Acadia University is a public, predominantly

undergraduate Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-le ...

university located in

Wolfville, Nova Scotia Wolfville is a Canadian town in the Annapolis Valley, Kings County, Nova Scotia, located about northwest of the provincial capital, Halifax. The town is home to Acadia University and Landmark East School. The town is a tourist destination due ...

, Canada, with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level. The enabling legislation consists of the Acadia University Act and the Amended Acadia University Act 2000. The Wolfville Campus houses Acadia University Archives and the Acadia University Art Gallery. Acadia offers over 200 degree combinations in the faculties of arts, pure and applied science, professional studies, and theology. The student-faculty ratio is 15:1 and the average class size is 28. Open Acadia offers correspondence and distance education courses. As of July 2017, Peter J. Ricketts is Acadia's current president.

History

Acadia began as an extension of Horton Academy (1828), which was founded in Horton, Nova Scotia, by Baptists from Nova Scotia and Queen's College (1838). The college was later named Acadia College. Acadia University, established at

in 1838 has a strong

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...

religious affiliation. It was designed to prepare men for the ministry and to supply education for lay members. The two major Universities of the day in Nova Scotia were heavily controlled by denominational structures. King's College (

University of King's College The University of King's College, established in 1789, is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Roper, Henry. "Aspects of the History of a Loyalist College: King's College, Windsor, and Nova Scotian Higher Education in the Nineteenth Century." Anglic ...

) was an Anglican school and Dalhousie University, which was originally non-denominational, had placed itself under the control and direction of the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland. The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...

. It was the failure of Dalhousie to appoint a prominent Baptist pastor and scholar, Edmund Crawley, to the Chair of Classics, as had been expected, that really thrust into the forefront of Baptist thinking the need for a college established and run by the Baptists. In 1838, the Nova Scotia Baptist Education Society founded Queen's College (named for Queen Victoria). The college began with 21 students in January 1839. The name "Queen's College" was denied to the Baptist school, so it was renamed "Acadia College" in 1841, in reference to the history of the area as an Acadian settlement. Acadia College awarded its first degrees in 1843 and became Acadia University in 1891, established by the Acadia University Act. The Granville Street Baptist Church (now First Baptist Church (Halifax)) was an instrumental and determining factor in the founding of the university. It has played a supporting role throughout its history, and shares much of the credit for its survival and development. Many individuals who have made significant contributions to Acadia University, including the first president John Pryor, were members of the First Baptist Church Halifax congregation. Similarly, the adjacent Wolfville United Baptist Church plays a significant role in the life of the university. The original charter of the college stated: This was unique at the time, and a direct result of Baptists being denied entry into other schools that required religious tests of their students and staff. In 1851, the power of appointing governors was transferred from the Nova Scotia Baptist Education Society to the Baptist Convention of the Maritime Provinces. Charles Osborne Wickenden (architect) and J.C. Dumaresq designed the Central Building, Acadia College, 1878–79. Clara Belle Marshall, from Mount Hanley, Nova Scotia, became the first woman to graduate from Acadia University in 1879. In 1891, there were changes in the Act of Incorporation. Andrew R. Cobb designed several campus buildings including: Raynor Hall Residence, 1916
Horton House
designed by Cobb in the Georgian style, and built by James Reid of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia was opened in 1915 as Horton Academy. Today, Horton Hall is the home of the Department of Psychology and Research and Graduate Studies.

Emmerson Hall Emmerson may refer to: Places * Emmerson Island, Nunavut, Canada People Given name * Emmerson Bockarie, Sierra Leonian pop singer * Emmerson Boyce (born 1979), English-born professional footballer (soccer player) who represents Barbados interna ...

, built in 1913, is particularly interesting for the variety of building stones used. In 1967 Emmerson Hall was converted to classrooms and offices for the School of Education. It is a registered Heritage Property. EmmersonHall

Unveiled on 16 August 1963, a wooden and metal organ in Manning Chapel, Acadia University, is dedicated to Acadia University's war dead of the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. A book of remembrance in Manning Chapel, Acadia University was unveiled on 1 March 1998 through the efforts of the Wolfville Historical Society In 1966, the Baptist denomination relinquished direct control over the university. The denomination maintains nine seats on the university's Board of Governors. Acadia is a laureate of Washington's Smithsonian Institution and a part of the permanent research collection of the National Museum of American History. Acadia is also the only Canadian University selected for inclusion in the Education and Academia category if the Computerworld Smithsonian Award.

