University of Ottawa The University of Ottawa ( uOttawa or U of O ) ( ) is a bilingual public research university in Ottawa , Ontario , Canada . The main campus is located on in the residential neighbourhood of Sandy Hill , adjacent to Ottawa ' s Rideau Canal . The University offers a wide variety of academic programs , administered by ten faculties . It is a member of the U15 , a group of research - intensive universities in Canada . The University of Ottawa was first established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa Joseph - Bruno Guigues ( French priest ) . Placed under the direction of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate , it was renamed the College of Ottawa in 1861 and received university status five years later through royal charter . On 5 February 1889 , the University was granted a pontifical charter by Pope Leo XIII , elevating the institution to a pontifical university . The University was reorganized on 1 July 1965 as a corporation , independent from any outside body or religious organization . As a result , the civil and pontifical charters were kept by the newly created Saint Paul University , federated with the University . The remaining civil faculties were retained by the reorganized University . The University is co - educational and enrolls over 40 , 000 students , nearly 35 , 000 undergraduate and over 6 , 000 post - graduate students . The University has more than 167 , 000 alumni . The University ' s athletic teams are known as the Gee - Gees and are members of Canadian Interuniversity Sport . History . The University was established on 26 September 1848 as the College of Bytown by the first Roman Catholic bishop of Ottawa , Joseph - Bruno Guigues . He entrusted administration to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate . The college was originally located in Lower Town , housed in a wooden building next to the Notre - Dame Cathedral Basilica . However , space quickly became an issue for administrators , triggering two moves in 1852 and a final move to Sandy Hill in 1856 . The Sandy Hill property was donated by Louis - Theodore Besserer , where he offered a substantial parcel from his estate for the college . The college was renamed College of Ottawa in 1861 , following the city ' s name change from Bytown to Ottawa . In 1866 , the college received its first charter , as well as university status , making it the final institution in Canada to receive a Royal Charter from London before the British North America Act , 1867 made education a provincial responsibility . By 1872 the University had already begun to confer undergraduate degrees , with master ' s degrees coming in 1875 and doctoral degrees in 1888 . On 5 February 1889 , the University was granted a pontifical charter from Pope Leo XIII , elevating the University to a pontifical university . The University faced a crisis when fire destroyed the main building on 2 December 1903 . After the fire , the University hired New York architect A . O . Von Herbulis to design its replacement , Tabaret Hall . It was among the first Canadian structures to be completely fireproof , built of reinforced concrete . Women first enrolled in 1919 . A few weeks after the start of the Second World War , a Canadian Officer Training Corp was established at the University , with training beginning on in January 1940 . An air force training corp was created in 1942 and a naval training corp in 1943 . Participation in one of the three corps became mandatory for all students over 18 , although they were not obliged to participate in the actual war . During this time , the Royal Canadian Air Force used parts of the University ' s grounds for training and the University constructed barracks to house members of the Canadian Women ' s Army Corps . In total 1 , 158 students and alumni of the University enrolled the Canadian Forces during the war , losing 50 killed in action . The University was reorganized on 1 July 1965 as a corporation independent from any outside body or religious organization , becoming publicly funded . As a result , the civil and pontifical charters were transferred to the newly created Saint Paul University , federated with the corporation , while the remaining civil faculties were retained by the reorganized University . In 1974 , a new policy mandated by the Government of Ontario strengthened institutional bilingualism at the University , with specific instructions to further bilingualism and biculturalism and preserve and develop French culture . In 1989 , Dr . Wilbert Keon of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute performed the country ' s first neonatal artificial heart transplant on an 11 - day - old baby . On November 11 , 1998 , during the University of Ottawa ' s 150th anniversary celebrations , two War memorial plaques were unveiled in the foyer of Tabaret Hall which honour 1000 graduates of the University community who took part in armed conflict , especially the list of 50 graduates who lost their lives . Facilities . The University ' s main campus lies within the neighbourhood of Sandy Hill . The main campus is bordered to the north by the ByWard Market district , to the east by Sandy Hill ' s residential area and to the southwest and west by Nicholas Street , which runs adjacent to the Rideau Canal on the western half of the University . As of the 2010 - 2011 academic year , the main campus occupied , though the University owns and