Maclean'sranking puts
Trent first in Ontario

The eighth Maclean's magazine rankings of universities has again placed Trent in first position among primarily undergraduate universities in Ontario, and shown it to be in the province's top spot in this category for student awards, class size at first and second year, faculty awards, social science and humanities grants, operating budget, library holdings per student and library expenses.

Trent also placed in the top two categories in Ontario in five other rankings areas: average entering grade, proportion who graduate, class size at third and fourth year levels, medical/science grants and alumni support.

President Bonnie Patterson expressed optimism about the annual rankings, and said she is pleased with the momentum building at Trent.

"I'm extremely pleased that we are launching exciting new teaching and research programs such as our Native Studies PhD offering in 1999, the James McLean Oliver Ecological Centre and Water Quality Centre," said Patterson. "I believe that we are poised with renewed leadership, a strong and award-winning faculty, and have an active strategic directions process underway. We want to strongly position Trent as first choice for students and faculty among Canada's elite group of primarily undergraduate universities."

Trent will re-introduce its February session of up to 15 first-year courses in both Peterborough and Oshawa in 1999. The courses will be of 12-weeks' duration and consist of both full- and half-courses.

Trent had its best ranking yet for student awards, determined as the number of students, per 1,000, who have won national awards. More than 80 per cent of Trent's students graduate, an improvement which accounted for a two-step ranking increase in that survey area.

Major improvements were shown in scholarship and bursary funds available to students as a percentage of Trent's budget. (Please see chart inset). This year's total submitted by Trent showed an increase of approximately $500,000 more available in scholarships and bursaries for 1997-98, compared to the previous year.

It was noted that the funding plight of Ontario's universities could have been reflected in the fact that three east coast universities captured the 21-university category's top positions, said Patterson. St. Francis Xavier followed Mount Allison and Acadia. Ontario's universities are the lowest-funded in Canada, ranking 10th out of 10 provinces.

To read more go to the Maclean's site.