Faculty strikes

Acadia University's Board of Governors and members of the Acadia University Faculty Association (AUFA) have ratified a new collective agreement covering the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2014. The faculty of Acadia University have been on strike three times in the history of the institution. The first was 24 February to 12 March 2004. The second was 15 October to 5 November 2007. The second strike was resolved after the province's labour minister,

Mark Parent Mark Parent (born August 25, 1954) is a Canadians, Canadian clergyman, author, academic, and former politician in Nova Scotia. Parent is the son of Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches, Baptist Missionary, missionaries Hazen Coles Parent ...

, appointed a mediator, on 1 November, to facilitate an agreement. The third strike began on 1 February 2022 and ended 1 March 2022 with both sides agreeing to binding arbitration.

Academics

Rankings

In ''

Maclean's ''Maclean's'', founded in 1905, is a Canadian news magazine reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events. Its founder, publisher John Bayne Maclean, established the magazine to provide a uniquely Canadian persp ...

'' 2023 Guide to Canadian Universities, Acadia was ranked fifth in the publication's "primarily undergraduate" Canadian university category, tied with Bishop's University. In the same year, the publication ranked Acadia 33rd, in Maclean's reputation survey.

Faculties

Acadia is organized into four faculties: Arts, Pure & Applied Science, Professional Studies and Theology. Each faculty is further divided into departments and schools specialized in areas of teaching and research.

Research

Acadia has over 15 research centres and 6 research chairs. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to participate in many research opportunities in a small university setting. The Division of Research & Graduate Studies is separate from the faculties and oversees graduate students as well as Acadia's research programs. Acadia's research programs explore coastal environments, ethno-cultural diversity, social justice, environmental monitoring and climate change, organizational relationships, data mining, the impact of digital technologies, and lifestyle choices contributing to health and wellness. Acadia's research centres include the Tidal Energy Institute, the Acadia Institute for Data Analytics, and the Beaubassin Field Station. Applied research opportunities include research with local wineries and grape growers, alternative insect control techniques and technologies.

Innovation

The Acadia Advantage

In 1996, Acadia University pioneered the use of mobile computing technology in a post-secondary educational environment. This academic initiative, named the Acadia Advantage, integrated the use of notebook computers into the undergraduate curriculum and featured innovations in teaching. By 2000, all full-time, undergraduate Acadia students were taking part in the initiative. The initiative went beyond leasing notebook computers to students during the academic year, and included training, user support and the use of course-specific applications at Acadia that arguably revolutionized learning at the Wolfville, N.S. campus and beyond. Because of its pioneering efforts, Acadia is a laureate of Washington's Smithsonian Institution and a part of the permanent research collection of the National Museum of American History. It is the only Canadian university selected for inclusion in the Education and Academia category of the Computerworld Smithsonian Award. In addition, Acadia University received the Pioneer Award for Ubiquitous Computing. In 2001, it achieved high rankings in the annual ''

'' University Rankings, including Best Overall for Primarily Undergraduate University in their opinion survey, and it received the Canadian Information Productivity Award in 1997 as the first university in Canada to fully utilize information technology in the undergraduate curriculum. In October 2006, Dinter-Gottlieb established a commission to review the Acadia Advantage learning environment 10 years after inception. The mandate of the commission was to determine how well the current Advantage program meets the needs of students, faculty, and staff and to examine how the role of technology in the postsecondary environment has changed at Acadia, and elsewhere. The commission was asked to recommend changes and enhancements to the Acadia Advantage that would benefit the entire university community and ensure its sustainability. Some of the recommendations coming from the Acadia Advantage Renewal Report included developing a choice of model specifications and moving from Acadia-issued, student-leased notebook computers to a student-owned computer model. The university was also advised to unbundle its tuition structure so that the cost of an Acadia education is more detailed and students can understand how their investment in the future of the school is allotted. In September 2008, Acadia moved to a student-owned notebook computer version of the Acadia Advantage, now named Acadia Advantage 2.0. In 2017, Acadia announced the Huestis Innovation Pavilion as part of its $22.25 million Science Complex renewal project. Named in honour of lead donors, Faye and David Huestis of Saint John, New Brunswick, the Pavilion is a connection between Elliott and Huggins Halls, providing research and commercialization space. The new Agri-Technology Access Centre in the Innovation Pavilion provides companies and industry organizations with access to specialized technology, lab space, subject-matter expertise and commercialization support services. It also enables Acadia to advance its applied research strength in a priority sector – agriculture – and expand its technology transfer and commercialization activities. The Science Complex renewal project was supported by an investment of $15.98 million by the Federal and Provincial governments.