manages other properties throughout the city , raising the University ' s total extent to . The main campus moved two times before settling in its final location in 1856 . When the institution was first founded , the campus was located next to the Notre - Dame Cathedral Basilica . With space a major issue in 1852 , the campus moved to a location presently across from the National Gallery of Canada . In 1856 , the institution moved to its present location . The buildings at the University vary in age , from 100 Laurier ( 1893 ) to 120 University ( Faculty of Social Sciences , 2012 ) . In 2011 the average age of buildings was 63 . In the 2011 - 2012 academic year , the University owned and managed 30 main buildings , 806 research laboratories , 301 teaching laboratories and 257 classrooms and seminar rooms . The main campus is presently divided between its older Sandy Hill campus and its Lees campus , purchased in 2007 . While Lees Campus is not adjacent to Sandy Hill , it is displayed as part of the main campus on school maps . Lees campus , within walking distance of Sandy Hill , was originally a satellite campus owned by Algonquin College . Libraries and museum . The University of Ottawa Libraries include six campus libraries that house more than 4 . 5 million titles in monograph and electronic form as of 2013 . The main library is in Morisset Hall , houses the Media Resources , the Archives and Special Collections and the Geographic , Statistical and Government Information . The University has five other specialized libraries , Brian Dickson Law Library located in Fauteux Hall , the Health Sciences Library located at the Roger Guindon campus , the Management Library located in the Desmarais building , the Music Library located in Perez Hall and the Annex – an off - site storage facility to house less - used portions of the collection . The University of Ottawa Museum of Classical Antiquities was established in 1975 as a teaching collection , operated by the Department of Classical and Religious Studies . Composed of artifacts which reflect daily life during the period from the 7th century BC to the 7th century AD , the permanent collection is enhanced by touring exhibitions . Housing and student facilities . Although most students live off - campus , the University has seven student residences : Brooks , Le Blanc Hall , Marchand Hall , Stanton , Thompson Hall , Hyman Soloway and 90 University . The university offers a variety of housing options . Four of the seven residences are conventional single and double bedrooms . Brooks and Hyman Soloway are 2 - 4 bedroom apartment - styled residences , while 90 University is a two bedroom suite - styled residence . In September 2010 , 26 . 2 percent of first - year students lived on campus , part of the 8 . 8 percent of the overall undergraduate population which lived on campus . Residents are represented by the Residents ' Association of the University of Ottawa ( RAUO ) . With a mandate to help improve the quality of life in residences , each building elects a representative to the association . The RAUO also provides a political representation on the behalf of the residents . Buildings may collect a small fee , known as the floor fund to pay for the group . The Jock Turcot University Centre ( UCU ) is the centre of student life and programming . Located between Montpetit Hall and Morisett Library , the centre was completed in 1973 at a cost of over C $ 6 million . Funding for the centre was partially offset by the Jock Turcot University Fund , which was set up by the student body . The centre was named after former student federation president Jock Turcot , who was killed in a traffic collision in 1965 . The University has over thirty five dining outlets . This includes several major restaurant chains . Off campus facilities . Off - campus faculties are located throughout Ottawa . The University owns and operates another campus located in Ottawa ' s Riverview neighbourhood , known as the Health Science or Alta Vista campus . Located on Smyth Road , the Health Science campus is . The campus primarily serves the Faculty of Medicine as well as hosting programs for the Faculty of Health Sciences . Roger Guidon Hall serves as the primary building for students at the campus . The Health Science campus is located in between The Ottawa Hospital and the Children ' s Hospital of Eastern Ontario , both of which are university - affiliated . Many of the hospital ' s health professionals and researchers teach in the Faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences . Medical and health sciences students learn on the job at The Ottawa Hospital . The University operates the Centre for Executive Leadership at the World Exchange Plaza . Located on O ' Connor Street in Downtown Ottawa , the centre is primarily used by the Telfer School of Management ' s Executive Master of Business Administration program . The centre includes one amphitheatre - style classroom , seven case rooms for team meetings , collaborative work and / or independent study and conference and boardroom spaces . Sustainability . The Office of Campus Sustainability , established in 2006 , coordinates , promotes and implementes sustainable development activities . The Office of Campus Sustainability is headed by the Sustainable Development Committee . Membership of the committee comprises administrators , students , community groups and the City of Ottawa . Along with the other