University of Guelph

The Johnston Clock Tower at the main campus

The main university campus spans 412 hectares (1,017 acres), including the 165-hectare (408-acre) University of Guelph Arboretum and a 12-hectare (30-acre) research park.

Earliest examples of the campus' architecture date back to the inception of the Ontario Agricultural College and include the President's house and Raithby House, which were constructed with local limestone. The campus also has a number of notable midcentury modernist buildings, mostly in the Brutalist style, which were constructed in the 1960s as part of the school's expansion plan. Complexes such as the MacKinnon arts building and the McLaughlin library, overseen by architect Josep Lluis Sert, serve as major meeting places. The campus is well-populated with trees which line the main walkways, many of which are paved with red clay brick. The campus includes an arboretum.

Campus safety is provided by the University of Guelph Campus Community Police, First Response Team and Fire Safety officers.[20][21][22]

The Ontario Agricultural College had a network of campuses and research stations throughout Ontario which were operated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.[15] At one time, courses were offered in English in Guelph, Kemptville and Ridgetown, and in French at Campus d'Alfred near Ottawa. From 1889 to 1961, this college published the OAC Review, a magazine published by and for students, with topics on everything from political and social events to photographs from around campus.[23]

In 2014, the University of Guelph announced that academic programmes at the Alfred and Kemptville campuses would close after the existing students completed their studies.[24] In early 2017, the University of Guelph web site clearly indicated that this institution was no longer offering programs at either location.[25][26]

The OAC does operate in Guelph and at the campus in Ridgetown, Ontario at the former Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology, on over 180 hectares (450 acres). It does not offer degree programs in this location. Instead, the focus is on technology transfer, with two and three year diploma programs. Specialties are agriculture, veterinary technology, environmental management and horticulture. This location also offers one-year certificate programs in performance horse handling and veterinary office administration. There is also an apprenticeship program for Dairy Herdsperson (new for 2017).[27]

The University of Guelph-Humber is a satellite campus created by a partnership in 2002 between the University of Guelph and Humber College. Located on Humber's North Campus in Toronto, it offers seven four-year academic programs that grant an honours degree from the University of Guelph and a college diploma from Humber College.[28][29]

In the fall of 2015, there were 4,174 full-time and 503 part-time undergraduate degree students enrolled at the Guelph-Humber campus.[2]

Thornbrough Building (housing the School of Engineering)

The University of Guelph offers more than 80 degree programs, more than 100 graduate and post-doctoral study programs, and over 60 open learning/distance education opportunities.

Science Complex atrium

The University of Guelph consists of seven faculties (or colleges, as they are known at Guelph):

• College of Arts
• College of Biological Science
• Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics
• College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• College of Social & Applied Human Sciences
• Ontario Agricultural College
• Ontario Veterinary College

Other areas of academic specialization include the:

• School of Computer Science
• School of Engineering
• School of English and Theatre Studies
• School of Environmental Design and Rural Development
• School of Environmental Sciences
• School of Fine Art and Music
• School of Languages and Literatures
• School of Hospitality and Tourism Management
• Open Learning and Educational Support
• University of Guelph-Humber

The University of Guelph is well-known internationally for its expertise in agricultural research and innovation. It hosts major projects in the area of global food security and sustainable development including Food from Thought, Arrell Food Institute, Guelph Institute of Environmental Research and the R2B2 (Regional and Rural Broadband) project.

The University of Guelph, along with University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University is a member of the Tri-University History group, which combines the history departments of the three universities at the graduate level. Graduate students are registered at one of the three universities according to their supervisor, but can take courses at any of the campuses. The University of Guelph specializes in Scottish History, as well as local and rural history.

