When you first arrive at Mount Allison, you know this University is special. The charming campus tells a tale of rich history, with historic buildings, antique books delicately bound, and stately portraits of past presidents and chancellors hanging in Convocation Hall. But Mount Allison also has its sights firmly set on the future. Underground, for example, the campus is connected by an intricate network of fibre-optic wiring, granting all on campus access to the Internet. Mount Allison was the first university in Canada to offer this access, and the University continues to embrace innovative technology in other new and exciting ways.

OUR MISSION

Mount Allison University is committed to the creation and dissemination of knowledge in a community of higher learning, centred on undergraduate students, in an intimate and harmonious environment. Our teaching, research and creative enterprise are combined with extracurricular activities, in a liberal education tradition, that emphasizes development of the whole person. This integrated approach involves collaborative efforts among all members of the University community and leads to superior scholarship, cultural understanding and appreciation, personal and social maturation, leadership development and informed citizenship.

WELL-ROUNDED STUDENTS IN A TIGHTLY-KNIT COMMUNITY

Mount Allison is primarily an undergraduate, liberal arts and science university with a controlled enrolment of approximately 2,100 full-time students. It has preserved the character of a compact, scholarly community to foster excellence in teaching, mentoring and student-centred research. A strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities, ranging from athletics to the exercise of student government complements the dedication to high academic performance. Mount Allison strongly supports the philosophy of developing the "whole student" intellectually, spiritually, socially, culturally and physically. It shapes leaders who are critical thinkers, problem solvers and creative participants in society. Moreover, our students agree that Mount Allison is more than a university...it's a way of life. If there is one common thread to Mount Allison students, it is their academic strength and their propensity for leadership. Mount Allison has produced 48 Rhodes Scholars, more per capita than any other university in the Commonwealth. The University has also graduated a number of Rotary International Scholars, Commonwealth Scholars, and in 1997, one of the first winners of the Canadian Cambridge Scholarship. Many graduates have become preeminent in their endeavours. Notable alumni include: playwright John Gray; artists Alex Colville, and Mary and Christopher Pratt; national broadcaster Ian Hanoomansing; former Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick Margaret McCain; former Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick Marilyn Trenholme Counsell and former Imasco Chairman Purdy Crawford, who also served as Chancellor of Mount Allison.

THE FACULTY

The University's faculty is talented and dedicated, exemplifying a strong blend of teaching and research. In a recent University survey, 100% of graduates felt their professors were approachable, which speaks volumes about the relationships between faculty and students at Mount Allison.

AN EDUCATION SUITED TO THE 21ST CENTURY

Mount Allison offers Bachelor's degrees in Arts, Science, Commerce, Fine Arts and Music, as well as Master's degrees in Biology and Chemistry and Certificates in Bilingualism. In 1995, it revised its curriculum to give students even greater "depth and breadth" to their education as they enter the 21st century. A series of majors and minors was developed in the traditional disciplines and in a number of interdisciplinary areas such as International Relations, Canadian Public Policy, Japanese Studies and Cognitive Science. The Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees are achieved through completion of one of a specialized honours program; a major plus a minor; a double major; or a general degree of three minors. In addition, each Arts and Science student takes at least six credits from each of four disciplinary areas of Arts and Letters, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Science. The revised requirements have resulted in very exciting intellectual opportunities for students, giving them a chance to examine problems and issues from a number of different perspectives. Prospective students often wonder about the purpose of receiving a bachelor's degree from a liberal arts institution in a globally competitive economy. The usefulness of a bachelor's degree is not only found in personal development but also in professional areas. A degree from Mount Allison, or a few carefully selected courses or electives as part of a Mount Allison degree, may permit a student admission to a professional program. Some of these programs include medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, law, education, theology, social work, audiology and speech, occupational physiotherapy, optometry, architecture, and nutritional programs as well as many others. These professional programs may be accessed upon successful completion of courses or a degree from Mount Allison and in combination with other requirements as appropriate (e.g. LSAT, MCAT, GRE, etc.). Interested students should consult a Student Development Counsellor for advice on course selection and the process to enter these professional programs after their undergraduate career at Mount Allison.

