St. Thomas University (Canada)

Last updated
St. Thomas University
STUCoatOfArms.svg
Latin: Universitatis S. Thomae
Former name
St. Thomas College (1910–1960)
MottoDoce Bonitatem Scientiam et Disciplinam (Latin)
Motto in English
Teach me Goodness and Knowledge and Discipline [1]
Type Public
Established1910; 110 years ago
Religious affiliation
 Roman Catholic [2]
Academic affiliations
 UACC
CUP
ICUSTA
Chancellor Hon. Graydon Nicholas
President M. Nauman Farooqi [3]
Visitor Christian Riesbeck (as Bishop of Saint John) [4]
Students1,733 [5]
Undergraduates 1,712
Postgraduates 21
Location
Fredericton
,
New Brunswick
,
Canada
CampusUrban
Colours  Gold  and  Green 
Nickname Tommies
Sporting affiliations
 U Sports - AUS
CCAA - ACAA
Website www.stu.ca
St. Thomas University (New Brunswick) Logo.svg

St. Thomas University (also St. Thomas or STU) is a Catholic, English-language liberal arts university located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. It is a primarily undergraduate university offering bachelor's degrees in the arts (humanities and social sciences), education, and social work to approximately 1,900 students. The average class size is 30 and no class is larger than 60. [6]

Contents

The university offers recognized majors in Criminology, Journalism, Human Rights, and Communications and Public Policy. St. Thomas is the home of the Frank McKenna Centre for Communications and Public Policy. [7] The university is unique in Canada for its sole focus on liberal arts and its commitment to social justice.[ citation needed ]

St. Thomas' notable alumni includes a Canadian prime minister, Brian Mulroney, a New Brunswick premier, Shawn Graham, federal and provincial cabinet ministers, prelates, university presidents as well as several Rhodes Scholars. [8]

History

St. Thomas University acknowledges the land in which the school is built on as traditional territory of Indigenous communities. These communities include the Wolastoqiyik / Maliseet, and the Mi'Kmaw, and Passamaquoddy / Peskotomuhkati Tribes / Nations, who signed peace treaties with the British Crown in the 1700s.

St. Thomas University traces its institutional origins to the establishment of a Catholic academy in the former community of Chatham, New Brunswick (now Miramichi) in the late nineteenth century. Due to an influx of Irish immigration in northwestern New Brunswick, Chatham saw a need for more centers of education and religious instruction. Officially opened in October 1860, St. Michael's Academy was inaugurated by Bishop James Rogers of the newly formed Diocese of Chatham. [9]

St. Michael's Academy catered to young English-speaking males in the Miramichi River Valley and the growing port town of Chatham. A women's academy was created a year later. St. Michael's consisted of a single wooden structure constructed near the seat of the Diocese of Chatham, the new St. Michael's Cathedral. The institution offered a classical education and was intended to prepare students to study for the diocesan priesthood. From 1865, the school was known as St. Michael's College. It closed for several years in the 1870s and 1880s. [9]

Its uneven operation was curbed by the Basilian Fathers, a religious order who assumed the administration of the College in 1910. Since the Toronto-based religious order already had a Catholic college in the Ontario capital, named St. Michael's College (a federated component of the University of Toronto), St. Michael's in Chatham was renamed St. Thomas College after Thomas Aquinas. It remained a high school and a junior college; however, in 1934, the institution gained degree-granting status from the Government of New Brunswick. [9]

STU's lower campus in Fredericton St. Thomas University New Brunswick Canada lower campus.jpg
STU's lower campus in Fredericton

After 1923, the Basilian Fathers transferred the administration of the college to the Diocese of Chatham. [10] The diocese was restructured as the Diocese of Bathurst. Its seat was moved to the primarily francophone community, Bathurst, north of Chatham. While St. Thomas College remained in Chatham, its future remained uncertain. In 1959, the college was subject to territorial changes in the reorganized Diocese of Bathurst. English-speaking parishes and the college were transferred to the Diocese of Saint John with its seat in New Brunswick's major port city. [11] The Bishop of Saint John became the Chancellor of St. Thomas. By mid-century, the economic and social significance of post-secondary institutions saw an increased role of state intervention. In 1960, the institution was renamed St. Thomas University by an act of the New Brunswick Legislature. [12] Under the government of Louis Robichaud, the Royal Commission on Higher Education was launched. Headed by John James Deutsch, a professor and administrator from Queen's University, the commission recommended greater centralization and public funding in post-secondary education. [13]

Arising from the Commission's recommendations, St. Thomas University was encouraged to relocate to the campus of the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton to share facilities. Not without controversy and animosity, St. Thomas University moved to the provincial capital and abandoned its secondary school curriculum. [12] A new campus was built in the Neo-Georgian style by the architects of the University of New Brunswick (Larson & Larson) to complement the campus of its institutional neighbour. [14] It officially welcomed students in October 1964. [12]