members of the Council of Ontario Universities , the University of Ottawa signed a pledge in November 2009 known as " Ontario Universities Committed to a Greener World " , with the objective of transforming its campus into a model of environmental responsibility . The University is a signatory of the Talloires Declaration . Several programs from the university placed in the 2011 Corporate Knights rankings , which measures how well Canadian universities integrate sustainability into their curriculum . Telfer School of Management ranked fifth in Canada for undergraduate business programs . The Corporate Knights also ranked Telfer eighth in Canada for MBA program . The University of Ottawa has implemented a variety of activities in order to increase sustainability across campus . The university has been working on creating a more sustainable campus through the efforts of the Office of Campus Sustainability . One of the main programs occurring at the University of Ottawa to promote waste reduction is RecycleMania . RecycleMania is a competition among colleges and universities that occurs within a 10 - week period of time . Each school is to report their trash and recycling data which are then ranked according to the largest quantity of recyclables . The purpose of this competition is to see who has the highest recycling rate . As results fluctuate among competitors , schools get more enticed to keep reducing waste . In 2011 , the University of Ottawa was awarded first place among Canadian universities in the RecycleMania competition . The university also ranked 14th out of 180 universities in the “ waste minimization ” category in the international RecycleMania competition . The RecyleMania program will continue to encourage and inform University of Ottawa students on how to change their consumption habits as well as recycle . One of the newer programs initiated by the University of Ottawa is the Free Store . The Free Store is a location in which students can drop off items they no longer want and pick up items they do want for free . The reason this was created was to reduce consumption by offering free items to students who no longer want items that may be used by someone else . Items that are dropped off include clothing , textbooks , electronics , and office supplies . The Free Store is located at 647 King Edward . On September 1 , 2010 , the University of Ottawa no longer sold bottled water on campus and created a bottled water ban in order to reduce plastic consumption , and encourage students to carry reusable water bottles and use campus water fountains . The new Social Sciences Building at the University of Ottawa is the university ’ s latest green initiative . The fifteen - storey building that took about four years of planning and construction to complete opened its doors in September 2012 . The University of Ottawa has also introduced a Bike Share program to encourage cycling to and from school . The university offers free bicycle rentals and access to free maintenance and repair workshops . The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education ( AASHE ) provides various activities that attempt to increase sustainability practices among individuals and institutions , promote resource sharing , and make sustainable practices a norm within higher education institutions . The Sustainability Tracking , Assessment and Rating System ( STARS ) , created by AASHE , was designed to provide guidelines for better understanding of sustainability and build a more sustainable community throughout university campuses . It is a way for universities and colleges to measure their sustainability efforts . The program compares higher education facilities ’ sustainability initiatives and ranks them based on their efforts . In 2011 , the University of Ottawa received a silver star by the STARS program . The Office of Campus Sustainability continues to create various events and programs to promote sustainability among students at the University of Ottawa . They are responsible for informing students of all initiatives and programs put forth by the University . Eco - friendly initiatives are growing rapidly at the University of Ottawa with the help of the office . Administration . Governance is conducted through the Board of Governors and the Senate , whose roles were established by the University of Ottawa Act , 1965 . The Act describes their membership and powers , as well as their principal officers . The Board provides overall governance and management and management , including financial decisions and the implementation of policies and procedures . The Board consists of an executive committee which includes the Chair of the Board and the Vice - Chair and Chair of the Executive Committee . As stipulated by the Act , the Board comprises no more than 32 members , appointed or elected by the various parts of the University community . While not stipulated in the Act , the Board ' s membership includes elected undergraduate and graduate student representatives . The Board includes one honorary member , the current chancellor . The Senate sets educational policies and the management of academic issues . Such powers include the ability to create and abolish faculties , departments , schools and institutes , academic regulations , admission standards , degree and diploma requirements . It confers certificates , degrees at all levels and with the approval of the Board , honorary doctorates . The Senate consists of 72 members including president , who acts as its Chair . Other members of the Senate , as mentioned in the Act , include the Chancellor , the President , Vice - Presidents and the dean of each faculty , including those of federated universities . While not outlined in the Act , the Senate includes students from each faculty . As stipulated in the Act , the Chancellor is the University ' s titular head and is accorded a place of honour at commencement exercises and other functions and may preside at examinations . The Chancellor is appointed by the Board with the concurrence of the Senate and holds the office for one or more four - year terms . As of 2012 , the Chancellor was Michaëlle Jean , appointed on 1 February 2012 . The President is the chief executive officer and chairman of the Senate with the responsibility of managing the direction of academic work and general administration , teaching staff , officers , servants and students . The President is appointed by the Board and continues until the Board votes otherwise . The office was first referred to as Superior until the University received a pontifical charter , when the name changed to Rector in 1889 . In 2004 , the English title of Rector was replaced with President . Finances . Net assets as of 30 April 2011 stood at $ 904 . 071 million . The University completed the 2010 – 2011 year with revenues of $ 861 . 576 million , expenses of $ 810 . 051 million and an excess of revenues over expenses of $ 41 . 466 million . The largest single source of revenue originates from operating grants , valued at $ 369 . 801 million for the 2011 - 2012 academic year . The second - largest source of revenue that year was tuition fees , which reached $ 264 . 792 million . As of 30 April 2011 , its endowment was valued at $ 164 . 51 million . The University was registered as an educational charitable organization in Canada on 1 January 1967 . As of 2011 , the University was registered primarily as a post - secondary institution . The University ' s Institutional Research and Planning department estimated that its students , staff , visitors and the institution itself brought in an estimated total of $ 4 . 12 billion into the local economy in 2011 . Academics . This research university is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada . It functions on a semester system , operating fall / winter and spring / summer sessions . Undergraduate programs comprise the majority of the school ' s enrolment , serving 33 , 917 full - time and part - time undergraduate students . Excluding Saint Paul , the University conferred 4 , 922 bachelor degrees , 177 doctoral degrees , 1 , 273 master degrees and 1 , 914 first professional degrees in 2011 . Bilingualism . As of 2012 , the University was the world ' s largest English - French bilingual university . The University is one of the three bilingual universities in Ontario that is not federated with a larger university . Since its inception the University has seen itself as fostering English - French bilingualism . However , bilingualism was only made an official university policy in 1974 when the Government of Ontario passed " An Act respecting Université d ' Ottawa " through the Legislative Assembly of Ontario . The Act specifically states that the University must further bilingualism and biculturalism and preserve and develop French culture in Ontario . The Act states that bilingualism must be shown in its programmes , its central administration , its general services , the internal administration of its faculties and schools , its teaching staff , its support staff and its student population . The University operates the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute ( OLBI ) . The OLBI was officially opened on 1 July 2007 , replacing its predecessor , the Second Language Institute . Both institutes promoted English - French bilingualism , although the OLBI holds an expanded mandate , to strengthen research , innovation and outreach efforts in official languages and bilingualism . The University is a member of the Association of Universities of the Canadian Francophonie , an association which promotes post - secondary education and research in French . While the University maintains bilingualism as an official policy , students need not be bilingual . Instead , most courses and programs are offered in both languages . As of September 2011 , the percentage of students who used French as their primary language of education was at 31 . 1 percent , while the number of students which use English as their primary language for education was 68 . 7 percent . As of March 2009 , 68 . 6 percent of professors in bilingual positions were considered to be actively bilingual , while bilingual staff comprised 91 . 