Athletics

Acadia's sports teams are called the Axemen and Axewomen. They participate in the Atlantic University Sports conference of

U Sports U Sports (stylized as U SPORTS) is the national sport governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree-granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is the C ...

. School spirit abounds with men's and women's varsity teams that have delivered more conference and national championships than any other institution in Atlantic University Sport. Routinely, more than one-third of Acadia's varsity athletes also achieve Academic All-Canadian designation through Canadian Interuniversity Sport by maintaining a minimum average of 80 per cent. Expansion and modernization of Raymond Field was completed in the fall of 2007 and features the installation of an eight-lane all-weather running track and a move to the same premium artificial turf used by the New England Patriots of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

for its main playing field. The Raymond Field modernization was a gift to the university by friends, alumni, and the province. War Memorial Gymnasium also saw the installation of a new playing floor to benefit its basketball and volleyball teams. In September 2006, Acadia University announced its partnership with the Wolfville Tritons Swim Club and the Acadia Masters Swim Club to form the Acadia Swim Club and return competitive swimming to the university after a 14-year hiatus. On 26 September 2008, the university announced its intention to return swimming to a varsity status in September 2009.

Fight song

Notable among a number of songs commonly played and sung at various events such as commencement, convocation, and athletic games are: ''Stand Up and Cheer'', the Acadia University fight song. According to 'Songs of Acadia College' (Wolfville, NS 1902–3, 1907), the songs include: 'Acadia Centennial Song' (1938); 'The Acadia Clan Song'; 'Alma Mater - Acadia;' 'Alma Mater Acadia' (1938) and 'Alma Mater Song.'

Symbols

In 1974, Acadia was granted a coat of arms designed by the

College of Arms The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is a royal corporation consisting of professional officers of arms, with jurisdiction over England, Wales, Northern Ireland and some Commonwealth realms. The heralds are appointed by the British Sovere ...

in London, England. The coat of arms is two-tone, with the school's official colours, garnet and blue, on the shield. The axes represent the school's origins in a rural setting, and the determination of its founders who cleared the land and built the school on donated items and labour. The open books represent the intellectual pursuits of a university, and the wolves heads are a whimsical representation of the university's location in Wolfville. "In pulvere vinces" (In dust you conquer) is the motto. The university seal depicts the Greek goddess of wisdom

Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretism, syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarded ...

in front of the first college hall. The university also uses a stylized "A" as a logo for its sports teams. Notable among a number of fight songs commonly played and sung at various events such as commencement, convocation, and athletic games are: the Acadia University alma mater set to the tune of " Annie Lisle". The lyrics are: :Far above the dykes of Fundy :And its basin blue :Stands our noble alma mater :Glorious to view :Lift the chorus :Speed it onward :Sing it loud and free :Hail to thee our alma mater :Acadia, hail to thee :Far above the busy highway :And the sleepy town :Raised against the arch of heaven :Looks she proudly down

Historic buildings at Acadia University

Seminary House, also known as the Ladies' Seminary, is a

Second Empire Second Empire may refer to: * Second British Empire, used by some historians to describe the British Empire after 1783 * Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1396) * Second French Empire (1852–1870) ** Second Empire architecture, an architectural styl ...

style-building constructed in 1878 as a home for women attending the university. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1997 as Canada's oldest facility associated with the higher education of women. Carnegie Hall, built in 1909, is a large, two-storey, Neo-classical brick building. It was designated under the provincial Heritage Property Act in 1989 as its construction in 1909 signified Acadia's evolution from classical college to liberal university. The War Memorial House (more generally known as Barrax), which is a residence, and War Memorial Gymnasium are landmark buildings on the campus of Acadia University. The Memorial Hall and Gymnasium honours students who had enlisted and died in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, and in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

. Two granite shafts, which are part of the War Memorial Gymnasium complex at Acadia University, are dedicated to the university's war dead. The War Memorial House is dedicated to the war dead from Acadia University during the Second World War.

Student life

At Acadia University, students have access to the Student Union Building which serves as a hub for students and houses many Student Union organizations. The building houses The Axe Lounge, a convenience store, an information desk, two food outlets, and the Sexual Health Resource Centre. The university press, '' The Athenaeum'' is a member of CUP. There is a student-ran radio, available at https://www.axeradio.net/.

