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Algoma University

Motto	"Truth, Knowledge and Wisdom"
Type	Public
Established	1967
President	Dr. Rick Myers
Academic staff	38
Undergraduates	1152
Postgraduates	07
Location	Sault Ste. Marie , ON , Canada
Campus	urban
Tag line	You Belong Here
Affiliations	AUCC, CBIE
Mascot	Thunderbirds
Website	www.algomau.ca

Algoma University (Algoma U) is a postsecondary institution in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, offering undergraduate university degrees in more than 30 academic programs. The student population has increased substantially in recent years and Algoma now has about 1200 students.

From its founding in 1967 until June 18, 2008, Algoma was an affiliated college of Laurentian University in Sudbury, and was officially known as Algoma University College.

The enabling legislation is the Algoma University Act, 2008.

History

Shingwauk Hall: From "Teaching Wigwam" to Residential School

The original vision for Shingwauk Hall in the early 19th century came from the chief of the Ojibway people, Chief Shingwauk, as he felt "that the future Ojibway needed to learn the white man's academic method of education in order to survive in what was becoming a 'predominately non-native world with non-native values'". While Chief Shingwauk's vision of a teaching wigwam for his people would not come to fruition in his lifetime, it would eventually receive funding in 1872 from the combined efforts of Chiefs Augustin Shingwauk and Buhkwujjenene Shingwauk (Chief Shingwauk's sons) and Rev. Edward Francis Wilson. The initial building was constructed in Garden River in 1873 and housed 16 students. It tragically burnt down 6 days later. A new building was erected in Sault Ste. Marie in 1875. .

Shingwauk Hall would eventually become part of the broader movement across Canada to assimilate Canada's First Nations peoples, straying far from Chief Shingwauk's vision for a teaching wigwam. Students in the Anishnabekresidential school system endured poor living conditions, physical and emotional abuse and segregation from their own family members.

The current building was completed in 1935, was it was deemed the original building had deteriorated beyond repair.

Algoma Univerity College

The desire to establish an undergraduate Liberal Arts College in Sault Ste. Marie originated as a broad citizens’ movement in the 1950s. In October of 1964, the Algoma College Association was incorporated by Letters Patent of the Province of Ontario. One year later, Algoma College was established as a non-sectarian institution affiliated with Laurentian University.

In September of 1967, Algoma College opened its doors to its first students. Part-time enrolment expanded to over 1000 students by 1969-70. The year 1971 marked a significant turning point in the College’s history in respect to both program and facilities. In recognition of the rapid maturation of the College, the Department of University Affairs authorized the expansion of full-time in Arts to the full three years. In addition, in September 1971, the College was relocated to its own campus acquiring by lease, Shingwauk Hall and the Shingwauk site. In 1975, with the assistance of a grant from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, the college purchased Shingwauk Hall and thirty-seven acres of land surrounding the buildings.

In 1975 the college purchased Shingwauk Hall, the building that housed the aforementioned residential school, and 37 acres (150,000 m²) of land including property along the St. Mary's River front. In 1989 the Arthur A. Wishart library opened, followed by expansion in 1992 with the opening of the George Leach Centre. Student residence buildings were constructed in 1995 and later expanded in 2001.

2005 was another significant year for the school, as a $6 million technology wing saw expansion unprecedented in the school's young past. Included in the wing are state-of-the-art technology and computer labs, the 'Great West Life Amphitheatre' (a 250+ seat lecture hall), a new student centre, cafeteria, faculty offices, a bookstore and campus shop, and a new pub.

Algoma's independence from Laurentian University was first proposed in 1994. The original proposal would have seen the school renamed Shingwauk University, but was not ultimately pursued by the MTCU.

On May 31, 2007, the government of Ontario announced that it would introduce legislation to charter Algoma as a fully independent university. After the government passed the Algoma University Act, it was given royal assent by David Onley, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, on June 18, 2008. Nipissing University in North Bay, also formerly an affiliated college of Laurentian University, similarly received status as an independent university in 1992.

Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig will be the name of a new federated institution dedicated to Anishnaabe education.

Programs

Algoma provides 30 plus programs - three and four year bachelor's degrees in disciplines such as English, history, psychology, sociology, biology, business, computer science and fine arts. The Master of Computer Games Technology program is offered in conjunction with the University of Abertay Dundee, Scotland.

The university also offers selected programs on satellite campuses in Timmins and Brampton.

Partnerships

Community Outreach

The Algoma Conservatory of Music, which offers music lessons to about 1000 students in the community, has a working relationship with Algoma.

