Undergraduate Programs Calendar 2004-05

About the University

1 The University

1.1 History

The Hon. James McGill, a leading merchant and prominent citizen of Montreal, who died in 1813, bequeathed an estate of 46 acres called Burnside Place together with £10,000 to the "Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning" upon condition that the latter erect "upon the said tract or parcel of land, an University or College, for the purpose of education and the advancement of learning in this Province"; and further upon condition that "one of the Colleges to be comprised in the said University shall be named and perpetually be known and distinguished by the appellation of `McGill College'."

At the time of James McGill's death, the Royal Institution, although authorized by law in 1801, had not been created but was duly instituted in 1819. In 1821 it obtained a Royal Charter for a university to be called McGill College. Further delay was occasioned by litigation, and the Burnside estate was not acquired until March 1829. The Montreal Medical Institution which had begun medical lectures at the Montreal General Hospital in 1822, was accepted by the College as its Faculty of Medicine in June 1829. After further litigation, the College received the financial endowment in 1835 and the Arts Building and Dawson Hall were erected. The Faculty of Arts opened its doors in 1843.

Progress, however, was slow until the 1821 Charter was amended in 1852 to constitute the members of the Royal Institution as the Governors of McGill College. Since that time the two bodies have been one. It was first called "The University of McGill College" but in 1885 the Governors adopted the name "McGill University". Even after the amended charter was granted, little advance was made until 1855 when William Dawson was appointed Principal. When he retired 38 years later, McGill had over 1,000 students and Molson Hall (at the west end of the Arts Building), the Redpath Museum, the Redpath Library, the Macdonald Buildings for Engineering and Physics, and a fine suite of medical buildings had been erected.

Since then the University has continued to grow vigorously. In 1884 the first women students were admitted and in 1899 the Royal Victoria College was opened, a gift of Lord Strathcona, to provide separate teaching and residential facilities for women students. Gradually, however, classes for men and women were merged.

In 1907 Sir William Macdonald established Macdonald College at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, as a residential college for Agriculture, Household Science, and the School for Teachers. Those components have since become the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, which includes the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition on the Macdonald Campus and the Faculty of Education located on the downtown campus. The University's general development has been greatly facilitated by the generosity of many benefactors, and particularly by the support of its graduates, as regular public funding for general and capital expenditures did not become available until the early 1950s. Since that time government grants have become a major factor in the University's financial operations, but it still relies on private support and private donors in its pursuit of excellence in teaching and research.

The University now comprises 11 faculties and 10 schools. At present over 20,000 students are taking regular university courses; one in four is registered in Graduate Studies.

The University is also active in providing courses and programs to the community through the Centre for Continuing Education which serves approximately 10,000 students per term.

1.2 Incorporated and Affiliated Colleges

INCORPORATED COLLEGE

Royal Victoria College

3425 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A8

The Royal Victoria College, a non-teaching college of McGill University, provides residential accommodation for women students.

AFFILIATED THEOLOGICAL COLLEGES

Montreal Diocesan Theological College

3473 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A8

Principal: J. M. Simons, B.A.(Bishop's), S.T.B.(Trinity, Toronto), Ph.D.(Georgetown)

Presbyterian College of Montreal

3495 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A8

Principal: J. Vissers, B.A.(Tor.), M.Div.(Knox, Toronto), Th.M.(Princeton), Th.D.(Knox, Toronto)

United Theological College of Montreal

3521 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 2A9

Principal: P. Joudrey, B.A., M.Div.(Acadia), D.Min.(Andover Newton)

The above three colleges train students for the ministry and grant certificates for ordination but they have remitted their degree-granting powers, except with respect to the M.Div. and honorary doctorates, to the University.

1.3 University Government

McGill University is a corporation created by a Royal Charter granted by the Crown of the United Kingdom, a general supervisory power being retained by the Crown and exercised through the Governor General as Visitor.

The Governors of the University constitute the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning, a corporation existing under the laws of the Province of Quebec. In them is vested the management of finances, the appointment of professors, and other duties. Twenty-five of the governors are elected by the Board from amongst those nominated by its membership committee; five are elected by the Alumni Association; four are elected by Senate from amongst its members; three elected by the full-time administrative and support staff; from amongst its members, two elected by the full-time academic staff, and four elected by students from amongst the student body. The Board elects the Chancellor of the University and also, from amongst its members, a chair to preside at its meetings, who may also be the Chancellor. The Chancellor, the Principal, and the President of the McGill Students' Society are ex officio members.

