Yes, it’s true. The Faculty of Arts is celebrating 60 years since our founding as a full faculty at the University of Waterloo. In 1960, Arts became the third faculty, joining Engineering and Science, at the three-year-old University. It was in the Fall of that year when the first Arts courses began with students recruited from the newly federated and affiliated St Jerome’s College and Renison College, along with students already enrolled at Waterloo. The largest Arts department was Mathematics (yup, Math made its home in Arts until 1965) and other departments included English, History, German and Russian, Political Science, French and Spanish, Economics, and Sociology.
Read the announcement of the new Faculty in The University of Waterloo Quarterly Report, September 1960:
Transcript:
Arts Faculty formed: First Courses in Arts to Begin This Fall
A third faculty - The Faculty of Arts - has now been formed at the University of Waterloo. The new faculty will offer the first of its arts courses this fall. Both a three year General Course and four year Honours Course will be available. The first year of studies will be common to both General Course and Honours students. Classes in the upper years will begin in 1961.
A 60 per cent average in nine grade 13 papers will be required for admission to the new courses. An illustrated brochure describing the arts programme and the University’s facilities is available upon writing to A.P. Gordon, Registrar, University of Waterloo, Waterloo ON. Tuition and fees for the arts courses will be $418 annually.
Dr. Keith Thomas has been appointed acting Dean of Arts. Dr. Thomas was formerly chairman of the English Department at Acadia University. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto where he obtained his PhD degree and also served on the faculty.
“The rapid development of the University through its previously established faculties of science and engineering obliges this institution to offer a fully balanced academic program which meets the standards of the universities in other parts of the province,” said President J.G. Hagey.
“Previously, the University has made limited offerings of arts subjects mainly in relation to some of the arts courses taught to our science and engineering students. In this connection for example an outstanding mathematics Department has already been developed.”
“In anticipating the possibility of the University expanding its Faculty of Arts, numerous contacts have been made during the past year with prospective faculty members. This advance work has enabled the University to begin its arts programme with a highly qualified faculty of more than 20 members. This will be supplemented by the faculties of St. Jerome's College and Renison College and by those members of our Faculty of Science who will lecture to arts students taking science options.
“During the past three years in which the University has been enrolling engineering and science students a reputation has been established for high standards,” stated Dr. Hagey. “This reputation will be maintained in developing the arts program.
The provision of arts courses fulfills an urgent need in this progressive section of the province. In addition, we are in a unique position as a new University to plan curricula in keeping with the challenge of living in a changing world.
St Jerome’s, Renison join U of W
The Federation of the University of Saint Jerome’s college and affiliation of Renison college with the University of Waterloo became a reality on July 1st. The informal signing of agreements linking the three institutions together took place just a few hours before the University held its first convocation on June 18.
Beginning this fall students may register for arts courses at either of the colleges or the University and receive their degree from the University.
Roman Catholic students registered with the University through Saint Jerome’s college will take religious knowledge classics and philosophy courses at the college but may select other course other arts subjects at the University which is non-denominational. Similarly Anglican students who enrolled with the University through Renison College will receive instruction in religious knowledge and philosophy from Renison College faculty members. Both colleges plan to erect residential colleges on the University campus. Each college may provide its own courses in theology and issued divinity degrees.
The University of Saint Jerome’s college is the oldest institution of higher learning in the Kitchener Waterloo area and Renison college is the newest. Saint Jerome’s was established in Kitchener and 1864 and Renison college was opened in Waterloo just a year ago.