5 percent . Reputation . The university has consistently been ranked one of Canada ' s top universities . In the 2012 - 2013 Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed the University 171st in the world and seventh overall in Canada . According to the 2011 Academic Ranking of World Universities ( ARWU ) rankings , the University ranked 201 - 300th in the world . The 2011 QS World University Rankings ranked the University 256th in the world . In " Maclean ' s " University Rankings , which takes a measure of the " undergraduate experience " of Canadian Universities , ranked the school 10th in their 2011 Medical Doctoral peer grouping . The University stopped participating in Maclean ' s graduate survey in 2006 . Telfer is accredited by all three of the largest business school accreditation associations as of 2009 , the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business , the Association of MBAs and the European Quality Improvement System . The school is one of only three business schools in Canada to gain triple accreditation . The Maclean ' s 2012 ranking of law schools placed the University 11th in Canada . In the 2011 QS ranking of law programs , the University ranked 51 - 100 in the world , tied for 7th in Canada . In the ARWU ' s 2012 rankings for the field of clinical medicine and pharmacy , the university ranked 151 - 200th in the world . In the 2012 rankings of the top engineering schools in the world by Business Insider , the University ranked 44th , third in Canada . Research . Research at the University of Ottawa is managed through the Office of the Vice - President , Research . The University operates 40 research centres and institutes including the Ottawa Health Research Institute and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute . The University is a member of the U15 , a group of research - intensive universities in Canada . Research Infosource ranked the University Canada ' s ninth most research intensive school for 2011 , with 2010 sponsored research income of $ 273 . 278 million , averaging $ 213 , 300 per faculty member . The largest is the federal government , providing $ 142 . 8 million in 2010 . This was followed by the provincial government , which provided $ 31 . 2 million and the corporate / private sector which provides $ 25 . 8 million in research funding . In terms of research performance , High Impact Universities 2010 ranked the University 180th in the world and ninth in Canada . In the same rankings , Ottawa ranked 98th in the world and seventh in Canada in the field of medicine , pharmacology and health sciences . In 2012 , the Higher Education Strategy Associates , another organization which also ranks universities based off their research strength , ranked the university fourth nationally in the fields of social sciences and humanities . Co - operative Education . The University of Ottawa ’ s Cooperative education Program is an optional program which presents students with excellent work experiences and other various benefits the program has to offer . The program is offered for both undergraduate programs and certain graduate programs . The program was first introduced to the school over 30 years ago , in the year 1980 . The University of Ottawa ' s co - operative program has expanded very quickly since its creation and now stands as the second largest program in Ontario with a placement success rate of over 98 percent . The co - operative education program is designed to generally have students work full - time during altering semesters , in their area of study . One work term generally lasts 15 or 16 weeks . Every work term is a paid work term where students ’ pay varies on the program of study related to their job ; however , student pay can range anywhere from 400 - 700 dollars per week . In addition to the hands - on experience students may acquire through this program , the Co - op Program at the University of Ottawa can further offer a range of services to the students such as : one on one consultations concerning resume or cover letter reviews , various workshops , and numerous training possibilities for different purposes such as for interview preparation and work term success . The University of Ottawa ’ s Co - op Program claims to offer excellent experiences to students as the program maintains “ regular contacts with over 4000 active private - and public - sector employers throughout the year ” . The University of Ottawa ’ s Co - op Program has five fees , with prices varying each year . There is a fee issued for each work term and an additional free which is paid when the student accepts the co - op offer for the training and support provided by staff leading up to the work terms . The fees go towards the preparation and training of students , allowing them to develop a better understanding of the job market , resume reviews , and extensive preparation for interviews and jobs . Each year , about a thousand students are accepted into the University of Ottawa Co - op Program . However , this number is a rough estimate because it is based upon job availability and is thus altered every year . Students are accepted into the program through their academic achievement . Based upon this , there are general requirements one must follow in order to successfully apply and be considered for the co - op program at the University of Ottawa . In order to keep a reserved Co - op spot , a student must maintain an 8 . 0 average throughout their first year . Although for some programs it may vary , generally a student is able to apply for the co - op program at the beginning of their second year of study ; in order to begin their first work term the summer before their third year of study . The minimum CGPA required for applying to most undergraduate programs is a 6 . 0 . For graduate students , the minimum CGPA is a 7 . 