Facts and figures

A unique learning environment

The University of Victoria, one of Canada's leading universities, is a rich and supportive learning community for students and faculty alike. Widely recognized for leadership in research, inspired teaching and community engagement, UVic provides innovative programs and real-life learning experiences in a diverse and welcoming West Coast environment. UVic ranks consistently among the top comprehensive universities in Canada.

Programs for a changing world

UVic's academic programs are constantly evolving to provide education that will equip students for our rapidly changing world.

Faculties (10) and divisions (2):

• Faculty of Business
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Engineering
• Faculty of Fine Arts
• Faculty of Graduate Studies
• Faculty of Human and Social Development
• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of Social Sciences
• Division of Continuing Studies
• Division of Medical Sciences

We have one of Western Canada's largest university co-operative education programs, integrating academic studies with relevant paid work experience in more than 40 academic areas. Each year, more than 300 Vancouver Island businesses and organizations hire UVic students to complete more than 1,500 co-op work terms through UVic's Co-operative Education Programs.

We have nearly 100 exchange programs with institutions in 25 countries around the world, providing students with rich opportunities for international learning.

In a survey of recent graduates, 97 per cent were satisified or very satisfied with their UVic education and rated the quality of instruction good or very good.

Research that's changing lives

Researchers at the University of Victoria work on the cutting edge of knowledge, making major contributions in a wide range of fields from fuel cells and cancer cells to climate change and cultural change.

UVic is known for its research strengths in the arts and sciences and selected professions. Some areas of note are:

• Society and health
• Oceans and climate
• Matter and energy
• Indigenous and cultural studies
• Global change and sustainability
• Genomics and proteomics
• Fine and performing arts
• Computational modelling and information processing

Our researchers

UVic researchers were awarded more than $106 million in outside research grants and contracts in 2007/08. This more than doubles the research support of the previous five-year period.

We are the lead institution in the VENUS project in NEPTUNE Canada - two leading-edge, cabled seafloor observatory networks that are revolutionizing ocean sciences research.

In February 2008, the BC government awarded $94.5 million to the University of Victoria to create, lead and host the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). A $90-million endowment - the largest single contribution to a university endowment in Canadian history - signals the BC government's long-term commitment to taking action on climate change.

According to ScienceWatch, UVic ranks first nationally in geosciences, second in space sciences and education and third in engineering and mathematics for the period 2000-04. ScienceWatch ranks universities according to the number of citations per published research paper.

UVic's Innovation and Development Corporation (IDC) links universities and colleges on Vancouver Island with researchers, government and community, transforming great ideas into commercially viable businesses. It has filed 294 national and international patent applications and incorporated more than 55 university spin-off companies.

Student ideas make up 35 per cent of IDC's annual invention disclosures. Eight of the IDCspin-off companies have been founded by UVic students.

UVic owns more technology transfer space than any other BC university. UVic-owned Vancouver Island Technology Park (VITP) is an economic powerhouse for the province of BC. The park generates $280 million in direct, indirect and induced revenue, and creates more than 2,000 local jobs. A highly acclaimed centre of academic and biotech excellence, VITP facilitates the local growth of high technology, which is already Victoria's number one industry, estimated yearly at $1.67 billion, surpassing Victoria's $1.19 billion tourism industry.

A vibrant community resource

The University of Victoria generates $1.77 billion annually in economic activity. This includes direct and indirect expenditures such as salaries and benefits, student and visitor spending, taxes, spin-off companies, patents and licenses, and the effects of an educated workforce. The university directly and indirectly supports over 11,000 jobs in BC.

Campus events, including plays, concerts, ceremonies, art exhibitions, conferences, continuing studies programs, public lectures, films and athletic events attract a total audience of more than 500,000 annually.

Our Division of Continuing Studies offers hundreds of individual courses for personal and professional development, including 22 programs leading to a diploma or certificate. The division serves more than 16,000 students annually, generating a local economic impact of more than $30 million.

The UVic speakers bureau arranges more than 400 free speaking engagements annually where faculty, graduate students and staff speak to community organizations. They reach approximately 12,500 people per year.

Our sports teams have won 45 national Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships and 18 other Canadian university championships. Twenty-three current and former UVic students and coaches represented Canada in the 2004 summer Olympics.

Honours and awards

Forty-three current or former UVic faculty members have been elected fellows of the RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada, the nation's highest academic honour for career achievement.

Thirty-three UVic faculty members hold coveted Canada Research Chairs, six have been awarded national 3M Teaching Fellowships, and five have received Governor General's Literature Awards.

Seven UVic-based researchers are on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, whose 2007 report will address regional impacts of climate change and mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Over the past five years, five UVic students have been awarded prestigious Rhodes scholarships.

Our Co-operative Education Program and our Faculty of Business have both received Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada ScotiaBank Awards for Excellence in Internationalization.

The success rate for UVic graduate students in attracting research funding is consistently well above the national average. In 2005/06 our grad students received $3.24 million in research grants from the three federal granting councils.

Our Faculty of Law has been rated number one in Canada by law grads in the Canadian Lawyer magazine survey eight of the past 11 years.

People make our university

Student enrolment (2006/07): 19,475 (including 2,514 graduate students); 60% female, 32% part-time students; 72% of undergraduates come from outside Greater Victoria. Full-time equivalent students: 14,442

Faculty and staff (Feb. 2006): 4,124 employees, including 790 faculty (39% female, 61% male), 455 sessional instructors, 677 specialist/instructional staff , 2,202 other staff

Alumni (November 2007): 92,169 degrees, certificates and diplomas awarded. Among 63,358 alumni with known addresses, 81% live in British Columbia; 6% live in 110 other countries (most in the U.S., China, Great Britain, Japan and South Korea). More than 24,000 (38%) live in Greater Victoria. More info.

Finances

Total revenues (2006/07): $466 million: BC government 45%, tuition 21%, sales 12%, federal government 10%, donations 3%, investment income 5%, other 5%

Total fundraising (2006/07): $18.2 million

University of Victoria endowment (April 2008): $155.4 million.

We've increased the number of major, multi-year scholarships by more than 70%. One fourth of our new applicants will be offered scholarships next year, with new grants to help students from outside Victoria with moving expenses. Graduate students will also receive approximately $20 million in financial support in 2008/09.

History and traditions

The University celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2003, having received degree-granting status in 1963. The origins of UVic, however, can be traced back to 1903 and the establishment of Victoria College, the university's predecessor institution.

The three martlets - footless heraldic birds - on the UVic shield refer to those on the crest of McGill University, with which Victoria College was originally affiliated.

The university mottoes, shown on the UVic Coat of Arms, are 'Let there be light' (in Hebrew) and 'A multitude of the wise is the health of the world' (in Latin).

The University colours are red, gold, and blue.

The University flag depicts three red martlets in a gold field above a blue field.

University officers

Chancellor: Ronald Lou-Poy, CM, QC, LLD (Hon)

Chair, Board of Governors: Murray Farmer, BA

President and Vice-Chancellor: David H. Turpin, PhD, FRSC

Vice-President Academic and Provost: Jamie L. Cassels, QC, LLM

Vice-President Research: Howard Brunt, PhD

Vice-President Finance and Operations: Gayle Gorrill, BBA

Vice-President External Relations: Valerie S. Kuehne, PhD

Further information

UVic website: www.uvic.ca

UVic publications: www.uvic.ca/publications

UVic accountability pages: www.uvic.ca/pres/accountability

UVic communications: (250) 721-7636