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Memorial University of Newfoundland

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Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University Graphic
MottoProvehito In Altum
(Latin: Launch forth into the deep)
TypePublic
Established1925
ChancellorJohn C. Crosbie
PresidentAxel Meisen
Academic staff
950 full-time
850 sessional
Undergraduates15,500
Postgraduates2,100
Location
St. John's
,
NL
,
Canada
Campusurban 220 acres (890,000 m²)
NicknameSea-Hawks File:Seahawks logo.gif
Websitehttp://www.mun.ca

Memorial University of Newfoundland, popularly known as 'MUN', is a comprehensive university located primarily in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is the largest post-secondary educational institution in Atlantic Canada.

With historical strengths in engineering, business, geology, and medicine, it is perhaps most widely recognized as one of the top comprehensive universities in Canada. With over 17,000 students, it is also the largest university in Atlantic Canada. MUN's four main campuses are served by more than 900 faculty and 2,300 staff members.

Campus

MUN has five campuses located in three countries. The main campus is located between Elizabeth Ave and Pippy Park in St. John's. The Marine Institute is also located in St. John's, while the Sir Wilfred Grenfell College campus is in Corner Brook and the Harlow campus is in Harlow, England. The Frecker Institute is on the French island of St. Pierre, located off the south coast of Newfoundland.

Students and residences

There are over 17,000 students currently enrolled in full and part time studies at MUN. This number includes both undergraduate and graduate students. Approximately 85% of students are from Newfoundland and Labrador. The most popular programs include Engineering, Business Administration, Nursing, Education, English, French, History, Biology, Biochemistry, and Psychology.

The primary residence complex on the main campus is Paton College, which provides standard residence services in ten residences. The university-run Burton's Pond apartments are also available for independent living on campus.

Organization

The university's president and vice chancellor is Dr. Axel Meisen. The chancellor is the Hon. John C. Crosbie, a former federal and provincial cabinet minister.

Memorial has six Faculties (Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Medicine, and Science) and six Schools (Graduate Studies, Music, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Education, and Social Work). These offer a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

History

Memorial University began as Memorial University College (MUC), which opened in September 1925 at a campus on Parade Street in St. John's. The first president was J. L. Paton. It offered the first two years of university studies. MUC's initial enrollment was 57 students, rising to a peak of over 400 in the 1940s. In 1933 it merged with the adjacent Normal School and took responsibility for teacher training. During the College's early years it received considerable support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The college was established as a memorial to the Newfoundlanders who had lost their lives on active service during the First World War; it was later rededicated to also encompass the province's war dead of the Second World War.[1].

The post-Confederation government elevated the status of Memorial University College to full university status in August 1949, renaming the institution to Memorial University of Newfoundland. The enrollment in MUN's first year was 307 students. In 1961, enrollment having increased to 1400, MUN moved from Parade Street to its present location on Elizabeth Avenue (Main Campus).

The Faculty of Medicine of Memorial University of Newfoundland was established in 1967, and the first students were admitted in 1969. It admits approximately 60 students into the M.D. program each year, and also offers M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs.

MUN maintains a campus in Harlow, England which opened to students in 1969. This campus has been a popular location for internships in Education, and now offers credit courses, work terms, and internships in a number of areas. The campus accommodates approximately 50 students.

Memorial established the Institut Frecker in St. Pierre in 1973, to offer one-semester French immersion programs. It was housed in a building provided by the archdiocese of St. Pierre until 2000. Now known as the Programme Frecker, it is currently run from the Francoforum, a language teaching facility owned by the government of St. Pierre. The program is partly supported by the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador.

In September 1975 a campus was opened in Corner Brook; it was renamed Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in 1979. Currently 1300 students attend Grenfell College, which offers full degree programs in several disciplines, including Fine Arts, and partial programs, which can be completed at the main campus, in many other subjects.

In 1992, the Institute of Fisheries and Marine Technology in St. John's became affiliated with MUN as the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. Today it is named the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. It offers both degree and non-degree programs.

In 2001 the province changed its official name from Newfoundland to Newfoundland and Labrador. Some argued that the university should change its name to Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. After some debate it was decided to maintain the current name and acronym.

New "Memorial University" logo

In May 2006, Memorial announced it would rebrand itself beginning that fall with a new logo and brand image. [2] Controversy has arisen over this plan, in part because of the logo itself which is much more abstract than the coat of arms used in the past, but also because it only uses the words "Memorial University", omitting the reference to "Newfoundland". The university has stated that the shortened name is for branding purposes only; that the university's full legal name and coat of arms will not be altered, with their use reserved for ceremonial purposes; and that Memorial will promote, not diminish, its connection to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in all of its marketing.

Nonetheless a number of Newfoundlanders and alumni have expressed concern that the new brand will not accurately reflect Memorial's raison d'être — a memorial to those fighting for Newfoundland in the two World Wars (though 'memorial' clearly remains in all communications); or that it may be too ambiguous in light of other universities with the word "Memorial" in their names, though none of these universities is similar to Memorial; directly competes with Memorial; or located in Canada.

Motto, shield, and arms

The university's motto, Provehito in Altum (Launch forth into the deep), captures the spirit of the adventure of learning and urges students to extend the frontiers of knowledge. The shield of arms bears a representation of the sea, books, and a cross. The Arms of Memorial University have as their central element a cross moline, which is a fitting symbol for an institution dedicated to the memory of soldiers of Newfoundland who died during the Great Wars.

Oxen Pond Botanic Park

The Oxen Pond Botanic Park is a botanical garden operated by the university. It is located in the suburbs of St. John's along Mount Scio Road and was founded in 1972. The park has adopted the Twinflower Linnaea borealis as its emblem.

Sports, clubs, and traditions

MUN's sports teams, the Memorial Sea-Hawks, are part of the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) league of Canadian Interuniversity Sport. There are varsity teams in men's and women's basketball, cross-country, soccer, swimming, volleyball and wrestling.

Memorial University also has a very active student media including a radio station, CHMR-FM, and a newspaper, The Muse.

MUNnel System

The MUNnel System is a series of underground tunnels and overhead walkways linking most major buildings on the St. John's campus.

Notable faculty and alumni

Faculty

Alumni

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