A REPUTATION FOR LEADERSHIP

For more than a century, Mount Allison has been recognized as a leader. Mount Allison was the first university in the British Empire to confer a Bachelor's degree to a woman; Grace Annie Lockhart received a Bachelor of Science in 1875. It was also the first university in Canada to grant a Bachelor of Arts to a woman, Harriet Starr Stewart. Mount Allison boasts the oldest university art gallery in Canada; it was the first to wire all of campus to the information highway; it was the first to offer a Canadian Studies program; and it is a pioneer in the establishment of services for students with learning disabilities. In recent years, it has consistently been ranked among the top undergraduate universities in Canada by Maclean's magazine. A high-calibre faculty, outstanding students and financial stability are among the reasons why.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

Founder Charles Frederick Allison's grandfather emigrated from Ireland in the late 1700s, as a result of a dinner with the local tax collector. Wanting to impress him, the family set the table with their one valuable possession of silver spoons. After entertaining their guest, the Allisons were informed that if they could afford silver spoons, they could afford to pay more taxes. They left Ireland shortly thereafter. The spoons are on display in the main Library. In June 1839, Sackville merchant Charles Frederick Allison proposed to the Wesleyan Methodists that a school of elementary and high learning be built. His offer to purchase a site in Sackville, to erect a suitable building for an academy, and to contribute operating funds of 100 pounds a year for 10 years was accepted. The formal opening of the Mount Allison Academy for boys took place in 1843. In 1854, a branch institution for girls, known as the "Ladies College", opened to complement the Wesleyan Academy for boys. In July 1862, the degree-granting Mount Allison College was organized. The first two students graduated in May 1863. For nearly a century, Mount Allison functioned as three distinct, mutually enriching parts: the College proper, the Boys' Academy and the Ladies College. The closure of the School for Girls in 1946, and the Academy in 1953, coincided with a period of expansion and provided much-needed space. In 1958, the beginning of a period of construction and acquisition of buildings eased the strain of overcrowding. At this time, it was decided to reaffirm the traditional aim of providing a high-quality undergraduate liberal arts education, along with continuing to offer professional programs in already-established fields. Mount Allison has a long and proud tradition, and part of that tradition has been the ability to evolve and to adapt to new and changing demands. It is very much a university of the 21st century, while remaining the direct and recognizable descendant of the first Wesleyan Academy of 1843.

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAMPUSES IN CANADA

The Mount Allison calendar for 1851 declared Sackville a "pleasant and healthy" community, "easy of access from all parts of the Lower Provinces." The Mount Allison buildings are "elegant, spacious and comfortable, and delightfully situated upon an elevation of ground." The facilities offered were, "all that could be desired, either for the enterprising Teacher to aid him in his work of instruction, or to the ambitious Student to facilitate his honourable progress." Writing styles have changed since then, but Mount Allison still continues to take pride in its campus. The campus encompasses about 76 acres, 45 buildings and one million square feet of assignable space. The tree and shrub count is about 1,100, giving the campus a tranquil, park-like setting. The physical surroundings are enhanced even further by the Swan Pond, a symbol of Mount Allison since its introduction in 1901. It has traditionally been the site of picnics, cultural events, orientation activities and wintertime skating. Recent years have witnessed ongoing improvements to the facilities, including the opening of a new residence (Campbell Hall) and upgrades to a number of classrooms. One major project currently under way is the conversion of Trueman House from a residence into a new student centre. Unlike some other institutions, this University has never moved from its original campus; it has expanded in area, but is still centred on that rise of ground named "Mount Allison" after the founder. The traditional use of red and grey local sandstone, plus continual efforts to beautify and upgrade facilities, offers a setting that honours the past, yet embraces the future.

UNIVERSITY CHANCELLORS

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS

ACCREDITATION

Mount Allison University is a member of: The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and The Association of Commonwealth Universities