• Guelph-Waterloo Center for Graduate Work in Chemistry and Biochemistry (GWC2) is one of Canada's largest and most successful graduate schools.[30]
• Guelph-Waterloo Physics Institute (GWPI) is a joint graduate program offered by the Departments of Physics at the University of Waterloo and Guelph.[31]
• Guelph-McMaster Collaborative MA Program in Public Policy and Administration
• Tri-University Graduate History Program (Waterloo, Laurier, Guelph)
• Crossways in Cultural Narratives, Erasmus-Mundus MA (Collaborative Graduate program selected for funding by the EU and taught at the University of Guelph, Université de Perpignan via Domitia, St. Andrews University, The University of Sheffield, The University of Bergamo, The University of Santiago de Compostela, Nova Lisboa University, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, the University of Tübingen)

War Memorial Hall, built in 1924

Several buildings constructed during the establishment of the OAC, including President's Residence, Raithby House, and Day Hall, are still part of the main campus. From the turn of the century to the movement of the OVC, many more buildings were added to the campus: MacDonald Hall (1903), Massey Hall (1901), the Bullring (1901), Mills Hall (1921), and Food Science.

The War Memorial Hall was erected in 1924 of stone-cut limestone by the Ontario Agriculture College;[32] The landmark building was designed by architect Harry Reginald Coales as a lecture hall or theatre to honour students who had enlisted and died in the First World War.[33] Two bronze tablets in the Memorial Chapel remember the alumni who died in the First World War and in the Second World War.[34] Johnston Hall, a signature symbol of the university, was built in 1931, taking the place of the torn-down Moreton Lodge (c. 1874) and becoming the home for the OAC Administration. The Johnston Clock tower overlooks Winegard Walk and is visible from much of the campus. The building also overlooks Johnston Green, a popular location for recreational sporting activities and outdoor concerts.

Creelman Hall, one of the many hospitality locations on campus

Rozanski Hall (2003) is in the heart of the campus. Equipped with electronic white boards, laptop sound, picture and wireless internet and high luminance video/data projectors, Rozanski Hall accommodates over 1,500 students in several lecture halls.[35]

The Science Complex opened for the 2007/2008 academic year. It is the largest integrated science teaching and research facility in North America.[36] This facility houses 150 faculty and 4500 students, and centralizes physical, biological and computational sciences. A new and improved building consisted of Pathobiology and Animal Health Laboratory was opened in 2010. Its goal is to strengthen Canada's ability to prevent diseases and solve health issues at the human/animal interface. Supporting the growing role of veterinarians in research and educational initiatives related to public health, this four-storey building includes a lecture theatre, seminar rooms, a teaching lab, and research and laboratory facilities.[36]

Day Hall, built in 1895

The Biodiversity Institute of Ontario is the world's first centre for high-volume DNA barcoding–the rapid identification of millions of species. It is anticipated faculty will enter over 500,000 barcode analyses per year.[36] The university's School of Engineering had an approximately $50 million expansion between 2009 and 2011 in the form of new construction and renovations. This is in response to new mechanical, biomedical and computer engineering programs, increased enrolment in undergraduate and graduate programs and expanded research in sustainability-related areas. Alexander Hall is an environmental teaching and research centre. The Animal Cancer Centre is Canada's first institute for comparative cancer investigation. It includes a linear accelerator offering animal radiation treatment available.

Originally built in the 1940s and expanded in the 1950s, the W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre was upgraded and expanded to keep up with university and community's needs in the fall of 2016. After a student referendum in 2010, students choose to contribute $45 million to the innovation of the W.F Mitchell Athletic Centre. One of the major focuses on the new building was being able to accommodate the growth in Guelph's population since the 1950s. The new 170,000-square-foot Athletic Centre serves as an all purpose building, supporting students, athletes, and the public in a variety of new spaces such as a 22,000-square-foot fitness room, multiple gymnasiums, and a rock-climbing wall.[37]

On June 25, 1988, No. 4 Wireless School Association erected a bronze plaque as a war memorial the Royal Canadian Air Force No. 4 Wireless School, which was located on the campus (1941-1945); the plaque honours the memory of their comrades who died in the armed service of Canada during World War II.[38]

Alexander Building (formerly Axelrod)

Most students reside on campus in co-ed residences, including in the East Residence (610 residents), East Townhouses (645), Johnston Hall (315), Lambton Hall (400), Lennox/Addington Hall (520), Maids Hall (50, also known as Artz Haüs), Mills Hall (160), Watson Hall (67, female only), West Residences (110 students living among the Family Housing community), and South Residence (1,800 residents evenly distributed across Mountain, Prairie and Maritime Halls).

