Trent University is one of the most exciting places in the region this fall. The beginning of another academic year for our new and returning students, the remarkable accomplishments of our faculty members in their fields and the start of a major campus renewal are bringing Trent a new sense of anticipation.

I delight in the energy of our new students and appreciate the enthusiastic return of our upper year students, as do so many people in the broader Peterborough community. We all hope that their Trent years, like those of the four decades of students before them, will mark the beginning of a lifelong affinity to this outstanding university and community.

Trent's emphasis on liberal arts and sciences is the best method of equipping tomorrow's leaders with necessary skills: to think quickly and creatively, communicate clearly, and contribute both independently and as a team member. Since 1964, Trent has readied more than 21,000 graduates to participate in various communities of interest both in this region and worldwide.

While Trent is renowned for the calibre of its education in the sciences, humanities and social sciences, perhaps less is known about the tremendous research efforts we are championing. Day or night, on campus and around the globe, Trent researchers are involved in studies that are literally changing the world. That means enhanced opportunities for Trent students, who often play an active, hands-on role in the research endeavour. It also means that we are an important part of the innovation network critical for a prosperous future in a knowledge-based economy.

Projects are as varied as the number of faculty, and include:

Assessing water quality in Canada and abroad
Globalization and its effects on democracy
Unraveling the mysteries of sleep
Perfecting technology to rid the earth of landmines
Understanding and dealing with sexual assault
Developing an economic history of Canada from 1600 to 1939
Protection of forests and other natural habitat

The Government of Canada recently recognized Trent University's outstanding research record with the allocation of up to eight research chairs under a new federal program called the Canada Research Chairs. These eight positions represent $6.7 million in new funding for Trent academics over the next five years. This is a remarkable achievement for a small university and testimony to the extraordinary quality of faculty research and scholarship at Trent.

Trent has close links in research and job training with industries, community-based organizations, government agencies and sister educational institutions both in the region and beyond. For example Trent, with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, has created a collaborative research program on campus which focuses on science in aquatic and terrestrial environments. This unique partnership benefits Trent students through expanding the scope of research in the sciences, giving access to the special expertise of MNR scientists and policy makers, and providing employment opportunities.

Both the Watershed Science Centre and the Oliver Ecological Centre are unique interdisciplinary and inter-institutional alliances for science, facility sharing, expert consultation, management services, training and technology transfer on watershed ecosystem management, health, protection and rehabilitation.

The Trent Centre for Community Based Education (TCCBE) provides opportunities for students, faculty and local organizations to pool their resources and work together on community-inspired projects that enhance the social and economic health of our community while providing practical research experience for students.

The other exciting news from Trent is the facelift that will be taking place over the next few years on our Symons Campus. The impetus for these changes comes from a Capital Development Strategy that was approved in November 1999 and given a boost last May when the provincial government announced that Trent would receive $26.23 million from the SuperBuild Growth Fund.

Our Build 2000 Program involves primarily the design and construction/renovation of three major components of our physical plant:

Science facilities First Peoples House of Learning/humanities/college facilities Residence and conference facilities

Our five-year capital development strategy responds to a range of opportunities and challenges facing Trent today and in the next few years. These new developments will also mean we are able to plan for our share of anticipated university system growth due to improved student participation rates and the double-cohort resulting from secondary school reforms.

Under this strategy, Trent will achieve teaching space and updated facilities for between 1,100 and 1,400 more undergraduate students. We will also retire $16 million in deferred maintenance, representing half of the overall accumulated deferred maintenance of the university.

Diligence on our part and broad-based community and government support will ensure a bright academic and fiscally sound future.

Learn what's new at Trent by visiting our Web site at www.trentu.ca, or call us to arrange a campus visit.