Students know that Renison University College is a great place to belong, but now, this sentiment is being recognized across the country.
Renison's All-College event on April 8, 2026, led by Dr. Jessica Riddell, was a day of reflection, connection and shared purpose that reflects a renewed direction for the College.
This week, Renison President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Marc Jerry had the opportunity to speak to the University of Waterloo’s Academic Leadership Program for Chairs and Associate Deans.
The theme was “Academic Leadership in Crisis” and the session was facilitated by Dr. Marty Cooke, Assistant Vice-President, Academic – Leadership and Strategic Initiatives at Waterloo. On the panel, along with Dr. Jerry, was Dalhousie University President Emeritus Dr. Richard Florizone and Waterloo Dean of Health Dr. Lili Liu.
This past fall, Dr. Denise Marigold took key concepts from the Positive Psychology course she teaches at Renison and turned it into a workshop for high school students called “The Power of Perspective.” Through hands-on activities, students were given opportunities to reflect on how shifting their perspective on negative experiences can foster more positive emotions, behaviours, and outcomes—while also developing a realistic understanding of the limits of positive thinking as a quick fix.
This week, Renison University College had its first annual Stone Garden Memorial Celebration, where we remember community members who have passed away. It will be held on the Monday following All Souls Day each year.
This weekend, we celebrate with Renison grads who will walk across the stage and receive their degree during Spring Convocation. Congratulations to each of you on your incredible achievement!
We are so grateful and proud to have you as part of the Renison community of alumni – and we can’t wait to see what you do next!
During Convocation, we also announce the Fall 2025 Student and Faculty Award Winners. Each award winner embodies the values of Renison in a special way, and these awards recognize their contributions to our community.
Renison’s School of Global Engagement and Education is excited to announce the launch of a new free online training resource: Skills for Success: Building transferable skills for the workplace.
This self-guided, asynchronous resource is designed to support newcomers to Canada who are developing foundational and transferable skills for the workplace. It integrates essential workplace skills with English language support, making it especially valuable for those entering or re-entering the workforce.
I am known for occasionally quoting the 16th century reformer, theologian, and church leader Martin Luther; today I am drawing inspiration from civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. who is quoted as saying, “you don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
In the 16 months since I assumed the office of president of Renison University College, we have been collectively working towards creating a plan for the future of the College. The first few months saw us working closely with students, staff, faculty and Board members to develop a shared vision of our future. What should Renison look like in five years? Through a variety of working groups and visioning sessions conducted over the last year, we not only prioritized our strategic plan, but we also created a unified vision for the future of Renison. We created the staircase. We took those first steps.
Financial Statement highlights for the 2025 Annual Report.
As I conclude my fourth and final year as Chair, I have had the privilege of witnessing remarkable growth and transformation across Renison University College. Over these years, we have navigated complex challenges while remaining steadfast in our commitment to providing programs that truly meet the evolving needs and interests of our students. At times, this has meant making difficult decisions regarding areas of low student demand, ensuring that our resources are directed toward programs and experiences that have the greatest impact. As a former alumnus, I am proud of the Board, the senior leadership team and the faculty’s commitment to put the needs of students first.