Academic Partners

Concurrently with Algoma's charter as an independent university, Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig (University), an Anishinaabe cultural and linguistic federated school opened in the fall of 2008. Shingwauk U continues to actively lobby the Ontario government in order to achieve status as an independent Ontario university.

The university has student exchange agreements with schools in Australia, Austria, France, Japan and Korea. The university also recently announced agreements in principle to establish exchange partnerships with Soonchunhyang University in South Korea and the University of Jinan in China. The agreements will eventually see the exchange of teachers, researchers, and students, as well as the exchange of academic information and resources.

Campus

Academic and Administrative Buildings

Shingwauk Hall and Adjacent Wings (East, West and North-West)

Shingwauk Hall is currently used to house various classrooms, as well as administrative and faculty offices. It is connected on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd levels by links to the newer East, West and North-West wings that house further classrooms, research space and offices. The second floor of Shingwauk Hall (SH200's) houses various student services, including Co-Op and Career Services, the Learning Center, Student Advisors and the ESL Program.

Bioscience Technology and Convergence Centre

In 2009 Algoma received more than $16 million to build a the Biosciences and Technology Convergence Centre. Ground was broken for the new building in September 2009. Along with state of the art classroom and laboratory space for students and professors, the building will also be home to various research institutes, including the Health Informatics Research Institute, the Invasive Species Research Institute, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre and Algoma Games for Health. The building will open it's doors to students in September 2011.

Fine Arts and Music Education (FAME) Centre

The university has plans to build the Fine Arts and Music Education (FAME) Centre as part of it's plan to expand the campus into the downtown core of Sault Ste. Marie. The FAME Centre will be housed in the former Windsor Park Hotel, sharing the facility with the new downtown residence and medical clinic. The project is part of the school's Essential Elements campaign, a fundraising campaign aimed at the continued expansion of the school and it's endeavours.

Athletics and Recreation

George Leach Centre

Algoma has a 39000 square-foot sports and athletics centre, the George Leach Centre (GLC). The GLC has three regulation court surfaces, which accommodate badminton, basketball, volleyball, and tennis. One court has been specially designed for indoor tennis and the gymnasium features a 1/9th mile indoor walk/jog track. The facility also includes two international-sized squash courts, an aerobics/multipurpose room with a suspended wooden floor which meets international standards for aerobics/dance, and a weight training/aerobic machine room with state-of-the-art equipment.

Student Centre

The Speak Easy is the university's cafeteria and pub. It features a state of the art sound system, various telivisions, a large projection screen and a licensed patio.

Residences

Algoma U has three residence facilities: The Dr. Lou Lukenda Dormitory, the Spirit Village Townhouse Residence and the Downtown Residence. All residences are equipped with wireless high-speed internet.

Dr. Lou Lukenda Dormitory

Built in September of 2003, the facility contains 45 single bedrooms. Each bedroom is fully-furnished with a bed, desk, dresser, closet and telephone and shares a common bathroom with one other bedroom.

Spirit Village Townhouse

The entire complex is comprised of 15 townhouses, housing 75 students. Each townhouse unit has five single bedrooms, two bathrooms, a common kitchen and living room.

Downtown Residence

Opened in September of 2010, the downtown residence is a converted local hotel landmark. Each room is fully-furnished with a single bed, dresser, closet, telephone, mini-fridge, television and private bathroom. There are shared kitchen facilities and common rooms in various areas throughout the building.

Student life

Algoma University participates in the Ontario College’s Athletic Association (OCAA) with men’s and women’s basketball, curling, indoor soccer and cross-country running. Both basketball teams compete in the OCAA’s Western Division. The university's student newspaper is The Sentient. The university does not currently have a campus radio station, although several students and faculty participate in the production of Thunderbird Six, a series of podcasts about the university. Some individual Algoma students have also volunteered for WLSO, the college radio station of Lake Superior State University.

The students are represented by the Algoma University Students' Union (AUSU). AUSU is local 82 of the Canadian Federation of Students. Anishinaabe students of Algoma University have an active Shingwauk Anishinaabe Students' Association (SASA) and are represented on the Algoma University Student Union executive, the Anishinaabe Peoples Council (an advisory committee of the Board of Governors) and the Cross Cultural Committee.

Algoma also publishes an annual literary journal, Algoma Ink.

See also

• List of Ontario Universities
• Ontario Student Assistance Program
• Higher education in Ontario
• Canadian government scientific research organizations
• Canadian university scientific research organizations
• Canadian industrial research and development organizations

External links

• Algoma University
• thunderbird six, the AU podcast
• Algoma University profile at the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada