Brock University

History

In 1963 the Brock University Founders’ Committee, chaired by Arthur Schmon, offered Dr. James A. Gibson the invitation to become the founding president.

Brock University was established by the passage of the Brock University Act by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1964. When the university first opened in September 1964, classes were held at the St. Paul Street United Church in downtown St. Catharines for 13 weeks until the Glenridge Campus was completely renovated.

Brock's Glenridge campus was officially opened on October 19, 1964 with Gibson as the university's founding president. In 1996 Brock University honoured Gibson by naming the university library in his honour.

Richard L. Hearn was appointed the university's inaugural chancellor in 1967.

Brock University is named after Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, who commanded the British and Canadian forces during the War of 1812. Although the British and Canadian forces went on to win, Brock lost his life during the Battle of Queenston Heights in 1812, fought 20 km (12 mi) from the present-day site of the campus. His last words are said to have been Surgite! (Latin for "push on") — now used as the university's motto. For his contribution to Canada, Brock was voted the 28th Greatest Canadian in a 2004 poll, conducted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Jack N. Lightstone became the school's president on July 1, 2006. The university's current chancellor is actress Shirley Cheechoo.

Arthur Schmon Tower

The Arthur Schmon Tower was built in 1968 and is the flagship building of Brock University. The Schmon Tower along with the surrounding Thistle complex are characterized by their distinctive brutalist architecture. Dr. Schmon was the primary force behind getting a university established in the Niagara peninsula and was the chairman of the Brock University Founders' Committee, formed in 1962. The Schmon Tower building houses the main library on campus, the James A Gibson Library, as well as the offices of the University administration and the Matheson Learning Commons. On a clear day, atop the Schmon Tower is afforded a direct line-of-sight view of the Toronto skyline, across Lake Ontario.

Welch Hall

Welch Hall is home to Brock's Faculty of Education, the Instructional Resource Centre, as well as the David S. Howes Theatre. It recently underwent an expansion, designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects and costing in excess of $8 million, which added additional lecture halls and administrative offices as well as upgrades to Welch Hall's facilities.

Mackenzie Chown Complex

Designed by Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama, who also served as Chancellor of Brock, the Mackenzie Chown Complex primarily contains seminar rooms and science laboratories. The Mackenzie Chown Complex also houses the Pond Inlet. It was named for Mackenzie Chown, the former mayor of St. Catharines, chairman of the Brock's Board of Trustees, and chairman of the fund-raising committee for a new science laboratory building to be added to the Complex.

Taro Hall

Taro Hall is home to Brock's Goodman School of Business. It was opened in 1990 and was designed by Moriyama & Teshima Architects, of which Raymond Moriyama is a partner. Taro Hall is primarily used for Faculty offices, including the Dean of the Goodman School of Business, and lecture halls. It contains six lecture halls for undergraduate students (BBA & BAcc), three lecture halls for graduate students (MBA, MAcc, IMAcc, and MSc), and a number of break-out rooms. It includes a student lounge and computer commons specifically for graduate business students. In December 2007, Taro Hall underwent an extensive renovation to upgrade the entire facility.

Plaza Building

Completed in 2007, and designed by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, the Plaza Building contains the Faculty of Social Sciences, as well as computer facilities, seminar rooms, and the new Brock Campus Bookstore. The Campus Store occupies the first floor (considered the 200 level, or level 2, in order to match Brock University's historic method of numbering its facilities).

The third floor houses seminar rooms and computer labs, as well as the Department of Political Science and its offices. The fourth floor houses additional seminar and computer rooms, as well as the Department of Economics and its offices. The fifth and sixth floors of this building are restricted access and can be entered only via security card verification. These two restricted floors are home to the Jack & Nora Walker Canadian Centre for Lifespan Development Research.

Walker Complex

The Walker Complex contains an athletic complex and academic offices. Constructed in 1973 and designed by Moffit, Moffit & Kinoshita Architects, the building has had a number of additions including a major expansion in 2002 by Moriyama & Teshima Architects. The Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre, an Olympic size competitive swimming pool features a depth adjustable hydraulic floor in shallow end (0–4 feet), a movable bulkhead, 5m diving tower, two 1m springboards and two 3m springboards, two Tarzan ropes, and a whirlpool. The Zone, a 5,100 sq ft (470 m²) state-of-the-art facility including over 60 pieces of cardio equipment as well as strength training equipment. Fitness and dance studios are located on the upper level as are classrooms. The lower level includes the Ian D. Beddis Gymnasium, equipped with drop down curtains that can divide the large space into four separate gymnasia. Each area has one basketball, one volleyball and three badminton courts that will accommodate recreational activities and intramural sports. Convocation is held in this space twice per year. It is 23,900 square feet (2,220 m²) with a ceiling height of 30 ft (9.1 m) The Beddis gymnasium 200m suspended track that has a rubberized surface. The Bob Davis gymnasium is home to the Brock Badgers basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams. The Leo Leblanc Rowing Centre is the training facility for the Badger varsity rowing teams and the St. Catharines Rowing Club. The eight-person tank allows rowers to simulate on-water training.

Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex (CFHBRC)

The Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex was completed in 2012. Designed by architectsAlliance, Toronto, Canada with lab design by Payette Associates of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, this 176,000-square-foot (16,400 m²) building contains the University's most advanced research laboratories. It is intended to advance Canada's science and technology infrastructure and position Brock as a leader in human health and biosciences. CFHBRC researchers, who include six Canada Research Chairs, conduct world-class research in areas such as cancer treatments, infectious diseases, biotechnology and green chemistry.

The facility houses the BioLinc business incubator to forge partnerships between research and industry, and stimulate an economic cluster in advanced health studies and biomanufacturing in the Niagara Region. The complex is also home to the Niagara Campus of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine.

The CFHBRC was developed based on principles of sustainability and quality environments, following the Canadian Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system. The facility will support the University’s vision for quality state-of-the-art facilities with innovative design, quality materials and sustainable systems. Construction of the CFHBRC began in August 2009, and it officially opened in September 2012.

Residences

Brock's St. Catharines campus is home to 2,400 students in six separate residences. The majority are first-year students, though there is a sizable population of upper-year students who live in residence. Traditional-style residences are serviced by Sodexo food services, who operate the DeCew and Lowenberger Dining Halls, and are also responsible for other miscellaneous residence tasks.

The enabling legislation is the Brock University Act, S.O. 1964. Many of the buildings on campus were designed by the architectural firm, Moriyama & Teshima Architects.

The Brock Centre for the Arts is located on campus and features two large theatres, The Sean O'Sullivan (537 seats) and The David S. Howes (508 seats). The centre presents some of most prominent figures in Canadian arts and entertainment, academics, and politics, and attracts general audiences from the Niagara Region.

Hamilton Campus

Brock University also maintains a campus in the city of Hamilton, Ontario. The primary user of this the facility is Faculty of Education, specifically the Teacher Education Department and Graduate Studies in Education and Continuing Education.

The Hamilton Campus was officially opened November 2, 2000. It is a fully functioning campus complete with modern computer labs, an Instructional Resource Centre / Library, gymnasium, large classrooms, full and part-time faculty office space, food services, conference facilities, a board room, and green spaces within the courtyards and surrounding lawns of the campus.

Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts

Construction began in the fall of 2012 on the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts in downtown St. Catharines.

The Walker School’s new home opened its doors in 2015, after extensive renovations that turned a vacant, old textile factory into Niagara Region's newest centre for the arts and culture industry. The purpose-built facility houses 50 full-time faculty, part-time instructors and staff and more than 500 students. It will serve the lives of students pursuing careers as artists, theatre directors, actors, musicians, cultural theorists and skilled teachers.

The Walker School is neighbours with St. Catharines' new FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, located on adjacent lands. Construction of the $100 plus-million project, which was designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, was completed in time for the Fall 2015 semester. The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre opened shortly afterward.

Rodman Hall Art Centre

The School of Fine and Performing Arts owns Rodman Hall, a downtown art gallery and teaching centre. The Centre provides exhibit space, fine art services and resources to the students and faculty of Brock University. Nationally, Rodman Hall supports the development of artists and cultural workers in southern Ontario through the dissemination of contemporary art, the management of the region’s pre-eminent art collection, and the preservation of a significant historic house and gardens.

Academics

Brock's undergraduate and graduate degree programs are administered by seven faculties.

Graduation Standings

There are four classes of standings for graduates. They differ mainly between those of Honours program and Non-Honours programs. Honours program entry requires a minimum B average of seventy percent (70%) and the department's approval, given there are spots available. At the end of first year, students are allowed to fill the Declaration of Major form to apply to be officially placed in an honours program. At the end of third year, students are allowed to fill the Application to Year Four form to apply to be officially accepted into the fourth year of an honours program. This last approval allows year 3 students to register for their year 4 classes during the summer prior to starting year 4 of their honours program. . Both application processes requires grade evaluation and approval by the department. Both are also required to be completed in order for a student to graduate within an Honours program.

*First-class Honours Standing (Honours First Class)

The First-class Honours degrees are granted to students who have completed a 20 credit honours program with first-class honours standing, which requires a minimum 80 percent average in all major credits and 70 percent in the remaining credits. A transfer student must also have completed a minimum of five credits at Brock, including all departmental honours requirements for year 4 and have maintained a minimum 75 percent overall average and a minimum 80 percent major average (based on Brock courses only).

*Second-class Honours Standing (Honours)

Second-class Honours degrees are granted to students who have completed a 20 credit honours program with second-class honours standing, which requires a minimum 70 percent average in all major credits and 60 percent in the remaining credits. A transfer student must also have completed a minimum of five credits at Brock, including all departmental honours requirements for year 4 and have maintained a minimum 65 percent overall average and a minimum 70 percent major average (based on Brock courses only).

*Distinction (With Distinction)

A degree with Distinction is granted to students who have completed the approved 15 credit pass degree or 20 credit non-honours degree with a minimum 80 percent overall average. Transfer students require a minimum 80 percent cumulative average in all Brock courses and a minimum 80 percent overall average.

*Pass

A Pass (15 credit), Non-Honours (20 credit) or With Major (20 credit) degree is granted to students who have completed an approved program with a minimum 60 per cent overall and 60 percent in the courses designated as major credits. Exception; the BA General Humanities and BA Social Sciences (15 credit) degrees require 60 percent overall average (no major average requirement).

Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

Brock University's Faculty of Applied Health Sciences contains five academic departments: Department of Health Sciences, Department of Kinesiology, Department of Nursing, Department of Recreation & Leisure Studies, and Department of Sport Management. The faculty offers 11 undergraduate programs, seven master's degrees, and three doctoral fields of study.

Brock University's Department of Health Sciences offers the only undergraduate degree in Public Health in Canada. The department also offer duo undergraduate programs (4 years total), each pairing a Community Health (Pass) degree with either a Pharmacy Technician, Dental Hygiene or Massage Therapy certification (two of four years at a partnered college).

Starting in 2011, the Public Health Honours program sets a new standard in Health Sciences, requiring three years of statistic classes as a part of the graduation requirement beginning with the class of 2015.

Goodman School of Business

The Goodman School of Business (formerly the Brock University Faculty of Business) is one of only five per cent (5%) of business schools worldwide to attain accreditation by the AACSB. Goodman also has a Beta Gamma Sigma chapter. The Goodman School of Business has two pathways accredited by the Chartered Professional Accountants Ontario (CPA Ontario): the Master of Business Administration, Accounting stream (CPA/MBA), and the combined Bachelor of Accounting program and (or equivalent) Master of Accountancy program (MAcc)

Containing fifteen percent (15%) of the students at Brock University, the Goodman School of Business offers undergraduate programs in accounting and business with Coop and Duo degree options. At both the undergraduate and graduate level, there are more than a dozen concentrations and designations for students to specialize in studying when enrolled in these programs.

Brock University's Goodman School of Business offers the following programs:

The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) offers ten concentrations: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General Management, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, International Business, Marketing, Operations Management and Public Administration.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) offers specializations in the following areas: Accounting (CPA/MBA), Business Analytics, Finance, General Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing and Operations Management.

There are nine student associations in the Goodman School of Business available exclusively for business students with the aim to build leadership skills, enhance resumes and develop close friendships:

Faculty of Education

Brock University's Faculty of Education offers programs in the following areas:

Brock's Faculty of Education was established in 1965 as the St. Catharines Teachers’ College. In 1971 the Teachers’ College became the College of Education, an integral part of the Brock University community. In 1990, the College of Education designation was changed to the Faculty of Education to better reflect its academic relationship with the university.

Today, Brock's Faculty of Education has an outstanding reputation for teacher-education programs. It is widely regarded as one of Ontario's premiere teacher preparation schools, renowned for its strict selectivity (only the top 10% of applicants are admitted).

Faculty of Humanities

Brock University's Faculty of Humanities is composed of nine Departments and six Centres. This is the second largest faculty at Brock and encompasses twenty percent (20%) of the student population. The departments and centres offers a total of 47 different Undergraduate Programs, Certificates and Coop Options. At the graduate level, this faculty offers seven masters program and an Interdisciplinary Humanities PhD Program with four different specializations.

Faculty of Mathematics and Science

Brock University's Faculty of Mathematics and Science offers degree programs in the follow areas:

Its location in the Niagara Peninsula puts Brock at the centre of cool-climate grape and wine research. It carries the distinction of being the only university in Canada to offer an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Oenology and Viticulture (See the Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute). Brock University is also the only school in Canada and internationally to offer the program MICA (Mathematics Integrated with Computing and Applications).

Faculty of Social Sciences

Brock University's Faculty of Social Sciences is the largest faculty at Brock and encompases twenty percent (26%) of the student population as of Fall 2013. This faculty offer 26 Undergraduate Programs, including Co-op Options in Economics, Political Science and Psychology. At the graduate level, this faculty offer 10 masters programs and a PhD Program in Psychology with three different specializations.

Students enrolled in one of the undergraduate programs of the Faculty of Social Sciences can earn a degree with a certification through one of the collaborative programs with local colleges. There are 11 Collaborative programs in which social science majors can choose from; Behavioural Science, Child and Youth Workers, Contemporary Labour Studies, Emergency Management, Film Studies, Geomatics, Journalism, Paralegal, Policing and Criminal Justice, Public Relations and Yukon College. Applications must be submitted after completion of their first year of study maintaining a 70% average. Students spend their first, second and fourth year at Brock while their third is spent at the preferred local college. For example, Media and Communication students can enrol in their third year of study in the Public Relations collaborative program with Mohawk College. This allows students to end their undergraduate with a certification of Public Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in four years rather than five if done consecutively. Students who complete this program tend to go into the government sector, private agencies, corporations and/or non-profit.

Faculty of Graduate Studies

The Faculty of Graduate Studies offers 49 graduate programs, including nine PhD programs.

Faculty of Applied Health Sciences •MA/MSc in Applied Health Sciences •PhD in Applied Health Sciences •Master of Professional Kinesiology •Master of Public Health

Goodman School of Business •Master of Accountancy •International Master of Accountancy* •Master of Business Administration •Master of Business Administration ISP* •Graduate Diploma in Accountancy •Graduate Diploma in Business Administration •Master of Science in Management

Faculty of Education •Master of Education •Master of Education ISP* •PhD in Educational Studies (Joint Program)

Faculty of Humanities •Master of Arts in Canadian-American Studies •Master of Arts in Classics •Master of Arts in English •Master of Arts in History •PhD in Interdisciplinary Humanties •Master of Arts in Philosophy •MA in Studies in Comparative Literatures and Arts

