Brescia University College to fully integrate into Western University in 2024
In the spring of 2024, Canada's only women's university will begin integrating into Western University with improved access to education and honouring its legacy top of mind.
According to a release, a memorandum of understanding was approved by the governing boards of Brescia University College and Western University, allowing for the full integration of the college into Western. The merger is planned for May 2024, at which time Brescia will wind down operations as an affiliated university college.
“The plans aim to honour Brescia’s core mission to educate and prepare its students to live with wisdom, justice and compassion while meeting the needs of today’s students,” the release reads.
Brescia was founded in 1919 by the Ursuline Sisters with the goal of bridging gaps in women’s education. Lauretta Frederking, president of Brescia, sees the merger as the college’s next chapter.
“We are now at a point where women make up the majority of post-secondary learners in Canada and there is an equally important need to adapt to new realities, including the underrepresentation of equity-deserving groups in our postsecondary institutions,” she said.
In order to build on Brescia’s legacy, Western will broaden pathways for students from equity-deserving groups through an enhanced preparatory program on the college’s campus. According to the release, the program will help domestic and international students “achieve their full potential” by building academic foundations and English language proficiency, and will offer customized cultural supports before beginning their program.
The planned integration will involve several commitments, including ensuring that current Brescia students can complete their program of study and remain in the current program for the duration of their degree.
With this in mind, Western will assume Brescia’s assets and liabilities and will provide the college’s full-time faculty, current contract faculty with sessional appointments, and full-time staff and permanent part-time staff with employment offers.
“Western and Brescia have a deep historical connection, and now we have an opportunity to chart a new path that stays true to those roots,” said Alan Shepard, president of Western. “What we are contemplating together aligns beautifully with Western’s strategic plan including bold innovations in education.”
Western will also create a $25 million Brescia Legacy Fund in order to support access to education through scholarships, bursaries and programs.
“This agreement will better position us to enhance educational outcomes for students with the greatest needs,” added Frederking.
Sr. Theresa Mahoney, community leader of the Ursuline Sisters of Chatham, said the new merger will allow students, faculty and staff to continue to build on Brescia’s established legacy in a way that is “responsive to changing times.”
‘“As Ursulines, we have always tried to respond to the needs of the times, and I am grateful for the support of Bishop Fabbro, Dr. Frederking, and Dr. Shepard in reaching this agreement, which will truly put students first,” she said.
Brescia University College is a women’s university college with 1,200 women registered as full or part-time students, with programs ranging from behavioural and social sciences, to food and nutritional sciences, to the humanities.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.
'Love has no boundaries': Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.