Technical University of Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
The Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS) was a university
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
, Canada
until it became part of Dalhousie University
in 1997. It was formerly the Nova Scotia Technical College and is today the Sexton Campus of Dalhousie University.
In the early 1900s, at the request of the province of Nova Scotia
, Dr. Frederick Sexton laid the plans for the current system and roles of "associated universities" in engineering education in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
, and New Brunswick
. He also founded the Nova Scotia Technical College (NSTC), where students pursued their senior engineering and graduate years - typically the last 2–3 years of undergraduate engineering, after doing the initial two years at one of the associated universities. Dr. Sexton served as the first principal, and later president, of NSTC from 1907 to 1947.
Dr. Frederick Sexton's wife, May Sexton, was a suffragette
who worked for women to become eligible for technical education.
Circa 1980, NSTC became the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS). The provincial government forced TUNS to amalgamate
with Dalhousie University
in April 1997. For several years the former TUNS faculties formed a college called Dalhousie University Polytechnic (nicknamed DalTech) but in 2001 the college structure was dissolved and the faculties simply became part of Dalhousie University.
Today, the TUNS campus is known as the Sexton Campus of Dalhousie University. It includes the Faculty of Engineering
and the Faculty of Architecture
and Planning
. The TUNS School of Computer Science was merged with Dalhousie's after the 1997 amalgamation to become the Faculty of Computer Science
. Computer Science moved into a new building on the Studley Campus in 1999.
In addition to the Sexton Campus, there are two buildings and a prestigious scholarship named after Dr. Sexton.
Currently the associated universities program is being reviewed. Mount Allison University
has already removed itself from the program (as of 1998) and Dalhousie would like to standardize the engineering program for all 4–5 years of the undergraduate degree at its Sexton Campus, similar to the way in which engineering is being offered at the University of New Brunswick
and Memorial University of Newfoundland
, as well as others across Canada.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
until it became part of Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in 1997. It was formerly the Nova Scotia Technical College and is today the Sexton Campus of Dalhousie University.
In the early 1900s, at the request of the province of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Dr. Frederick Sexton laid the plans for the current system and roles of "associated universities" in engineering education in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, and New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. He also founded the Nova Scotia Technical College (NSTC), where students pursued their senior engineering and graduate years - typically the last 2–3 years of undergraduate engineering, after doing the initial two years at one of the associated universities. Dr. Sexton served as the first principal, and later president, of NSTC from 1907 to 1947.
Dr. Frederick Sexton's wife, May Sexton, was a suffragette
Suffragette
"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
who worked for women to become eligible for technical education.
Circa 1980, NSTC became the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS). The provincial government forced TUNS to amalgamate
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
with Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in April 1997. For several years the former TUNS faculties formed a college called Dalhousie University Polytechnic (nicknamed DalTech) but in 2001 the college structure was dissolved and the faculties simply became part of Dalhousie University.
Today, the TUNS campus is known as the Sexton Campus of Dalhousie University. It includes the Faculty of Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and the Faculty of Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and Planning
Planning
Planning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
. The TUNS School of Computer Science was merged with Dalhousie's after the 1997 amalgamation to become the Faculty of Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
. Computer Science moved into a new building on the Studley Campus in 1999.
In addition to the Sexton Campus, there are two buildings and a prestigious scholarship named after Dr. Sexton.
Currently the associated universities program is being reviewed. Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
has already removed itself from the program (as of 1998) and Dalhousie would like to standardize the engineering program for all 4–5 years of the undergraduate degree at its Sexton Campus, similar to the way in which engineering is being offered at the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
and Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
, as well as others across Canada.