St. Francis Xavier University
Encyclopedia : S : ST : STF : St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) is a Canadian university located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
The university brings together 4,200 students from across Canada and around the world in arts, science, business and information systems and applied programs.
History
StFX was founded in 1853 by Colin F. MacKinnon, a Catholic bishop. It was originally a Catholic seminary. St.F.X. was granted full university powers in 1866 by an act of the Nova Scotia legislature. StFX celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2003.Academic recognition
Maclean's Magazine has named StFX as the top undergraduate university in Canada for four consecutive years (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005). StFX has also ranked first in alumni support for the past five years (2001-2005).Between the years 2000 and 2004 more StFX students, on a per capita basis, have received Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) awards for post-secondary study than any other university in Canada.
The Coady International Institute
The Coady Institute takes its name from one of the founders of the Antigonish Movement, Dr. Moses Coady. In the 1930s, the Antigonish Movement promoted adult education as the path to social improvement and economic organization for disadvantaged groups in eastern Canada. Today, the StFX Extension Department continues this community development work in our local region.
In 1959, an international extension of these efforts was born through the establishment of the Coady International Institute on campus. Since then, more than 4,500 community leaders from 120 countries have graduated from the Coady's professional education programs. These graduates work in economic development, community health, education, human rights and environmental sustainability.
X-Ring
The X-Ring, which is synonymous with the university, is the awarded to the graduating class at StFX. The tradition of the ring dates back to 1942. Prior to the X-Ring it was customary for each graduating class to come up with their own unique class ring. The task of designing the ring for the class of the day was assigned to graduating student William J. MacDougall. After leaving the project until the last minute and presumably in a rush to complete it William simply drew a circle with the letter X in the centre. In 1957, the university had the ring design copyrighted and it became the official ring of all graduating classes. The first X-Ring Ceremony was held in October 1958.
The X-Ring has become so closely associated with the institution itself that it was integrated it into the university logo. The stylized X-Ring logo was first introduced in 1998 as part of a new student recruitment CD-ROM. It soon came into use on the StFX website and in many university publications before being established as the official logo.
Campus renewal
In 1998 StFX began an $85 million (CAD) campus renewal initiative. The goal of the program is to improve educational and residential opportunities throughout campus.To date, the initiative has seen the completion of four large scale projects.
- The construction of two apartment-style residences, Power Hall and Somers Hall, aimed at upper-year students.
- Complete renovation of Morrison Hall, the main dining facility at StFX
- Charles V. Keating Millennium Centre, a $20 million athletics and conference centre
- StFX Sciences Centre, a state-of-the-art $25 million physical sciences complex
Two additional projects are planned for the coming years.
- The MacNeil Science Hall, which was left vacant with the opening of new StFX Sciences Centre, will undergo major renovations to provide a new home for the Gerald Schwartz School of Business and Information Systems
- The Coady International Centre will be established in a refurbished Augustine Hall
Athletics
St. Francis Xavier is represented in the Atlantic University Sport conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport by the St. Francis Xavier X-Men and the St. Francis Xavier X-Women.
Students' Union
The StFX Students' Union, branded as The U, is a participatory student organization that is designed to represent the interests of StFX students. The union also helps to organize student activities and groups. The Students' Union is based in Bloomfield Centre, on the StFX campus and is a member of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations. The well known X-Ring ceremony, which takes place each December, is also organized by the Students' Union.Noted alumni
- Glenn Graham, Scots Gaelic fiddler/musician
- Angus L. MacDonald, Premier of Nova Scotia 1933-1940 and 1945-1954
- Rodney MacDonald, Premier of Nova Scotia 2006-present
- Tracey MacDonald, comedian
- Allan J. MacEachen, first Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
- Linden MacIntyre, co-host of the CBC News program the fifth estate
- John Keiller MacKay, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario 1957-1963
- Alistair MacLeod, author
- Frank McKenna, Canadian Ambassador to the United States 2005-January 25, 2006
- Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada 1984-1993
- Seamus O'Regan, co-host of the CTV morning show Canada AM
- Geoff Regan, Member of Parliament for Halifax West, Nova Scotia
- Mike Smith, actor, known for playing Bubbles on the Trailer Park Boys
- Daniel Petrie, television and movie director
External links
! style="background:#ccccff" align="center" width="100%" | Nova Scotia universities ||
|- | align="center" style=font-size: 70%;" colspan="4" | Public universities |- | align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" colspan="4" | Acadia | AST | Dalhousie | Mount Saint Vincent | NSCAD | Saint Francis Xavier | Saint Mary's | Cape Breton | Saint Anne |-
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