60 Years of the Colleges at Trent: A Cornerstone of the Student Experience
Steeped in history and tradition, the colleges have helped students foster a deep sense of belonging, engagement, and purpose with the Trent community
Rooted in the traditions of medieval universities, like Oxford and Cambridge, and inspired by Durham University in the UK, Trent is a champion of the collegiate model as a way to build tight-knit communities within larger institutions.
Integral to Trent's values, the interdisciplinary and communal structure has served as a bedrock since the university’s founding 60 years ago. In 1964, Trent started with just two colleges: Peter Robinson and Traill. As the university grew, more colleges were added including Champlain (1966), Lady Eaton (1968), Otonabee (1972), Julian Blackburn (1974), and Gzowski (2004). With the anticipated opening of Gidigaa Migizi in fall 2028, Trent's tradition of community building, responsible growth, and dedicated student support continues to evolve and flourish.
Today, Trent is home to five colleges, each with its own unique motto, mascot, history, architecture, traditions, events, and personality. Whether it’s Traill’s charming downtown stomping grounds, the colourful quad of Gzowski, the homey den of Lady Eaton, the castle-esque courtyard of Champlain, or the welcoming common space of Otonabee, each college offers students beautifully crafted spaces and experiences to live, learn, and grow.
The Collegiate Advantage
If you ask any of Trent’s thousands of alumni what benefits the colleges offer to the learning experience, you’ll hear a few common themes: a unique, student-centered, community-based learning environment that fosters a deep sense of belonging, engagement, and purpose.
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Sense of Belonging: Being part of a smaller community within the larger university helps ease the transition into university life, foster meaningful connections among students, faculty and staff, and creates a culture of support and collaboration.
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Personalized Support: Colleges offer tailored student supports, providing direct access to mentors and advisors who can help guide them through their academic and personal development.
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Interdisciplinary Learning: The collegiate system fosters an interdisciplinary approach to education, encouraging students from different programs to engage with one another, broadening perspectives and enhancing intellectual development.
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Engagement Opportunities: Through a variety of social programming, community-building events, time-honoured traditions, and leadership opportunities, each college encourages students to engage fully in campus life. The list of extracurriculars features annual celebrations that include scarfing ceremonies and Fall College Weekends. Each College also runs marquee events like Champlain’s Bon Temps Winter Carnival, The Last Lecture hosted by Otonabee, Gzowski’s Alpaca Yoga, LEC’s Seeley Women in Leadership Luncheon, and Traill’s Writers' Reading.
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Lifelong Networks: The bonds forged within the collegiate system create lasting connections and strong alumni networks, providing graduates with a lifelong sense of community and ongoing professional and personal support.
The collegiate system, in its richness and inclusivity, continues to be a cornerstone of Trent, shaping not just scholars, but a community of thinkers and leaders.