University of Lethbridge

University in Alberta, Canada

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University of Lethbridge

Blackfoot: Iniskim, Sacred Buffalo Stone

Motto| Latin: Fiat Lux

Motto in English

| Let there be light
Type| Public
Established| 1967; 57 years ago (1967)

Academic affiliations

| Universities Canada, ACU
Endowment| $104.5 million (2024)[1]
Chancellor| Terry Whitehead
President| Digvir Jayas [2]
Provost| Michelle Helstein [3]

Academic staff

| 600[4]
Students| 8,263
Undergraduates| 7,528[5]
Postgraduates| 735[5]
Address|

4401 University Drive
Lethbridge, Alberta
T1K 3M4

49°40′42″N 112°51′50″W﻿ / ﻿49.6782°N 112.8640°W﻿ / 49.6782; -112.8640﻿ (University of Lethbridge)
Campus| Urban
185 ha (1,850,000 m2)
Colours| Blue  and  Gold
Nickname| Pronghorns

Sporting affiliations

| U Sports, CWUAA,
Mascot| Luxie — the pronghorn
Website| www.ulethbridge.ca

The University of Lethbridge (also known as uLethbridge, uLeth, and U of L) is a public comprehensive and research university located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, with a second campus in Calgary, Alberta.

Founded in the liberal arts tradition, the university offers over 150 undergraduate degree programs in the Arts, Sciences, Management, Education, Health Sciences and Fine Arts. Further, the university has over 50 Masters and PhD programs.

Ranked as one of the top primarily undergraduate universities in Canada by Maclean's magazine, the university has a provincial economic impact of $2.0 billion. It is the second largest employer in the city of Lethbridge, with over 1,000 staff, including 600 academic staff. The student population consists of 7,528 undergraduates and 735 graduate students as of 2022. There are over 50,000 alumni around the world.[6]

## History

[edit]

March in support of the university being located in west Lethbridge University of Lethbridge, circa 1972

Established by a provincial Order in Council as Alberta's third university during a period of rapid population growth in the province. The University of Lethbridge welcomed 650 students when it first opened its doors in 1967 on the Lethbridge Junior College campus. With the completion of University Hall in 1971, the university moved permanently to west Lethbridge with enrolment growing to over 1,200 students.[7] The current location of the university was chosen only after an intense community debate with the provincial government which 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.[7]

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 Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC).[8]

On February 10, 2022, the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association began its first ever legal strike action over issues such as working conditions, collegial governance, and equitable pay and benefits.[9] The strike concluded on March 23, with the Faculty Association voting 91% in favour of a new collective agreement with the university lasting through June 2024.[10]

## Academics

[edit]

The University of Lethbridge offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in four faculties and three schools, as described below.

The university is accredited under Alberta's Post-Secondary Learning Act[11] and is considered a "comprehensive academic and research university" (CARU), 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.[12]

### Faculties and Schools

[edit]

Students' Union building at University of Lethbridge

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 Faculty of Arts and Science offers nine pre-professional programs in dentistry, journalism, law, medicine, nutrition and food sciences, optometry, social work, and veterinary medicine, as well as an engineering transfer program, through which students take their first year at the University of Lethbridge before completing their degrees at the University of Alberta or the University of Saskatchewan.

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 the Tecconnect centre for entrepreneurship and innovation (Economic Development Lethbridge), Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA), and other organizations to encourage the production of spinoffs and collaboration with industry.[citation needed]

### Indigenous Student Programs

[edit]

The University of Lethbridge provides special first-year bridging programs for Indigenous students. The University of Lethbridge's Niitsitapi Teacher Education Program with Red Crow Community College was developed in partnership with specific Indigenous communities to meet specific needs within Aboriginal communities.[13]

### Rural Medical Education Training Program

[edit]

The University of Lethbridge and the University of Calgary signed a MOU to establish a new Rural Medical Education Training Program in Lethbridge to help increase the number of physicians practising in Southern Alberta.[14] The program will be located on the University of Lethbridge's main campus in the former building of the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience and once operational will enrol up to 30 students per year in the Cumming School of Medicine's accelerated 3-year undergraduate medical education curriculum.