The Chancellor is presiding officer of Convocation and of joint sessions of the Board of Governors and the Senate.

The Chair of the Board of Governors is President of the Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning.

The Principal and Vice-Chancellor is the academic head and chief administrative officer of the University appointed by the Board of Governors after consultation with a Statutory Committee to Nominate a Principal. The Principal is, ex officio, Chair of Senate.

The Senate is the highest academic authority of the University and has control over admission, courses of study, discipline, and degrees. The regulations of Senate are executed by the various faculties and schools, which also carry primary responsibility for the educational work of the University.

1.4 Board of Governors

(As of January 2003)

VISITOR

The Governor General of Canada

Her Excellency The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Robert Rabinovitch

Chair

Richard W. Pound

Chancellor

Heather Munroe-Blum

Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Members

Tullio Cedraschi, M.B.A.(McG.)

Roshi Chadha

John Cleghorn, B.Com.(McG.)

Lili de Grandpré, B.A.(Western), M.B.A.(McG.)

Kappy Flanders

Trevor Garland, B.Sc.(McG.)

Marie Giguère, B.A.(Mtl.), B.C.L.(McG.)

Kohur GowriSankaran; B.A., M.A.(Madras), Ph.D.(Bombay)

Daniel Guitton, Dipl. IVK(U. Libre de Brux.), B.Eng., M.Eng., Ph.D.Eng., Ph.D.Physiol.(McG.)

Donna Hayes, B.A. (McG.)

Alexander E. Kalil, B.A.(Harv.)

Brian Levitt, B.Sc., LL.B.(Tor.)

Eric Maldoff, B.A., B.C.L., LL.B.

Lydia Martone

Sally McDougall, B.Sc., Dip.Ed.

Ian McLachlin, B.Eng.(McG.)

Michael Meighen, B.A.(McG.)

Morton J. Mendelson, B.Sc.(McG.), A.M., Ph.D.(Harv.)

Samuel Noumoff, B.A.(Clark), M.A., Ph.D.(N.Y.U.)

Jan Peeters, B.Eng.(McG.)

Adrien Pouliot, LL.L.(Sherbrooke)

Roger Prichard, B.Sc., Ph.D.(N.S.W.)

Robert Rabinovitch, B.Com.(McG.), M.A., Ph.D.(Penn.)

Jeremy H. Reitman, A.B.(Dart.), B.C.L.(McG.)

Maria Ruocco

Michael Richards, B.A., B.C.L.(McG.)

Gerald Sheff, B.Arch., M.B.A.

Harriet Stairs, B.A.(McG.)

Lorne Trottier, B.Eng., M.Eng.(McG.)

Manon Vennat, B.C.L.(McG.)

Sue Whitesides, M.S.E.E.(Stan.), Ph.D.(Wis.)

Robert Winsor, B.Eng.(McG.)

James Wright, B.A., B.C.L.(McG.)

Student Representatives

Students' Society of McGill (1)

Post-Graduate Students' Society of McGill (1)

McGill Association of Continuing Education Students (1)

Macdonald Campus Students' Society (1)

Observer

President, Students' Society of McGill University

1.5 Members of Senate

EX-OFFICIO

The Chancellor

The Chair of the Board of Governors

The Principal and Vice-Chancellor

The Provost, Deputy Provost, and the vice-principals

The deans of faculties

The Dean of Continuing Education

The Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

The Dean of Students

The Director of Libraries

Elected Members

62 members elected by the faculties, the University Libraries, the Board of Governors, and administrative and support staff.
Medical Residents or Postdoctoral Scholars Group (1)
Student Members (19)

1.6 Administrative Officers

Richard W. Pound, O.C., O.Q., Q.C., C.A., B.Com.(McG.), B.A.(Sir G.Wms.), B.C.L.(McG.)

Chancellor

Robert Rabinovitch, B.Com.(McG.), M.A., Ph.D.(Penn.)

Chair of the Board of Governors

Heather Munroe-Blum, O.C., B.A., B.S.W.(McM.), M.S.W.(W.Laur.), Ph.D.(N.Carolina), F.R.S.C.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Luc Vinet, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Montr.)

Provost

Morty Yalovsky, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.)

Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance)

Nancy Wells, B.A.(M.C.L.A.), M.S.(Indiana)

Vice-Principal (Development and Alumni Relations)

Anthony Masi, A.B.(Colgate), Ph.D.(Brown)

Deputy Provost and Chief Information Officer

Louise Proulx, B.Sc.(Sherbrooke), Ph.D.(Laval)

Vice-Principal (Research)

Robin Geller, B.Sc.(Eng.)(Queen's), LL.B.(Ott.)

Secretary-General

Nicholas de Takacsy, B.Sc., M.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(McG.)

Associate Vice-Principal (Academic Services)

Stuart Price, B.Sc., Ph.D.(Bristol)

Associate Vice-Principal (Academic Staff and Planning)

Deborah Buszard, B.Sc.(Bath), Ph.D.(Lond.)

Associate Vice-Principal (Macdonald Campus)

Ian Butler, B.Sc., Ph.D.(Brist.), F.C.I.C.

Associate Vice-Principal (Research)

Martha Crago, B.A., M.Sc.A., Ph.D.(McG.)

Associate Vice-Principal (Teaching Programs)

Jennifer Robinson

Associate Vice-Principal (Communications)

1.7 Deans, Directors of Schools and Libraries, and Registrar

Deans

Deborah Buszard, B.Sc.(Bath), Ph.D.(Lond.)

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

John Hall, B.A.(Oxford), M.A.(Penn.), Ph.D.(L.S.E.)

Arts

Robin H. Eley, C.A., M.B.A.(McG.)

Continuing Education

James Lund, B.D.S.(Adelaide), Ph.D.(W.Ont.)

Dentistry

Roger C. Slee, B.A.(Queensland), M.A., Ph.D. (La Trobe)

Education

John Gruzleski, B.Sc., M.Sc.(Qu.), Ph.D.(Tor.), Eng.

Engineering

Martha Crago, B.A., M.Sc.A., Ph.D.(McG.)

Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Nicholas Kasirer, B.A.(Tor.), B.C.L., LL.B.(McG.)

Law

Gerald H.B. Ross, B.Com.(McG.), M.Sc.(U.B.C.), Ph.D.(W.Ont.)

Management

Abraham Fuks, B.Sc., M.D.,C.M.(McG.), F.R.C.P.(C.)

Medicine

Donald McLean, Mus.Bac., M.A., Ph.D.(Tor.)

Music

B. Barry Levy, B.A., M.A.(Yeshiva), Ph.D.(N.Y.U.)

Religious Studies

Alan G. Shaver, B.Sc.(Car.), Ph.D.(M.I.T.)

Science

Bruce M. Shore, B.Sc., M.A.(McG.), Ph.D.(Calg.)

Dean of Students

Directors of Schools and Libraries

David Covo, B.Sc.(Arch.), B.Arch.(McG.), M.R.A.I.C., O.A.Q.

Architecture

Shari R. Baum, B.A.(C'nell), M.S.(Vt.), M.A., Ph.D.(Brown)

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Denis Thérien, B.Sc.(Montr.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Wat.)

Computer Science

Katherine Gray-Donald, B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.)

Dietetics and Human Nutrition

Nigel Roulet, B.Sc.,M.Sc.(Trent), Ph.D.(McMaster)

Environment

Jamshid Beheshti, B.A.(S.Fraser), M.L.S., Ph.D.(W.Ont.)

Library and Information Studies

Susan E. French, B.N.(McG.), M.S.(Boston), Ph.D.(Tor.)

Nursing

Robert W. Dykes, B.A.(UCLA), Ph.D.(Johns H.)

Physical and Occupational Therapy

TBA

Social Work

David Brown, B.A.(Bishop's), M.U.P.(McG.), Ph.D.(Sheffield)

Urban Planning

Frances Groen, B.A.(Penn.), B.L.S.(Tor.), M.A.(Pitts.)

Director of Libraries

Registrar

Sylvia Franke, LL.B., B.Sc.(Tor.)

Registrar

1.8 Student Government

All students registered in the University are members of the Students' Society of McGill University except for students governed by the constitutions of the Macdonald College Students' Society and the Post-Graduate Students' Society, those students registered in Graduate Studies who are non-resident students or full-time members of the teaching staff, and student members of the McGill Association of Continuing Education Students.

Full details of the constitution, officers and committees of the Students' Society are available from the Students' Society of McGill University, located on the first floor of the Brown Student Services Building.