Relationship with UNB

St. Thomas University and the University of New Brunswick's Fredericton campus are located in the College Hill neighbourhood in Fredericton. The two institutions share facilities for their student unions, libraries, athletics, and a common heating plant and building maintenance services. Students from STU are permitted to take a certain number of classes at UNB and vice versa. However, STU and UNBF itself are financially and academically separate. STU is able to offer many amenities other smaller schools cannot, in large part to its UNB partnership. The two universities enjoy a good-natured rivalry. [15]

Now sharing a campus with the University of New Brunswick (pictured), STU relocated to Fredericton from Chatham, New Brunswick in 1964 UNB Old Arts Building.jpg
Now sharing a campus with the University of New Brunswick (pictured), STU relocated to Fredericton from Chatham, New Brunswick in 1964

Academics

STU offers the following programs: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Applied Arts, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Social Work, and a Bachelor of Arts Aviation Stream. [16]

Athletics

STU offers athletic programs for men's and women's basketball, cross-country, soccer, and volleyball, as well as women's rugby and hockey. Collectively, the Tommies have won 41 ACAA titles and 3 AUS titles. Student-athletes have achieved 404 CCAA National Scholar and 417 U Sports Academic All-Canadian awards. [17]

STU participated in AUS men's hockey until 2016 (winning the championships in 1961 and 2001), [18] and men's and women's track and field from 2011-2022.

Campus life

Brian Mulroney Hall St. Thomas University Fredericton New Brunswick Brian Mulroney Hall.jpg
Brian Mulroney Hall

There are six academic buildings on campus housing classrooms and faculty offices: James Dunn Hall, Edmund Casey Hall, George Martin Hall, Brian Mulroney Hall, Holy Cross House, and Margaret Norrie McCain Hall. Additionally, there are three residence buildings at St. Thomas University, all located on campus: Harrington Hall, Vanier Hall, and Holy Cross House.

The university maintains its own campus police force, comprised by students hired annually by the University to maintain security at campus events. [19] The student newspaper, The Aquinian , is available on campus and throughout the city during the regular academic year.

Graduates may choose to wear the traditional T-ring St. Thomas University (Canada) T-ring.jpg
Graduates may choose to wear the traditional T-ring

Chancellors

Bishop of Chatham (1910–1938) after Bishop of Bathurst (1938–1959)

Bishop of Saint John (1959–2019)

lay Chancellors (2020–Present)

Presidents and Vice Chancellors

Notable alumni

Notable faculty and staff

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of New Brunswick</span> Canadian public university New Brunswick, Canada

The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is a public university with two primary campuses in Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick. It is the oldest English-language university in Canada, and among the oldest public universities in North America. UNB was founded by a group of seven Loyalists who left the United States after the American Revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Brunswick Liberal Association</span> Political party in Canada

The New Brunswick Liberal Association, more popularly known as the New Brunswick Liberal Party or Liberal Party of New Brunswick, is one of the two major provincial political parties in New Brunswick, Canada. The party descended from both the Confederation Party and the Anti-Confederation Party whose members split into left-wing and right-wing groups following the creation of Canada as a nation in 1867.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Veniot</span> Canadian politician

Peter John Veniot, was a businessman and newspaper owner and a politician in New Brunswick, Canada. He was the first Acadian premier of New Brunswick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chatham, New Brunswick</span> Neighborhood of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada

Chatham is an urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada.

The New Brunswick Student Alliance is a student driven organization that advocates for more than 12,000 post-secondary students across New Brunswick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Alward</span> Premier of New Brunswick from 2010 to 2014

David Nathan Alward is a Canadian politician, who served as the 32nd premier of New Brunswick, 2010 to 2014.

Kelly Lamrock is a lawyer and political consultant in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. He was previously a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick for Fredericton-Fort Nashwaak, and Minister of Social Development in the New Brunswick cabinet before opening Lamrock's Law in Fredericton.

Madeleine "Mado" Dubé is a Canadian social worker and politician from New Brunswick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fredericton-Lincoln</span> Provincial electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada

Fredericton-Lincoln is a former and newly upcoming provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. It was first created in the 2006 redrawing of electoral districts and was first used in the general election later that year. Its last MLA was Craig Leonard who served in the cabinet as Minister of Government Services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Byrne</span> Canadian politician (born 1960)

Greg Byrne, KC is a lawyer and former MLA in the province of New Brunswick, Canada.

The Maritime College of Forest Technology is a Canadian post-secondary college with campuses located in Fredericton, New Brunswick and Bathurst, New Brunswick.