## Research

[edit]

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.[15] 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 the Alberta Gambling Research Institute (AGRI), Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute (ARRTI), Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Centre (ATIC), Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN), Canadian Centre for Research in Advanced Fluorine Technologies (C-CRAFT), Centre for the Study of Scholarly Communication (CSSC), Centre for Culture and Community (CCC), Centre for Oral History and Tradition (COHT), Centre for Socially Responsible Marketing (CSRM), Health Services Quality Institute (HSQI), Institute for Child and Youth Studies (I-CYS), Institute for Space Imaging Science (ISIS), Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy, Small Business Institute (SBI), and Water Institute for Sustainable Environments (WISE).

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.

## Rankings

[edit]

University rankings

World rankings
THE World[16]| 1201–1500
USNWR World[17]| 1741
Canadian rankings
THE National[16]| 31
USNWR National[17]| 37
Maclean's Undergraduate[18]| 6
Maclean's Reputation[19]| 37

The University of Lethbridge was ranked 6th in Canada in the primarily undergraduate university category for Maclean's 2024 university rankings.[18]

## Campus

[edit]

### Library

[edit]

Library

The LINC (Library Information Network Centre) was opened in 2001 after a 10-year fundraising campaign. It houses the library, numerous individual and group study spaces, and some of the best views on campus.

### Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN)

[edit]

The CCBN is home to Canada's first Department of Neuroscience, state-of-the-art labs, and has attracted world-class researchers, including: Dr. Bryan Kolb and Dr. Bruce McNaughton.[citation needed]

### 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport & Wellness

[edit]

The 1st Choice Savings Centre includes the following facilities:

1st Choice Savings Centre

* A triple gymnasium (2 hardwood floors and 1 synthetic surface), 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

[edit]

Opened in 2008, Turcotte Hall is home to the Faculty of Education, Counselling Services and the campus Physical Plant.[20]

Turcotte Hall - Faculty of Education.

### Alberta Water and Environment Science Building

[edit]

The Alberta Water and Environment Science Building (AWESB) 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.[21]

### Community Sports Stadium

[edit]

Main article: University of Lethbridge Community Stadium

The $12-million facility was constructed through a partnership between the City of Lethbridge and the University of Lethbridge, with additional funding provided by the Government of Alberta.[22] 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.[23]

### Markin Hall

[edit]

Trading room

Named after Dr. Alan Markin in recognition of his generous financial support of the building, Markin Hall is home to the Dhillon School of Business and the Faculty of Health Sciences.[24] The building includes the Centre for Financial Market Research and Teaching (“Trading Room”) which provides direct connections to global trading markets, giving students hands-on experience with equities trading and risk management. Also has the Simulation Health Centre, which has patient simulators for the Health Sciences students. Students can engage in clinical practice on life like mannequins which can simulate body functions in a realistic setting set up to imitate a hospital.[25]

### Science Commons

[edit]

The most recent development at the University of Lethbridge is the "Destination Project", the first phase of which was a new $280M 38,500 square metres (414,000 sq ft) science and academic building, known as Science Commons. This facility, officially opened in September 2019,[26] features laboratory and teaching facilities, as well as "outreach" and "maker" spaces. The Science Commons houses over 100 faculty researchers in physics, astronomy, chemistry, biochemistry, biological sciences, neuroscience, and psychology.[citation needed][27] In 2018, it was shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival[28]

## Student life

[edit]

The student body of the University of Lethbridge is represented by two students' unions, the University of Lethbridge Students' Union for all undergraduate students, and the Graduate Student Association for all graduate students.[29] There are over 70 student clubs that provide social and athletic activities, travel, religious fellowship, and charitable and cultural support. The undergraduate student union, as well as many of the student organizations and clubs, are centred in the university's student activity centre, the Students' Union Building. The building was opened in 1990, and hosts the majority of the Students' Union services and business operations.

The two primary media outlets amongst the student population are the student newspaper, The Meliorist, which has been in print since 1967 and the campus radio station, CKXU 88.3 FM, which first went to air in 1978.

### Athletics

[edit]

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, judo, rugby union (women only), soccer, swimming, and track and field. The university formerly had men's and women's teams in volleyball (the men's team was cut in 1988, followed by the women in the early 1990s) and ice hockey (the men's and women's teams were simultaneously cut in April 2020),[30] the latter of whom played off-campus at the Nicholas Sheran Ice Centre owned by the City of Lethbridge.[31] The Pronghorns have won national championships in men's hockey (1994) and women's rugby (2007, 2008, 2009).[32] The university has an intramurals program.

