieces including drawing, print making, painting, photography, sculpture and installation.The previous director, Jeffrey Spalding, spearheaded this nationally renowned art collection. Josephine Mills was appointed director/curator of the Art Gallery in 2001 and maintains a strong exhibition, publication, and research program.
The collection quickly outgrew available archiving and storage space, so a new building was completed in 1999 to house large works. Additional renovations were made in 2000 and 2003 to update a study area for the collection and an incoming/outgoing art handling area.
In 2006, a comprehensive registration database was made available online of the University of Lethbridge collections.
Lineage and establishment
| Chancellor | Term start | Term end |
| Louis S. Turcotte | 1968 | 1972 |
| James Oshiro | 1972 | 1975 |
| Van E. Christou | 1975 | 1979 |
| Islay M. Arnold | 1979 | 1983 |
| William S. Russell | 1983 | 1987 |
| Keith V. Robin | 1987 | 1991 |
| Ingrid M. Speaker | 1991 | 1995 |
| Robert Hironaka | 1995 | 1999 |
| Jim Horsman | 1999 | 2003 |
| Shirley DeBow | 2003 | 2007 |
| Richard Davidson | 2007 | 2011 |
| Shirley McClellan | 2011 | 2015 |
| Janice Varzari | 2015 | 2019 |
| Charles Weaselhead | 2019 |
| President | Term start | Term end |
| Russell J. Leskiw | 1967 | 1967 |
| Sam Smith | 1967 | 1972 |
| William E. Beckel | 1972 | 1979 |
| John H. Woods | 1979 | 1986 |
| Gerald S. Kenyon | 1986 | 1987 |
| Howard E. Tennant | 1987 | 2000 |
| William H. Cade | 2000 | 2010 |
| Michael J. Mahon | 2010 | 2023 |