Nipissing University

History

North Bay Normal School (1909–1953)

The earliest precursor to Nipissing University was the North Bay Normal School, established in 1909 in North Bay to train teachers for Ontario’s school system. In keeping with the terminology of the time, “normal schools” were institutions dedicated to teacher education and professional training.

North Bay Teachers’ College (1953–1973)

In 1953, the institution was renamed the North Bay Teachers’ College, continuing its mandate of preparing educators for Ontario’s education system. In 1973, the North Bay Teachers’ College was incorporated into Nipissing College as the Faculty of Education, which later became the Schulich School of Education.

Northeastern University (1960–1967)

The roots of Nipissing University date back to 1947, when residents of North Bay formed a committee with the goal of establishing a university within the city. The 1958 Northeastern University Committee continued their efforts in the following years. By 1960, Northeastern University was established and for a short time in 1960–1961, the institution offered first year university courses in Arts, Science, and Commerce in facilities provided by a local Catholic boys' high school. Its application to the Ontario Ministry of Education for a degree-granting university charter was denied on February 28, 1961, and the classes ended shortly thereafter.

By mid-1962, Northeastern University had leased new space on Cassells Street in North Bay and arranged for Laurentian University professors to teach extension night classes there. This arrangement continued through mid-1967, with students receiving credits from Laurentian for the coursework done in these classes.

Nipissing College (1967–1992)

Northeastern University changed its name to Nipissing College and signed an affiliation agreement with Laurentian University in 1967. Students attending Nipissing College in North Bay were also officially students of Laurentian University (headquartered in Sudbury, Ontario, 125 km away) with Laurentian being the degree-granting institution.

In 1972, the College Education Centre officially opened. This building, which is still home to Nipissing University, was shared between multiple other educational institutions including Canadore College, a school of nursing, and a teachers' college. In 1973, the North Bay Teachers' College was incorporated into Nipissing College as the Faculty of Education.

Nipissing University (since 1992)

Nipissing University received its charter as an independent university in 1992, thus allowing the school to grant baccalaureate degrees. On December 12, 2001, the government of Ontario passed a bill revising the university's charter to permit it to grant graduate degrees.

The governance of Nipissing University is modelled on the provincial University of Toronto Act of 1906, which established a bicameral system of university government consisting of a senate (faculty), responsible for academic policy, and a board of governors (citizens) exercising exclusive control over financial policy and having formal authority in all other matters. The president, appointed by the board, is to provide a link between the two bodies and to perform institutional leadership.

Nipissing University continues to expand its research profile as researchers secure growing levels of funding for their work. Students and staff, with the help of The Office of Research Services, can apply for internal research grants or external grants from the three major granting agencies, NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR. Nipissing University receives upwards of $350 000 annually from the Research Support Fund to help manage research endeavours at the school. Research facilities, centres, and laboratories at Nipissing University include:

Central Analytical Facility

Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory

Biomechanics and Ergonomics Laboratory