The home gymnasium for the Pronghorns is the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport & Wellness which includes three 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 the public on a membership basis.

An outdoor stadium in the southern campus opened in fall 2009. It is the home of the Pronghorns soccer teams and the women's rugby team.

## Art gallery

[edit]

The University of Lethbridge Art Gallery was established in 1981 and houses 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

[edit]

East-facing view of University Hall taken prior to the construction of the Science Commons building Chancellors  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 | 2023
Terry Whitehead | 2023 |
Presidents  President | Term start | Term end

|
|

Russell J. Leskiw (acting) | 1967 | 1967
Sam Smith | 1967 | 1972
William E. Beckel | 1972 | 1979
John H. Woods | 1979 | 1986
Gerald S. Kenyon (acting) | 1986 | 1987
Howard E. Tennant | 1987 | 2000
William H. Cade | 2000 | 2010
Michael J. Mahon | 2010 | 2023
Digvir Jayas | 2023 |

## Notable people

[edit]

* Esther Tailfeathers[33]
* Darcy Tamayose

## See also

[edit]

* University of Lethbridge Students' Union
* CKXU-FM
* Lethbridge Pronghorns

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Endowment Fund | University of Lethbridge". 2023–2024.
2. ^ "Office of the President | University of Lethbridge".
3. ^ "Provost and Vice-President (Academic):Michelle Helstein". University of Lethbridge. 2020.
4. ^ "Who we are". University of Lethbridge Faculty Association. 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
5. ^ a b "ULethbridge quick facts". University of Lethbridge. 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
6. ^ "Fast Facts". www.ulethbridge.ca. 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
7. ^ a b "History of U of L | University of Lethbridge". www.uleth.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
8. ^ "University Hall Today | University of Lethbridge". www.uleth.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
9. ^ "Negotiations Breakdown Between ULFA and University of Lethbridge Board of Governors – Strike Announcement – University of Lethbridge Faculty Association (ULFA)". Retrieved 2022-02-14.
10. ^ "University of Lethbridge Faculty Strike Ends, Classes to Resume". Retrieved 2022-04-16.
11. ^ Government of Alberta (February 1, 2019). "Post-secondary learning act". Statutes of Alberta, 2003: Chapter P-19.5 - via Alberta Queen's Printer.
12. ^ "Types of publicly-funded institutions". Alberta.ca. Government of Alberta. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
13. ^ "The University of Winnipeg" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
14. ^ "Rural Medical Education Program Training Centres one step closer with Memorandum of Understanding". University of Lethbridge. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
15. ^ "Research Universities of the Year 2012" (PDF). Research InfoSource. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
16. ^ a b "World University Rankings 2025". Times Higher Education. TES Global. 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
17. ^ a b "Best Global Universities in Canada". U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report, L.P. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
18. ^ a b "Canada's Best Primarily Undergraduate Universities for 2025". Maclean's. Rogers Media. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
19. ^ "Canada's Best Universities in 2025 by National Reputational Ranking". Maclean's. Rogers Media. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
20. ^ "Celebrating Turcotte Hall". uleth.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
21. ^ "Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building". uleth.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
22. ^ "University opens Community Sports Stadium". uleth.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
23. ^ "Community Sports Stadium | Sport & Recreation". www.uleth.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
24. ^ "Markin Hall". Celebrating 50 Years at the University of Lethbridge. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
25. ^ "Dhillon School of Business". uleth.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
26. ^ "Big Bang Weekend: Science Building Grand Opening". uleth. ca. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
27. ^ "ULeth Building Directory".
28. ^ "Education-Future-Project". worldarchitecturefestival.com. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
29. ^ "University of Lethbridge Students' Union". ULSU. 6 August 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
30. ^ "Pronghorns players react after elimination of U of L hockey programs: 'People are devastated'". Global News. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
31. ^ "Nicholas Sheran Arena". City of Lethbridge, The. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
32. ^ "Championships - Women's Rugby". U Sports. 17 July 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
33. ^ "Medical doctor and changemaker, Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, to receive University of Lethbridge honorary degree | UNews". University of Lethbridge. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-06-05.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

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