University of Canterbury
| University of Canterbury
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| Data
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| Chancellor | Dr Robin Mann
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| Vice-Chancellor | Prof. Roy Sharp
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| Established | 1873
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| School Type | State Funded
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| Location | Christchurch, New Zealand
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| Enrolment | c. 12,500
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| Faculty | c. 700
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| Homepage | http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/
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The University of Canterbury is a university located in the suburbs of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It offers degrees in Arts, Commerce, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts, Forestry, Law, Music, and Science.
Campus
The University has a 76 hectare site at Ilam, a suburb of Christchurch about 7km from the city centre. There are five libraries with the 11 storey Central Library being the tallest building on the campus. Also of note is the Rutherford Building, which houses the Physics & Astronomy and Chemistry departments.
There are five Halls of residence: Bishop Julius Hall, College House, Rochester and Rutherford Hall, University Hall, Cass Field Station - Provides a wide range of environments - montane grasslands, scrub, riverbed, scree, beech forest, swamp, bog, lake, stream and alpine habitats can all be reached by day trips on foot
- Edward Percival Field Station - Facilities for studying live animals
- Hari Hari Field Station - Access to native forest
- Westport Field Station - study of the West Coast of New Zealand
The Department of Physics and Astronomy run their own field laboratory:
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is also involved in the Southern African Large Telescope.
Organisation
The Vice-Chancellor is Professor Roy Sharp, who has held this position since . The governing body of the University is the Council. The Council Chair is the Chancellor, who in 2004 is As of 2003, there were a total of 12,591 students, with 1,864 being Post-Graduates and 2,094 being international students. There were 653 academic staff and 892 general staff.
Student Association and Traditions
The RDU (radio) and magazine Canta. They also run several bars, the 430 seat Ngaio Marsh Theatre, and several cafes around campus.
There are several societies and clubs. The most prominent of these is Ensoc, The Engineering Society.
One of the biggest traditions is the Undie 500. This is an annual car rally from Christchurch to Dunedin. The only stipulation is the car must cost under $500.
History
The university was established in 1873 as Canterbury College, in the centre of Christchurch. It was the second institution in New Zealand providing tertiary level education, following the University of Otago which was established in 1869, and the fourth in Australasia.
In 1933, the College's name was changed from Canterbury College to Canterbury University College. In 1957 its name was changed again to the present University of Canterbury.
Until 1961, the University College had been part of the University of New Zealand, and issued degrees in its name. In that year the federal system was dissolved and the University of Canterbury became an independent University issuing its own degrees. Upon the UNZ's demise, the Canterbury Agricultural College became a constituent college of the University of Canterbury, becoming Lincoln College, Canterbury. Lincoln College was made independent in 1990, becoming a full university.
Over the period 1961 - 1974, the university campus relocated from the centre of the city to its much larger current site in the suburb of Ilam. The neo-gothic buildings of the old campus are now the site of the Christchurch Arts Centre, a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch.
Coat of Arms
The University inherited the arms of the former Canterbury College.
The "dead sheep" symbolises the pastoral pursuits of the province of Canterbury, while the plough on the base of the shield symbolises agriculture. The symbols from the at the top are (from left to right) Bishop's pall, an open book and a cross flory. The two crosses represent Canterbury's ecclesiastical connections. As it is an institution of learning, the University's coat of arms does not have a helmet, crest or mantling on its armorial bearings.
Noted Alumni and Faculty
See also
