Brescia University was founded by the Catholic religious order, more unknown factsBrescia University was founded by the Catholic religious order, more unknown facts

Canada’s 104-year-running women’s university, Brescia University is fully integrating with Western University starting May 2024. The president of Brescia University, Lauretta Frederking, commented, “Today’s agreement is about meeting the present needs of students, with an eye to the future,” she continued by saying, “We are now at a point where women make up the majority of post-secondary learners in Canada and there is an equally important need to adapt to new realities, including the underrepresentation of equity-deserving groups in our post-secondary institutions.”

“This agreement will better position us to enhance educational outcomes for students with the greatest needs,” said Frederking.

Brescia was founded in 1919 to bridge gaps in women’s education at the time. The founders of the university were the Catholic Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint who expanded education and Catholic institutions across southwestern Ontario.

Brescia University offers a varied range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is known for its strong liberal arts curriculum, but it also offers programs in fields such as business, education, nursing, and more. Being a Catholic university, Brescia also incorporates Catholic teachings and values into its academic programs and campus life. It often hosts events and activities which relate to faith and spirituality.  

Brescia places a significant emphasis on service learning. Many of its academic programs incorporate community service and experiential learning as part of the curriculum. This commitment to service aligns with the university's Catholic values.

Brescia University, soon to be a part of Western University offers personalized attention from the faculty members. The students get more time with their professors which leads to an intimate and engaging learning experience. 

Brescia University follows a different version of the academic calendar than other universities. Brescia follows a unique calendar known as the “12-3 Calendar.” The said calendar features two traditional 15-week semesters and a 12-week summer term. This scheduling allows for more flexibility in course offerings and pace.

Though the student size of the campus is quite low in the number, Brescia has a very dedicated alumni network that keeps in touch with the university and supports current students through mentoring, guiding, and networking opportunities

The university also has a very unique mascot. The university’s mascot is a bearcat which is a very rare mascot as most colleges have lions, and eagles or bears as their mascot.