Faculty of Mathematics and Science •Master of Science in Biological Sciences •PhD in Biological Sciences •Master of Science in Biotechnology •PhD in Biotechnology •Master of Science in Chemistry •PhD in Chemistry •Master of Science in Computer Science •Master of Science in Earth Sciences •Master of Science in Mathematics and Statistics •Master of Science in Physics •Master of Science in Materials Physics (ISP) •PhD in Physics

Faculty of Social Sciences •Master of Arts in Applied Disability Studies

•Graduate Diploma in Applied Disability Studies •Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics •Master of Business Economics •Master of Arts in Child and Youth Studies •PhD in Child and Youth Studies •Master of Arts in Critical Sociology •Master of Arts in Geography •Master of Arts in Political Science •Master of Arts in Popular Culture •Master of Arts in Psychology •PhD in Psychology •Master of Arts in Social Justice and Equity Studies •Master of Sustainability: Science and Society

In addition, Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (an institution of the Lutheran Church - Canada) is affiliated with the university and offers a four-year Master of Divinity.

Careers

Brock Career Services offer online and offline support through its Career Resource Center and various programs. Some notable programs such as Mentorship Plus connect students to senior students, as well as connecting senior students to professionals working within their fields of study.

The Career Development Group, a lesser well known service, connect students in any field of study to live interview experiences through an annual speed interview event, professional opportunities through workshops and professionals relevant to their major in small groups or at a one on one capacity. This later service is generally offered directly to the Mentorship Plus program participants by the Mentorship Plus Co-ordinator.

The Career Zone is an online resource for posting jobs and recruiting students and connect students with employers. Job fairs, career events and workshops are also listed on Career Zone. Individual Faculties and Departments also offer their own services in Coop, placement, internship and work experience opportunities.

Activities

Non-academic community engagement is highly encouraged at Brock with 65,000+ volunteer hours on average per year clocked by Brock students. Any Brock student can start a club of their own. The university's clubs are identified by three major categories: (A) Cultural, Religious & International Clubs; (B) Social, Recreation & Activist Clubs; and (C) Faculty & Departmental Clubs. There are other events such as parades and cancer runs.

Brock Intramurals are active all year, with sports such as Volleyball, Flag Football, Slow-pitch, Water Polo, Ball Hockey, Soccer, Soccer Baseball and Tennis; and include Tournaments in Coed Quidditch, Coed Wallyball, Coed Ultimate, Coed Football and Basketball.

Facilities such as The Zone Fitness Center, track, gymnasia, studios, pool and whirlpool, shower rooms, sauna, squash and outdoor tennis courts are free for current students. Some Brock undergraduate students take up roles of bloggers to write about their activities at school. Many of which are accessible through Discover Brock.

Social events

Brock University's Skybar Lounge, run by the Brock University Students' Union in the Plaza Building, hosts parties and social events for nearly every occasion on campus. Some notable year round events include Frosh Week, Homecoming, O-Week and President's Ball.

Athletics

The university is represented in Canadian Interuniversity Sport by the Brock Badgers.

Brock has the following varsity sports:

Brock has the following club teams:

In its history, Brock athletic teams have won a combined 73 provincial championships and 37 national championships (as of 2015–16).

2015-2016 National Championships:

Scholarships and bursaries

The Government of Canada sponsors an Aboriginal Bursaries Search Tool that lists over 680 scholarships, bursaries, and other incentives offered by governments, universities, and industry to support Aboriginal post-secondary participation. Brock University scholarships for Aboriginal, First Nations and Métis students include: Enbridge Aboriginal Bursary;

Over 150 Brock University Donor Awards are available with a combined total of over $500,000.

The University also offers current students with funding opportunities to study internationally on a variety of Research, language and student exchange programs.

Notable alumni

With 83,000 alumni around the world, graduates are represented by the Brock University Alumni Association. The Alumni Association is an autonomous organization run by a volunteer Board of Directors.