Also on campus are the East Village Townhouses that were opened during the fall of 2001. The townhouses consist of 164 four-, five- and six-bedroom self-contained units. These primarily house upper-year students and international students.

West Residences, consisting of the 78 College Avenue and 252 Stone Road (also referred to as Wellington Woods) locations, is home to 110 upper-year students. These students live among the Family Housing residents in either two bedroom townhouses, or one to two bedroom apartments (only available at the College Avenue location). West Residences promote diverse programs and includes many opportunities for community involvement.

South Residence, the largest residence on campus, is home to 1800 students and over 50 Residence Life staff members.[39] It is split into three self-contained halls with independent fire alarm grids. It was built in 1968 by Australian architect John Andrews, a Brutalist architect who has designed several Canadian university residences, as well as Toronto's iconic CN Tower.[40]

With 14 different campus living environments, it has one of the largest university housing systems in Canada.

The six-storey McLaughlin Library provides students with more than 400 computers in the library and access to books, periodicals, films, audiovisual and archival materials, government documents and maps. During the 2017/2018 school year, the Library received over 1.4 million visitors.[41]

Students have access to millions of library resources through the automated library system that partners with 14 other academic libraries in Ontario.[42] Guelph students, faculty and staff also have access to electronic resources from any location at any time.

The MacDonald Stewart Art Centre, which includes the University of Guelph collection is cosponsored by University of Guelph. The art centre is a public gallery and sculpture park which houses a collection of 4000 works, mainly Canadian c. 1700 to the present. The collection consists of mixed media, multimedia and installations, painting, photography, prints and drawings, sculpture, costumes, glass, metalwork, silverwork and goldwork, textiles and tapestries.[43]

Athletics facilities

The 2016, the University of Guelph opened an over $60M new Athletic Centre. The centre includes: a 25,000 square foot fitness centre, a suspended running track, varsity basketball and volleyball courts, a climbing wall and numerous multi-purpose rooms for fitness and recreation activities. It also includes a 2,200 seat events centre, social spaces, concession areas, a merchandise store and new locker rooms.

The university's Research Park Centre

In 2018, the University of Guelph was ranked 16th among the top 50 research universities in Canada.[51] In 2012, the Higher Education Strategy Associates ranked the university fifth nationally in social sciences and humanities.[52] The University of Guelph has achieved a five-star rating from Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), publishers of the annual World University Rankings.

In 2020, the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph ranked No. 1 in Canada and No. 5 in the world according to the QS World University Ranking.[53]

In the Canadian University Report by The Globe and Mail, Guelph was ranked in the top 3 in 15 of 19 categories among medium-sized universities. This included the top spot in course registration, academic counselling, student residences, information technology, campus atmosphere, environmental commitment and work-play balance.[54]

According to a study in 2012 by The Impact Group, the University of Guelph was at that time Canada's most inventive university in terms of invention disclosures per full-time faculty member, and the number of inventions per million dollars of research funding.[55]

Forbes ranked this university as number 61 on its list of Canada's Best Employers 2019.[56] The magazine stated, "Guelph is considered one of Canada’s top universities for its rigorous academic offerings combined with experiential learning and research training".[57]

Additionally, the University of Guelph's Sustainability MBA program was ranked as the best sustainability MBA in Canada and ninth in the world during the 16th annual Better World MBA Rankings in 2018 by the Toronto-based Corporate Knights.[58]

The governance of the University of Guelph is a bicameral system consisting of the Senate and the Board of Governors.

Old Jeremiah is the name of an antique British naval gun that rests along Winegard Walk in Branion Plaza, at the heart of the University of Guelph campus. Rumoured to have seen battle during the War of 1812, Old Jeremiah was last fired in April 1913. After World War I, the gun's barrel was plugged and it was brought to campus by students as a sign of remembrance for those lost in battle. It is often referred to simply and affectionately as The Cannon. During the 1970s, Old Jeremiah was briefly relocated to Johnston Green and renamed the Big Johnston.

