Sir Wilfred Grenfell College

Infobox_University
name = Sir Wilfred Grenfell College


motto = "Provehito In Altum"
(Latin: Launch forth into the deep)
established = 1975
type = Public
president = Dr. Eddy Campbell
principal = Dr. Holly Pike (Acting)
undergrad = 1400
faculty = 156
staff = ~235
city = Corner Brook
state = NL
country = Canada
campus = Urban 185 acres (748,669 m²)
website= [http://www.swgc.ca www.swgc.ca]
logo =

Sir Wilfred Grenfell College (SWGC), popularly referred to as Grenfell College, is a Canadian liberal arts and science university located in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador.

It is the west coast campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland. There are approximately 1,400 students enrolled in degree programs for the arts, fine arts, science and nursing. Many students from around the province also attend the school for the first- and second-year course offerings before transferring to Memorial University's larger campus in St. John's.

History

The college opened in 1975 as Memorial University of Newfoundland's West Coast Regional College with Dr. Arthur Sullivan as its princpal. The facility was renamed in 1979 in honour of British medical missionary pioneer Wilfred Grenfell. The original building is now the Arts and Science Building. In 1988, the campus' second building opened - the Fine Arts Building.

Grenfell College saw significant expansion in the 1990s and early 2000s with new student housing and academic buildings constructed. In 1995, the Library and Computing Building opened; and in 1997, the Student Centre annex was added to the Arts and Science Building. In 1998, the Forestry Centre opened, which houses not only lab and classroom space, but also research offices for Natural Resources Canada and the Western Newfoundland Model Forest, among others. Finally, in 2001, Grenfell opened its chalet apartments. The campus is now able to accommodate more than 400 students in student housing.

Grenfell College played a critical role in helping Corner Brook host the 1999 Canada Winter Games with its residences being used to house athletes. The city's "Canada Games Centre" civic centre opened in 1997, adjacent to the Grenfell campus. Today, the civic centre is known as the "Pepsi Centre," and is now run by Memorial University. On April 1, 2005, the College introduced a wireless local area network in areas of the campus.

In Newfoundland and Labrador's 2007 provincial budget, it was announced that Sir Wilfred Grenfell College would become its own autonomous university within a single university system.

Course information

Grenfell College takes pride in its Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program, which includes instruction in Theatre and the Visual Arts. This makes SWGC the only institution offering such a curriculum in Newfoundland and Labrador, and one of only a few universities in Atlantic Canada. Grenfell also specializes in environmental programs, offering a bachelor of science in environmental science and a bachelor of arts in environmental studies. In total, Grenfell now offers four degrees with fifteen disciplines: Arts: English, Environmental Studies, Historical Studies, Humanities, Business, Psychology, Social/Cultural Studies & Tourism studies; Fine Arts: theatre and visual arts; Science: [Environmental Science] [http://www.swgc.mun.ca/envs/Pages/default.aspx] , forestry (under review), general science, psychology; and Nursing, including the Bachelor of Nursing (collaborative) and fast-track programs; and Bachelor of Resource Management. Grenfell also offers an education degree in co-operation with the Education Department on the St. John's campus.

Grenfell College Student Union

Grenfell College Student Union (GCSU) is Local 36 of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). It consists of a President, three Vice Presidents, and six Councillors-at-large. GCSU offers many services to the students of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College; including such things as a health and dental plan, clubs and society funding, and a student pub (the GCSU Backlot). The GCSU also provides many of the services offered by the CFS. In addition, the GCSU has many on-going advocacy campaigns, for things such as lower tuition and environmental sustainability.

External links

* [http://www.swgc.mun.ca Sir Wilfred Grenfell College]
* [http://www.gcsuonline.ca Grenfell College Student Union]
* [http://www.thebacklot.ca GCSU Backlot]