Classes at the University of Waterloo commenced in July 1957 with the introduction of the Co-operative Engineering program. In March 1959 a Private Bill was approved by the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario incorporating the University of Waterloo as a degree-granting institution offering courses at both the undergraduate and the graduate levels. The University is co-educational and non-denominational. Programs are offered in Applied Health Sciences, Arts (including Independent Studies), Business Entrepreneurship and Technology, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, Pharmacy, Science, Social Work, and Software Engineering. The University is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
The Campus
The University is situated on a beautiful 1,000 acre (400 hectare) campus in the northwest section of the city of Waterloo. The School of Architecture is located in Cambridge. A Health Sciences campus is under construction in downtown Kitchener. Waterloo, its twin city Kitchener, and Cambridge are located in mid-western Ontario. The Regional Municipality of Waterloo has a population of approximately 508,000.
Since the opening of its first permanent structure on campus in 1958, the University has experienced continuous development of its campus environment. The on-campus infrastructure has been recently augmented by a number of off campus ventures, such as the School of Architecture in Cambridge and the Health Sciences campus in Kitchener, where satellite campuses provide additional facilities to better support the University's teaching and research. There are extensive library and computing facilities and a variety of student accommodation in University, Federated University, and Affiliated College residences. In addition, the campus provides accommodation for a broad range of student social, cultural, recreational, and athletic activities.
UW Research & Technology Park
Waterloo's newest home for innovation and excellence is one of the largest such ventures in North America, and provides over 1.2 million square feet of space for technology related companies. Designed to be a world-class information technology centre, this huge endeavour was made possible through a six-way public/private partnership. Located on 120 acres (49 hectares) of land on the north campus surrounded by a 270-acre (110-hectare) environmental reserve, the R&T Park includes a 21,000 square-foot Accelerator Centre to help entrepreneurs bring their great ideas to market.
University Colours
The official colours of the University of Waterloo are gold, black, and white.
University Arms and Motto
The Arms and Motto for the University of Waterloo, as first adopted in October 1961, and as officially granted in August 1987 by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, are described as follows:
Or, on a chevron Sable between three lions rampant Gules a Chevronel Argent. Above the Shield is placed an Helm suitable to an Incorporation (VIDELICET: – a Salade Proper lined Gules) with a Mantling Sable doubled Or, and on a Wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest between two maple branches in saltire a trillium displayed and leaved all Proper, and in an Escrol over the same this Motto "CONCORDIA CUM VERITATE" – In Harmony with Truth.
The University Mace
The symbolic theme may be described as follows: The fundamental concept is unity amid diversity and tension in the creative intellectual process that strives to bring forth a new individual. The design of the mace interprets this theme in the idiom of the life process: from the seeds at the base of the stave the mace grows in unity and strength until it differentiates by a four-fold separation into diverse elements.
The four-fold diversity is significant because of the four Faculties existing at the time the Mace was presented to the University, and as well, of the four Federated and Affiliated Colleges. These diverse elements together form a crown, and the points of the crown, while tending toward a union do not quite touch but remain as individuals suspended in tension and yet engaged in a deep harmony. This creative process is focused, not on the traditional spherical orb of static perfection, but rather on an elliptical silver ovum – the egg-shaped symbol of creativity – the marvellous potential of a new individual life.
University Academic Regalia
The academic regalia chosen for the University of Waterloo is patterned after that of the University of Oxford (except where noted).
Degree Hoods
- For the Bachelor's degree, hoods are black silk in the Oxford Bachelor shape, with a border in a colour which indicates the Faculty or degree. Degree colours or colours of a specific discipline are:
- Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management (BAFM) – colour to be announced (Arts)
- Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) – scarlet with white soutache braid trim (Engineering)
- Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) – scarlet with yellow soutache braid trim (Engineering)
- Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) – yellow with white soutache braid trim (Engineering)
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) – green with white soutache braid trim (Applied Health Sciences, Arts)
- Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) – wine with gold soutache braid trim (Mathematics)
- Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) – orange with white soutache braid trim (Environmental Studies)
- Bachelor of Independent Studies (BIS) – white with white soutache braid trim (Arts)
- Bachelor of Mathematics (BMath) – wine with white soutache braid trim (Mathematics)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) – blue with white soutache braid trim (Applied Health Sciences, Science)
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BScPhm) – colour to be announced (Science)
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) – gold with white soutache braid trim (Renison College)
- Bachelor of Software Engineering (BSE) – silver with white soutache braid trim (Engineering and Mathematics)
- Doctor of Optometry (OD) – black silk hood in the American style, seafoam green border, and gold lining
- Master's degrees – visit www.grad.uwaterloo.ca/calendar/grad_calendar/GenInfo_AcaReg.asp for degree hood information.
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree – visit www.grad.uwaterloo.ca/calendar/grad_calendar/GenInfo_AcaReg.asp for degree hood information.
- Honorary Degrees
- Doctor of Divinity (DD) – purple silk with mauve lining
- Doctor of Engineering (DEng) – scarlet silk with pink lining
- Doctor of Environmental Studies (DES) – orange silk with ivory lining
- Doctor of Laws (LLD) – pink silk with magenta lining
- Doctor of Letters (DLitt) – green silk with pale green silk lining
- Doctor of Mathematics (DMath) – wine silk with buff silk lining
- Doctor of Science (DSc) – blue silk with pale blue silk lining
Gowns
- Bachelor and Master degree gowns are black with the Oxford cut and trim.
- Doctor of Philosophy degree gowns are of the Oxford cut and trim and are red, with facings and lower third of sleeves green.
- Honorary degree gowns are of the Oxford cut and trim, each with its own distinctive colour (following the configuration of the honorary degree colours above). The facings and lower third of the sleeves are black.