Student government

All students are represented by the

Acadia Students' Union The Acadia Students' Union represents the undergraduate students at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. They are a member of the Canadian Alliance of Students Associations (CASA) and StudentsNS (formerly ANSSA). History The Acad ...

Residences

Approximately 1500 students live on-campus in 11 residences: * Chase Court * Chipman House * Christofor Hall * Crowell Tower (13 Story High-rise) * Cutten House * Dennis House - First floor houses student health services * Eaton House * Roy Jodrey Hall * Seminary House - Also houses the School of Education in lower level * War Memorial (Barrax) House * Whitman Hall (Tully) - All female residence * Willett House (former residence)

People

List of presidents and vice chancellors

* John Pryor, 1846–1850 * John Cramp, 1851–1853 (and 1856–1869) * Edmund Crawley, 1853–1856 * John Cramp, 1856–1869 * Artemas Wyman Sawyer, 1869–1896 * Thomas Trotter, 1897–1906 * W.B. Hutchinson, 1907–1909 * George Barton Cutten, 1910–1922 * Frederic Patterson, 1923–1948 * Watson Kirkconnell, 1948–1964 * James Beveridge, 1964–1978 * Allan Sinclair, 1978–1981 * James Perkin, 1981–1993 * Kelvin Ogilvie, 1993–2004 * Gail Dinter-Gottlieb, 2004–2008 * Tom Herman (Acting President), 2008–2009 *

Ray Ivany Raymond E. Ivany is a Canadian executive. He was the President and CEO of Nova Scotia Community College, Executive Vice President at Cape Breton University, and President and Vice-Chancellor of Acadia University. Early life and education Ivany w ...

, 2009 – 2017 * Peter J Ricketts, 2017

List of chancellors

* Alex Colville, 1981–1991 * William Feindel, 1991–1996 *

Arthur Irving Arthur Lee Irving, (born 1930) is a Canadian billionaire businessman, the second son of industrialist K.C. Irving. He is the sole owner, through the Arthur Irving Family Trust, of Irving Oil Ltd. As of June 2022, his net worth was estimated at ...

, 1996–2010 * Libby Burnham, 2011–2018 *Bruce Galloway, 2018–present

Notable alumni

* Edgar Archibald, scientist and politician * Norman Atkins, Canadian senator * Solomon Adeniyi Babalola - Veteran Nigerian Baptist Missionary/Evangelist, Church Pastor, Church Administrator, Denominational Leader, and Theological Educator *

Ron Barkhouse Ronald Theodore Barkhouse (April 22, 1926 – April 7, 2014) was a merchant and politician in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Lunenburg East in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1974 to 1984 as a Progressive Conservative member. Early ...

, MLA for Lunenburg East (Horton Academy) * Gordon Lockhart Bennett, Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Island * Arthur Bourns, President of McMaster University * Libby Burnham, lawyer, Chancellor of Acadia University * Bob Cameron, football player *

Dalton Camp Dalton Kingsley Camp, (September 11, 1920 – March 18, 2002) was a Canadian journalist, politician, political strategist and commentator, and supporter of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Although he was never elected to a se ...

, journalist, politician and political strategist * M. Elizabeth Cannon, University of Calgary's President & Vice-Chancellor * Lillian Chase, physician *

Paul Corkum Paul Bruce Corkum (born October 30, 1943) is a Canadian physicist specializing in attosecond physics and laser science., as published in '' Physics in Canada'', 65(2) 58. He holds a joint University of Ottawa– NRC chair in Attosecond Photonic ...

, physicist and F.R.S. * John Wallace de Beque Farris, Canadian senator * Mark Day, actor * Michael Dick, CBC-TV Journalist * Charles Aubrey Eaton (1868–1953), clergyman and politician * William Feindel, neurosurgeon * Dale Frail, astronomer * Rob Ramsay, actor * Alexandra Fuller, writer * Gary Graham, musician, choral conductor * Matthew Green, Member of Parliament *

Milton Fowler Gregg Brigadier Milton Fowler Gregg, (10 April 1892 – 13 March 1978) was a The Royal Canadian Regiment, Canadian military officer and a First World War recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that ...

, VC laureate, politician *

Robbie Harrison Robert "Robbie" S. Harrison (born 1948) is a Canadian politician and educator. He represented Kings South in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1993 to 1999 as a Liberal member. Harrison was educated at Acadia University. He was a school t ...

