Trent University

About Trent University

Campus: Facilities, Residence and Location

Trent stands along the banks of Atonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario. Its main campus is spread over 14.60 square kilometers of land, which is divided into several colleges, namely Catherin Parr Trail, Champlain, Atonabee, Lady Eaton, Peter Gzowski, and Julian Blackburn. Each boasts of its own history, traditions, personality, and enjoys a significant autonomy from each other. Trent gives students the choice of living in one of the six colleges. Except for the Julian Blackburn College, each college has its own residence hall, dining facilities, classrooms, and faculty offices that are all contained in a single structure. Each college also functions as an intellectual and social community, organizing its own student government and various recreational programs. This residential system is patterned after Oxford University’s college system.

Student Services and Student Life

The university offers many services, including the academic Skills Centre, Bookstore, The Career Centre, Counselling Centre, Disability Services Office, Health Services, Student Affairs, Peer Mentoring Programs, Spiritual Affairs, Aboriginal and International Students Support. Community involvement is greatly stressed and encouraged in the university. Trent believes that the time spent in participating in out-of-class activities compliment the time spent on academic pursuits. Hence, a number of clubs and groups are found here—including academic societies, social interest groups, religious groups, theater groups, and political chapters. Open dialogue and diverse opinions are not just encouraged in these student groups and organizations, but they are the norm in the campus. This way, learning and growth, which are complimentary to each student’s academic development are fostered.

Various athletics programs and recreational activities are also emphasized in the university. Students interested in organized sports can join the Trent Excalibur, the university’s varsity team. Students can also participate in other activities, such as intramurals, aquatics, and health in motion clinic.

Academic Programs

Trent University offers to expand the worldview of its students, so it values the importance of diversity in their learning experience. Aside from this, variety is also seen in the numerous undergraduate and graduate programs it offers to students. Some of them are: Biology, Business Administration, Chemical Physics, Cultural Studies, Forensic Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Other specialized programs are also available for students, such as the Trent International Program: International Students, Study Abroad, Trent Centre for Community-Based Education, Kawartha World Issues Centre, Trent-Fleming Joint Programs, Degree Completion Options for Students at Ontario Community Colleges, and Trent-Fleming Trail Studies Unit.

Notable Accomplishments

Trent boasts of innovative facilities that support several significant areas in study and research. As a leader in environmental studies, Trent houses Canada’s most advanced water quality testing facility. In the area of DNA research, Trent manages the National Resources DNA Profiling and Forensic Center in cooperation with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. And in the field of indigenous studies, the Peter Zowski College boasts of several research facilities on the study of indigenous people.

Peterborough Information

Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in central-eastern Ontario, Canada. Peterborough is known as the gateway to the "cottage country" of the Kawarthas, a large recreational region of the province.

Manufacturing is the biggest local industry with General Electric and Quaker Oats maintaining large operations in Peterborough. The city is also a 'bedroom' community for workers of General Motors Canada: the GM Oshawa Autoplex is actually the largest industrial employer of Peterborough citizens. The Peterborough Regional Health Centre is the largest employer, followed by school boards and local government.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas offer a multitude of attractions and events for all demographics. Rich in heritage, the region is host to an amazing array of museums, cultural exhibitions, indoor and outdoor galleries and theatres, Aboriginal heritage attractions and historical sites, as well as a vibrant arts community.

The Peterborough Centennial Museum & Archives is home to a diverse collection of artifacts. It was established in 1897 and moved to its present site on Armour Hill in 1967. The Archives collection includes items from Catharine Parr Traill, the original Peter Robinson papers, the Park Studio Fonds and the Balsillie collection of Roy Studio Images, over 300,000 film and glass plate negatives dating back to 1896.