Students Speak Out: University Report Ranks Canada's Best

The Globe and Mail's Canadian University Report 2010

TORONTO , Oct. 22 /CNW/ - Canada's undergraduate students representing over 50 Canadian universities have evaluated their schools on the most important elements of post secondary education. From quality of education and level of satisfaction, to class size and campus bars and pubs, The Globe and Mail's Canadian University Report 2010 ranks Canada's best across the country. Available in today's newspaper and online at www.globecampus.ca, The Report is presented in partnership with The Strategic Counsel and Higher Education Strategy Associates.

This year's report surveyed over 38,000 undergraduates representing 53 schools. Respondents were asked more than 100 questions on 19 different topics.

    
    The Canadian University Report 2010 also sparks discussion and debate
about life on campus and inside the classroom, including:
    -   Increased tuition fees coupled with overcrowded classrooms: Is a
        university education still worth it?
    -   Are high school students being ushered to university just to keep
        them from unemployment?
    -   How Facebook and other social media websites may impact university
        entrance applications;
    -   From iPod apps to downloadable lectures and classroom
        videoconferencing, is human interaction on campus on its way out?;
    -   Managing the transition from high school to university: are students
        unprepared, or are professors not adapting to the new generation that
        fills their lecture halls?
    

"The Canadian University Report 2010 lets students speak out and represent their schools," explains Simon Beck , Editor of the Canadian University Report. "As the next generation of high school graduates prepare for the big leap to university, the Report provides them with a guided tour of life on campus and in the classrooms - from the people who know it best - the students."

Most Satisfied Students

    
    The following universities earned the highest marks for overall student
satisfaction:
    -   For large universities (enrollment over 22,000): University of
        Western Ontario finished on top (A) followed by McMaster (A-) and
        University of Waterloo (A-);
    -   University of Guelph scored the top mark (A+) for medium-sized
        universities (enrollment 12,000-22,000);
    -   University of the Fraser Valley, Nipissing University and St. Francis
        Xavier all earned A grades in the small universities category
        (4,000 - 12,000);
    -   Bishop's, Redeemer University, The King's University College
        (Edmonton), and Trinity Western University represent most satisfied
        for very small universities (less than 4,000 enrollment).

    More intimate on smaller campuses

    According to the Report, students representing smaller campuses (under
12,000) report better student-faculty interaction than the larger schools:
    -   Bishop's and Concordia University College of Alberta earned A+ in the
        under 4,000 category, as did University of the Fraser Valley in its
        group (4,000 - 12,000);
    -   Moving up to the larger schools, Université de Sherbrooke still
        faired well, earning an overall A for the medium sized schools
        (12,000 - 22,000), while Université Laval, Université du Quebec,
        Ryerson and the University of Western Ontario earned top marks, but
        only earned a B+ grade.
    

Don't come here for the food

This year's University Report highlights once again that students are drawn to quality education and not gourmet food. Food services continue to disappoint almost across the board. Small universities (4,000 - 12,000) scored the lowest marks: Nipissing and Thompson Rivers University both earned Cs. Large universities faired slightly better with their top two earning B- grades. University of Guelph stood out on top representing the 12,000 - 20,000 enrollment category with the only A awarded. Second place went to Carleton and Queen's who both scored C+ in the same category.

    
    Additional highlights from the report:

    Quality of Education
    --------------------
    Large Universities (enrolment of 22,000+)
    A            University of Waterloo
    A            University of Western Ontario

    Medium (enrolment 12,000- 22,000)
    A+           Queen's University
    A            University of Guelph.
    A            Wilfrid Laurier University

    Small (enrolment 4,000 - 12,000)
    A            University of the Fraser Valley, Nipissing University,
                 St. Francis Xavier University

    Very Small (enrolment less than 4,000)
    A+           Bishop's University, Mount Allison University,
                 Redeemer University College, The King's University College
                 (Edmonton), Trinity Western

    Class Size
    ----------
    Large Universities (enrolment of 22,000+)
    A-           Ryerson University
    B            Concordia, Université du Québec, University of Waterloo,
                 University of Western Ontario

    Medium (enrolment 12,000- 22,000)
    A            Wilfrid Laurier University
    A-           Brock University, Université de Sherbrooke

    Small (enrolment 4,000 - 12,000)
    A+           University of the Fraser Valley, Mount St. Vincent,
                 Nipissing University, St. Francis Xavier University,
                 University of Winnipeg

    Campus Pubs/Bars
    ----------------
    Large Universities (enrollment of 22,000+)
    B+           Université Laval, Université du Québec
    B            University of Calgary, University of Waterloo,
                 University of Western Ontario

    Medium (enrolment 12,000- 22,000)
    A            Queen's University
    B+           Brock University, University of Guelph

    Small (enrolment 4,000 - 12,000)
    A-           Saint Mary's University
    B+           Lakehead University, Nipissing University,
                 University of New Brunswick

    Very Small (enrolment less than 4,000)
    A-           Bishop's University
    B+           St. Thomas University
    B+           University of Northern British Columbia
    

The complete report and results is available in today's newspaper and online at www.globecampus.ca.

Methodology: Overview

The Canadian University Report 2010 reflects the opinion of more than 38,000 current undergraduate students. The results are derived from the answers to more than 100 questions. A mean score for each university is calculated based on the responses of students who attend that school. Universities are assigned a letter grade that matches their mean scores. For full details on the methodology and scoring, see the Canadian University Report 2010 or go to www.globecampus.ca/methodology.

The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper, is a division of CTVglobemedia, a dynamic multi-media company, which also owns CTV Inc., Canada's number-one private broadcaster.

For further information: or to arrange an interview, please contact: Sheryl So at [phone], [email protected]; Jennifer Hills at [phone], [email protected]