, Nova Scotian politician and educator * Richard Hatfield, Premier of New Brunswick *

Charles Brenton Huggins Charles Brenton Huggins (September 22, 1901 – January 12, 1997) was a Canadian-American physician, physiologist and cancer researcher at the University of Chicago specializing in prostate cancer. He was awarded the 1966 Nobel Prize for Physio ...

, Nobel Laureate *

Kenneth Colin Irving Kenneth Colin Irving, (March 14, 1899 – December 13, 1992) was a Canadian businessman whose business began with a family sawmill in Bouctouche, N.B., in 1882. In 1989, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Biography Early life Bor ...

, industrialist * Robert Irving, industrialist * Ron James, Canadian comedian *

Lorie Kane Lorie is a feminine name. It may refer to: People ;Given name * Lorie (singer) (full name Laure Pester) (born 1982), French singer * Lorie Conway, American independent producer and filmmaker * Lorie Griffin, American film and television actress ...

, LPGA golfer * Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament * Joanne Kelly, Actress *

Kenneth Komoski Kenneth Komoski was an educational advocate, nonprofit executive, and former teacher. He died November 15, 2017, aged 89. Komoski served as head of the Center for Programmed Instruction and the Educational Products Information Exchange Institute. I ...

, Educator * David H. Levy, astronomer *

Peter MacKay Peter Gordon MacKay (born September 27, 1965) is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He was a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2015 and has served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General (2013–2015), Minister of National Defence (2007� ...

, lawyer, Canadian Minister of National Defense * Henry Poole MacKeen, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia *

Paul Masotti Paul Masotti (born March 10, 1965) is a former professional Canadian football player and current front office executive with the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts. Masotti played the wide receiver position for 12 seasons with the Toronto ...

, football player *

Harrison McCain Harrison McCain (3 November 1927 – 18 March 2004) was a Canadian businessman and co-founder, along with his three brothers, of international frozen foods giant McCain Foods. Early life McCain was born in Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunsw ...

, industrialist * Donald Oliver, Canadian senator * Henry Nicholas Paint (1830–1921), member of Parliament, merchant, landowner, * Freeman Patterson, photographer, writer * Robert Pope, Visual artist author, * Keith R. Porter, Cell Biologist * Heather Rankin, singer-songwriter, member of

The Rankin Family The Rankin Family (originally known as The Rankins) are a Canadian musical family group from Mabou, Nova Scotia. The group has won many Canadian music awards, including 15 East Coast Music Awards, six Juno Awards, four Society of Composers, Author ...

* Perry F. Rockwood, radio evangelist * Erin Roger, scientist * Jacob Gould Schurman, President of Cornell University * Roger Tomlinson (1933–2014), geographer and "The Father of GIS" * Rev. William A. White, noted black minister and missionary * Rev. William Pearly Oliver, noted black minister and educator *

Lance Woolaver Lance Gerard Woolaver (born 1948) is a Canadian author, poet, playwright, lyricist, and director. His best-known works include books, film and biographical plays about Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis, including ''Maud Lewis The Heart on the Door,' ...

, playwright

Honorary graduates

Jean Béliveau Joseph Jean Arthur Béliveau (August 31, 1931 – December 2, 2014) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played parts of 20 seasons with the National Hockey League's (NHL) Montreal Canadiens from 1950 to 1971. Inducted into the ...

, professional hockey player and executive * Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell, former Prime Minister of Canada * Alex Colville, painter and former University Chancellor * Rt. Hon. John Diefenbaker, former Prime Minister of Canada * Rick Hansen, activist and Paralympic athlete *

Grace Hopper Grace Brewster Hopper (; December 9, 1906 – January 1, 1992) was an American computer scientist, mathematician, and United States Navy rear admiral. One of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer, she was a pioneer of compu ...

, computer scientist and United States Navy rear admiral *

Kyle Lowry Kyle Terrell Lowry (born March 25, 1986) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been a six-time NBA All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2016. Lowry ...

, professional basketball player for the

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The club plays its home games at FT ...

* Alexa McDonough, politician and first woman to lead a major, recognized political party in Canada * William Twaits, chairman and CEO of Imperial Oil Limited * Rev. William A. White, noted black minister and missionary

References

External links

*
Campaign for Acadia
{{Authority control Education in Kings County, Nova Scotia Universities in Nova Scotia Educational institutions established in 1838 Buildings and structures in Kings County, Nova Scotia 1838 establishments in Nova Scotia Maple League