0 . In order to be eligible for a co - op program at the University of Ottawa , a student must be considered a full - time student and maintain the requirements for their program of study as well . Furthermore , depending on the chosen program of study , one needs to complete certain required mandatory courses beforehand . Lastly , many programs require that a student be a Canadian citizen , permanent resident , or an international student with authorization or a permit allowing them to work . The University of Ottawa ’ s Co - op Program is available for a wide range of programs for undergraduate students . Co - operative programs are offered in English and in French for certain programs . There are various programs offered in the following faculties : arts , social sciences , engineering , science and law . The faculty of arts offers the option of co - op for the following programs : communications , lettres Français , English , environmental studies , geography , history , and translation , along with the option of combining two programs in cases where a student is completing a joint honours program ( i . e . sociology and communications ) . The faculty of social sciences offers co - op options for the following programs : anthropology , sociology , human rights , conflict studies , economics , political science , international development and globalization , public policy , and public administration . In the faculties of arts and social sciences , work terms usually begin in the second summer of a student ’ s studies ( where a student is done second year and entering third ) with the exception of the translation program where the first work term begins the summer before a student ’ s fourth year . Each program offers specific conditions that a student must meet in order to participate in his or her placement . For the science and engineering faculties , the co - op programs offered are : chemical engineering , mechanical engineering , civil engineering , computer engineering , computer science , electrical engineering , software engineering , other various engineering programs , biomedical science , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , earth sciences , physics , environmental science , statistics , and other various science programs . All the engineering programs offered at the University of Ottawa begin during the summer before a student ’ s third year . However , the science faculty ’ s programs offer different starting points for the different programs mentioned above . The University of Ottawa ’ s co - op ’ s page offers a more detailed view on these starting points . The option of completing a work term abroad is also a possibility through the University of Ottawa ’ s Co - op program . Although there may not be as many job opportunities abroad directly presented , the opportunity still remains . However , most of the work terms abroad are discovered by students themselves , outside of the co - op program . Typically , the requirements remain the same as for the co - op program itself . In certain cases , additional features may be considered . If one is considering working abroad there are information sessions held to further inform students at the University of Ottawa on work term abroad possibilities . The sessions outline what students should expect , various costs of living abroad , and the challenges they may come across . Furthermore , if a student chooses to pursue a work term abroad , the University of Ottawa ’ s Co - op Program offers further assistance right up to the departure date in order to ensure student success . Services offered may include meeting with a professional development specialist in order to compose a job - finding strategy , learn various success strategies , and work towards having everything ready before the departure date . In addition , training can be offered to help prepare students with an idea of what to expect , necessary documents , and further information on the work they will be completing and the country students may be traveling to . The University of Ottawa ' s Co - op Program may provide students with a wide range of benefits . In addition to relevant work experience students acquire from the provided work terms , other benefits may arise from choosing the co - operative education program . For example , students can begin to build a network of contacts throughout their co - op work terms . Furthermore , students learn more about resume building and develop strong techniques for successful interviews . This can lead to a student ' s increased ability to find a job more easily after graduation . Due to their work experience , students may hold a stronger advantage in the job market . In addition , many students may struggle with paying for tuition fees , thus , the University of Ottawa ' s Co - op Program provides a solution by offering the opportunity for students to earn an income throughout their studies . The University of Ottawa ' s Co - op Program ' s staff is composed of experienced and friendly specialists who are dedicated to help students reach their goals . It is with these benefits and many others tied into the program for which numerous students choose to participate in co - operative education programs such as the ones offered at the University of Ottawa . Admission . Admission requirements differ between students from Ontario , other provinces in Canada and international students , due to the lack of uniformity in marking schemes . The admissions office maintains that an admission rate of at least 70 percent is required , although the rate may increase based on the popularity of a program . The 2010 secondary school rate for full - time first - year students , including Saint Paul was 82 . 