As a result of jovial rivalry between Engineering and Agricultural Science students ("Aggies"), the cannon has enjoyed plenty of movement around the Guelph campus in the past as a result of practical jokes between the two majors. Although it is nearly impossible to determine the cannon's previous locations, it is rumoured to have traveled all over campus, at one point even perching on top of MacNaughton (a prominent university building containing the bookstore), and at another even disappearing altogether and showing up a day later on the University of Western Ontario campus. Eventually, fed up with the movement of Old Jeremiah, university officials cemented the cannon in place where it sits today. However, as a final stab at humour, a group of students shifted the still-mobile direction of the cannon's face, and aimed it at the fourth floor of the University Center, home of the institution's senior administration. Old Jeremiah rests in this position today. Due it appearing at University of Western Ontario ("Western") this started a long rivalry between the 2 universities

Despite its movement, the cannon enjoyed relative tranquility until the 1950s when an aspiring entrepreneurial student came up with the idea of painting a message on the highly visible landmark. The act of "painting the cannon" has since become a campus tradition with students, residences, sports teams, clubs and others braving the early morning hours to paint messages on the cannon, most often about upcoming events but also including birthday announcements, wedding proposals and insults. The etiquette governing "painting the cannon" is unofficial but well understood: 1) do not begin painting the cannon until the sun has set, 2) be finished by the time the first students arrive for classes in the morning, and 3) avoid profanity or coarse language. It is a well-accepted practice to "guard" the cannon until sunrise so as to avoid another person or group painting over one's message.[77]

In fall 2010, Master of Fine Arts student and art teacher Dawn Johnston began to strip Old Jeremiah of all the layers of paint it had accumulated since the 1950s as an art project. Calling it "[her] form of sculpture", Johnston completed the project over a week's time within a wooden enclosure to avoid the watchful eyes of passing students. Some students were upset about the removal, claiming Johnston was "taking away [their] history", although the project was done with the approval of university faculty. Upon completion, the enclosure was removed and the bare cannon was revealed; however, the tradition of painting Old Jeremiah has since resumed.[78]

Old Jeremiah - painted by the European Studies students at the University of Guelph

During the University of Guelph's orientation program, which takes place each year at the beginning of Orientation Week, all new students within each residence are taught a dance–often referred to as the Hall Boogie–which is performed to a variety of mixed popular songs. Awards are presented to the Halls which demonstrate the best spirit, creativity, synchronisation and co-ordination. Many of the dances are very impressive, despite being practised in typically an hour or less.

A University of Guelph dance move, Winding Your Toy, is almost always incorporated into each boogie, usually to a bass-heavy dance track. A winding motion is made with the rear hand–as if winding a wind-up toy–while the knees are bent in rhythm. The origins of "winding the toy" are not well known, yet it retains notoriety among students and friends of students at the university.

A team of Aggies during tug-of-war at College Royal

The Rally is the kick-off to the remainder of orientation activities. The University of Guelph must apply for a special noise permit for the event as the activity can often be heard for miles.

In 2004, "Student Power" was introduced as a low-key alternative event to the Pep Rally for anyone who may not be as inclined to participate in the highly energetic and boisterous Pep Rally.

During the renovation the location the Pep Rally is held (The School's football field) in 2012, an event named "Rally for Change" was held in place; in which hundreds of University of Guelph students went out into the local community and did street performances to raise money for Cancer research. The Pep Rally was held on a later date. This event has since also become a tradition with plans for it to also be incorporated in the orientation program in 2013.

An annual feature of the university is its open house, known as College Royal. For a weekend each March, every part of the campus and its programs is exhibited to the public, from the barns of the Agricultural College to the sugar bush in the arboretum. It is highly popular with visitors of all ages, especially families with children who take advantage of the March break (the usual Ontario school break) to have an outing.

The 2006 College Royal was visited by Rick Mercer, taping a segment for his show, the Rick Mercer Report.