James Albert Doyle was the Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the constituency of Miramichi-Bay du Vin from 1997 to 1999. He succeeded former MLA Frank McKenna upon his retirement as member for the provincial constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Higher education in New Brunswick</span>

Higher education in New Brunswick refers to education provided by higher education institutions in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Higher education has a rich history in New Brunswick. The first English-language university in Canada was the University of New Brunswick. Mount Allison University was the first in the British Empire to award a baccalaureate to a woman, Grace Annie Lockhart, B.Sc. in 1875. Education is the responsibility of the provinces in Canada and there is no federal ministry governing it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Allain</span> Canadian politician

Daniel Allain is a Canadian politician from New Brunswick. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick at the 2020 general election in the riding of Moncton East and sat in the legislature until 2024. He served as Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform until being dropped from the cabinet on June 27, 2023.

Pamela R. "Pam" Lynch is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in the 2010 provincial election, defeating Liberal cabinet minister Kelly Lamrock. She represented the electoral district of Fredericton-Fort Nashwaak from 2010 to 2014, and represented the new district of Fredericton-Grand Lake from 2014 until 2018, as a member of the Progressive Conservatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 New Brunswick Liberal Association leadership election</span>

The New Brunswick Liberal Association held a leadership election on October 27, 2012 to replace outgoing leader Shawn Graham with a new leader to lead the party into the 2014 election. Graham was elected at the last leadership convention held in 2002 over Jack MacDougall. Graham announced he would not continue as leader the evening of September 27, 2010, after losing the provincial election earlier that day and formally resigned on November 9, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominic Cardy</span> Canadian politician

Dominic William Cardy is a Canadian politician, interim leader of the Canadian Future Party and a former Member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick (2018-2024) and provincial cabinet minister (2018-2022).

Edward Gerald Byrne was a New Brunswick lawyer and politician, who was made King's Counsel and Member of the Order of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Holt</span> Canadian politician

Susan Holt is a Canadian politician, who has been the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Association since August 6, 2022, MLA for Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore since April 24, 2023, and leader of the Opposition since May 9, 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Psalm 119, Verse 66; also, motto of the Basilian Fathers.
  2. ↑ [https:// web. archive.org/web/20141028093255/http://w3.stu.ca/stu/about/mission/default.aspx "Mission statement"]. stu.ca. St. Thomas University. 2014. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.{{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)
  3. ↑ "President".
  4. ↑ Founding Member, Board of Governors, https://www.stu.ca/bog/
  5. ↑ "2022–2023 Full-Time plus Part-Time Enrolments" (PDF). Association of Atlantic Universities. 2022-10-01. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  6. ↑ "St Thomas University". Archived from the original on 2014-08-26.
  7. ↑ "Frank McKenna donates $1M to STU". CBC News New Brunswick.
  8. 1 2 "St. Thomas: What it's really like to attend this school". macleans.ca.
  9. 1 2 3 Church, Politics, and STU: The Relocation of St. Thomas University from Chatham to Fredericton, p. 3-4.
  10. ↑ Church, Politics, and STU: The Relocation of St. Thomas University from Chatham to Fredericton, p.3-4.
  11. ↑ Church, Politics, and STU, 53-55.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "History - St Thomas University". stu.ca.
  13. ↑ "Commission on Post-Secondary Education in New Brunswick". gnb.ca.
  14. ↑ Church, Politics, and STU, p.176-177.
  15. ↑ "WWW.VREDSHOCKEY.COM - History - Battle of the Hill". vredshockey.com.
  16. ↑ https://www.stu.ca/academics/
  17. ↑ "STU Tommies Athletics". 8 November 2023.
  18. ↑ "Atlantic University Sport - Men's Hockey Past Champions".
  19. ↑ Employment on Campus
  20. ↑ https://nbliberal.ca/team/guy-arseneault/%7CNew Brunswick Liberal Association, MLA profile
  21. ↑ https://www.martindale.com/attorney/lewis-c-ayles-1308037/%7CMartindale profile
  22. ↑ "Archdiocese of Regina Archives, Archbishop Bohan". January 14, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14.
  23. ↑ "Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick". gnb.ca.
  24. ↑ "Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick". gnb.ca.
  25. ↑ "Carolyn Layden-Stevenson Distinguished Alumni Award - St Thomas University". stu.ca.
  26. ↑ Canada, Senate of (October 13, 2016). "Senate of Canada - Senator Sandra M. Lovelace Nicholas". Senate of Canada.
  27. ↑ "Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick". gnb.ca.
  28. ↑ "CBC Digital Archives: "Looking Back on the Mulroney Years."".
  29. ↑ "Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick". gnb.ca.
  30. ↑ "David Adams Richards Appointed to the Senate of Canada". stu.ca. August 30, 2017.
  31. ↑ "2014 - St Thomas University". stu.ca.
  32. ↑ "Special Announcement at St. Thomas University". stu.ca. May 16, 2019.
  33. ↑ "STU Tommies Athletics". STU Tommies Athletics.

Further reading

45°56′37.18″N66°38′48.40″W / 45.9436611°N 66.6467778°W / 45.9436611; -66.6467778

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.