Establishment of a one-university system
The University of Manitoba was founded in 1877 under the University of Manitoba Act, only seven years after the province of Manitoba and four years after the city of Winnipeg were created. The University of Manitoba granted its first degrees in 1880. It was modelled after the University of London on the principle of a "one-university" system, or a federation of denominational colleges. This model was proposed to counteract sectarian conflicts developing to the east in their post-secondary systems.
The original role of the University of Manitoba was to examine and confer degrees on students graduating from its three founding affiliated colleges--St. Boniface College (Roman Catholic); St John's (Anglican) and Manitoba College (Presbyterian). Consolidating other institutions was intended to strengthen the smaller, financially insecure institutions. Later, Methodist Wesley College and Brandon College joined the federation as well as other colleges.
With increasing demand for a science curriculum and influence from other post-secondary systems, in 1892 the University of Manitoba Act was amended to allow the university to instruct teachers. In 1900, a faculty of science was formally established and in 1904, a generous donation made possible the appointments of five professors. By 1920, the University of Manitoba offered a wide range of undergraduate programs and several professional schools (Harris, 1976).
Community of colleges
In 1967, Manitoba's public policy of a one-university system ended with the establishment of the University of Winnipeg (formerly United College) and Brandon University (formerly Brandon College) under the Universities Establishment Act. As colleges, these two institutions had been affiliated with the University of Manitoba until their incorporation as universities. The universities are currently governed by The University of Winnipeg Act and The Brandon University Act respectively.
The remaining colleges still affiliated with the University of Manitoba continued developing under the new concept of a "Community of Colleges". Arts and science teaching functions were taken over by the University of Manitoba, and the colleges lost control over eligibility requirements to teach and study. This solved the classical colleges' financial concerns regarding the provision of more expensive science-oriented curricula and allowed them to concentrate on theological studies and an interdisciplinary collegial environment. At the same time, this concept allowed the University to respond to cultural diversity in the province, yet honour long-standing historical relationships with the colleges.
Special arrangements were made with the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface due to its specific language and cultural mission. The Collège universitaire retained public funding and some administrative autonomy, including the appointment of faculty. It is answerable directly to the University of Manitoba Senate on academic matters.
Other special arrangements include those made with Ukrainian Orthodox St. Andrew's College, which jointly sponsors a Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies with the University, which, although not formally linked as an institution, is located on its campus. Approved Teaching Centres have also been created to teach specific courses, approved by the University, which are offered by other denominational colleges. These approved courses may be applied towards a bachelor's degree at the University of Manitoba.
Today, the University of Manitoba enrols almost 30,000 students--25,000 undergraduates and 4,000 graduates with 13% being international. The University of Manitoba offers the most comprehensive selection of degree programs, including professional and graduate, of any university in the province. In all, one hundred, diploma, and certificate programs are offered, more than sixty of which are at the undergraduate level. It contributes $1.8 billion to the social and economic fabric of the province in annual economic activity.
Missions of the universities
The mission of the University of Manitoba is to "create, preserve and communicate knowledge, and thereby, contribute to the cultural, social and economic well-being of the people of Manitoba, Canada and the world." The university aims not only to be the premier Western Canadian university, but to "be respected for our knowledge of the world and for our understanding of the complexities of our Prairie region in its cultural, socioeconomic and scientific dimensions, which we will articulate according to international standards of science and scholarship. We will be recognized for our centrality in the development of Manitoba's knowledge-based society in a knowledge-based global economy."
The mission of the University of Winnipeg is to offer students "breadth and depth of knowledge, the skills to communicate effectively and to make informed decisions, an understanding of the ethical problems facing our society, and an appreciation of the full range of human, aesthetic and environmental values."
The mission of Brandon University is to educate students "so that they can make a meaningful difference as engaged citizens and leaders."
The mission of University College of the North is "to ensure Northern communities and people will have opportunities, knowledge and skills, while being inclusive and respectful of diverse, Northern and Aboriginal values and beliefs."
Interprovincial and International Training Agreements (IPTAs)
To provide residents of Manitoba with greater educational opportunity and access to a wider variety of program offerings the Manitoba Ministry of Education and Advanced Learning has established partnerships with institutions of higher education outside the province to provide opportunities for students to be trained in a variety of programs.
The Faculty of Optometry at the University of Waterloo has entered an agreement to allow for up to three Manitoba residents per year to enter the Faculty of Optometry.
The Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at the University of Saskatchewan has entered an agreement to allow up to fifteen Manitoba residents enter the Veterinary Medicine program.
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology has entered an agreement to allow for up to three Manitoba residents per year to enter the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program.
Manitoba and Minnesota share a Reciprocity Agreement which provides offers lower tuition rates for Manitoba residents to attend public colleges and universities in Minnesota.