Bishop’s University Boasts Vibrant Student Life in
a Close-Knit Community
February 28, 2015
Bishop’s University is more than a university; it is a community. Professors know their students by name and engage them in stimulating classroom experiences. “We have a family-based approach. There is a lot of individual support for students, as well as great opportunities for students to get involved,” explained Bishop’s University Director of Enrollment, Dan Seneker.
Founded in 1843, Bishop’s is one of the oldest universities in Canada. Also, with 2,400 students - 14% of whom are international - it is one of the smallest. The university is mainly English speaking, but since it is located in a bilingual community in Quebec, students can either learn or fine-tune their French as well.
The university emphasizes a liberal education, including natural science, math, humanities, social science, business, and education. Research is another strength, particularly in the areas of environmental sciences, clinical psychology, sports studies, and business.
At Bishop’s, students are involved both inside and outside the classroom. Sixty-five percent of students live on campus their first year, and off-campus housing is generally within 15 minutes walking distance, making it easy to participate in campus activities. As Mr. Seneker emphasized, “We have a very vibrant campus life with athletics and sports. Our team’s name is the Gaiters and it is very much part of campus life. Students are involved in a wide range of activities from athletics, academics, cultural, theatrical, religious, political, social—anything that they are interested in we offer here.”
The next few years will bring some substantial developments for Bishop’s. A $30 million sports and activities complex is slated to open in January 2015 and library and on campus housing renovations are in the works. The science labs were recently remodeled and the chemistry department will soon be opening a microbrewery for students to study the science and art of beer making.
Bishop’s is already a participant in the Science without Borders program and, according to Mr. Seneker, will soon be focusing more on Brazil. “We are very interested in attracting more students from Brazil. We want to put a stronger focus on our Latin America strategy over the next few years, and that includes Brazil. You will see us there soon,” promised Mr. Seneker.
Bishop's University
Bishop's University