1 percent . The retention rate for first - time , full - time first year students in 2009 was 86 . 1 percent . Students may apply for financial aid such as the Ontario Student Assistance Program and Canada Student Loans and Grants through the federal and provincial governments . Aid may come in the form of loans , grants , bursaries , scholarships , fellowships , debt reduction , interest relief and work programs . In 2011 - 2012 , the University provided $ 71 . 458 million in financial aid and scholarships . Student life . The two main student unions on administrative and policy issues are the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa ( SFUO ) for all undergraduate students and the Graduate Students ' Association des étudiant . e . s diplômé . e . s ( GSAÉD ) for graduate students . In addition , most faculties have student representative bodies . Resident students are represented by the Residents ’ Association of the University of Ottawa . More than 175 student organizations and clubs are officially accredited by the student union , covering interests such as academics , culture , religion , social issues and recreation . Many of them center on the student activity centre . Two non - profit , independent student newspapers publish at the University . The Fulcrum publishes in English and is a member of the Canadian University Press , while La Rotonde publishes in French . Campus radio station CHUO - FM ( 89 . 1 FM ) , Canada ’ s second - oldest , began broadcasting in 1984 . The SFUO recognizes three fraternities ; Sigma Chi , Sigma Alpha Mu and Omega Theta Alpha ; and eight sororities , Delta Delta Delta , Kappa Zeta Psi , Nu Sigma Pi , Omega Phi Sigma , Sigma Beta Phi , Sigma Psi Alpha , Xi Delta Theta , and Zeta Theta Xi . Athletics . Athletics and student recreation at the University are managed by Sports Services . Varsity teams compete in either Ontario University Athletics or Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec conference of Canadian Interuniversity Sport , varying by team . The University hosts 29 competitive clubs , including 11 varsity . The first athletic group at the University was formed in 1885 , with garnet and grey becoming the official team colours . Shortly thereafter , garnet and grey became the official colours of the University . Varsity team ' s names are a play on the initials of the colours . Varsity teams did not immediately adopt a name , leading others to refer to them by their colours . Ottawa sports media referred to the teams as " GG " for the teams and eventually the shorthand became official . Because the term gee gee also describes the lead horse in a race , that animal became their mascot . The University owns and operates three athletic facilities on the University ' s two campuses . Montpetit Hall and Minto Sports Complex are located on the main campus and another is located on Lees . The Minto Sports Complex houses the University ' s arena ice rinks , which seat 840 . All facilities are shared with both recreational users , as well as varsity teams . The University planned a new 3 , 500 seat stadium for its varsity football team for the 2012 CIS football season . The new stadium is due to the extensive renovations taking place at their former arena , Frank Clair Stadium and the adjacent Lansdowne Park , both of which belong to the City of Ottawa . As is mandatory for Canadian Interuniversity Sport , the University does not provide full - ride athletic scholarships . On the recreational level , the University ' s Sports Services operates intramural sport leagues and tournaments with a participation rate of 1 of 8 students . Sports include badminton , volleyball , basketball , swimming , soccer and martial arts . Notable people and alumni . Graduates have found success in many fields , serving as the heads of diverse institutions in both public and private sectors . As of 18 October 2011 , the University has 167 , 224 alumni . Faculty and graduates have accumulated numerous awards including Governor General ' s Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction . Recipients of the Governor General ' s Award include Michel Bock , Christl Verduyn and Pulitzer Prize winner Carol Shields . Chancellors have previously held positions such as Governor General of Canada , Viceregal consort of Canada . Examples include , Pauline Vanier , 46th Viceregal consort of Canada , Gabrielle Léger , the 48th Viceregal consort of Canada , Maurice Sauvé , the 50th Viceregal consort of Canada , and Michaëlle Jean , the 27th Governor General of Canada . Two former heads of government attended the University , including Edward Morris , 1st Baron Morris , the 2nd Prime Minister of Newfoundland , and Paul Martin , the 24th Prime Minister of Canada . Premiers include Paul Okalik , 1st Premier of Nunavut , and Dalton McGuinty , 24th Premier of Ontario . Five graduates became puisine justices , with one moving on to become a Chief Justice of Canada . Puisne Justices include Louise Arbour , Michel Bastarache , Louise Charron , Louis LeBel and Gérald Fauteux . Fauteux would later become a Chief Justice of Canada . Prominent business leaders include Daniel Lamarre , president and CEO of Cirque du Soleil , Paul Desmarais , chairman of the Power Corporation of Canada , André Desmarais , Calin Rovinescu , President and CEO of Air Canada , and André Ouellet , Postmaster General of Canada , CEO and president of Canada Post .