January 25, 2010

Ryerson University at a Glance

(Based on 2009-10 unless otherwise noted)

• Ryerson University is Canada’s leader for innovative career-focused education
• Located in downtown Toronto, Ryerson is a distinctly urban university with a mission to serve societal need and a long-standing commitment to engaging its community
• Ryerson’s professionally relevant curriculum and associated research anchored in real-world issues
• Close to 100 PhD, master’s and undergraduate programs offered in 2009/2010
• Ryerson is in demand. For September 2010 Ryerson has more first choice and total applications, relative to spaces available, than any other Ontario university
• First choice applications to Ryerson have increased an average of 9.36 percent over the last five years, compared to a system average increase of 4.6 percent
• The University is guided by a bold new Academic Plan, an ambitious research agenda, and a dynamic Master Plan to revitalize the campus and surrounding neighbourhood

Students

• Total student population:  Approximately 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, including almost 2,000 master’s and PhD students
• Ryerson’s student body is one of the most culturally diverse in Canada: Undergraduate students represent almost 146 countries around the world
• Total residence spaces: 840.  Cost of residence rooms and meal plans: $8,972 to $11,132
• 95.8% of graduates report employment two years after graduation

Student Financial Assistance

In 2008-09 Ryerson University distributed $20.4M in all forms of student financial assistance: $18M for bursaries and scholarships and $2.4M for work study and research assistants. 

Tuition

• Undergraduate: $4,775 (Arts & Science) to $6,427 (Engineering)
• Undergraduate – International: $14,250 to $15,252
• Graduate – Master’s: $4,785 (Communication & Culture) to $13,227 (MBA and Computer Networks)
• Graduate – Master’s – International: $15,390 to $23,814
• Graduate – PhD: $4,785 (Communication & Culture) to $7,706 (Engineering)
• Graduate – International - PhD: $15,390 to $16,472

Faculty and Staff

• Total full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty: 993
• Administrative and support staff:  1,700 

Alumni

• More than 130,000 alumni 

Curriculum

Academic Plan

• Shaping our Future: An Academic Plan 2008-2013 provides direction for Ryerson University’s next period of unprecedented growth.  Five principal priorities are set out in the plan:
  • High quality, societally-relevant undergraduate and graduate programs
  • Student engagement and success
  • Learning and teaching excellence
  • Scholarly, research and creative intensity
  • Reputation

Undergraduate Studies

• Five faculties:
  • Faculty of Arts
  • Faculty of Communication & Design
  • Faculty of Community Services
  • Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Science
  • Ted Rogers School of Management
• Thirteen undergraduate degree programs are unique among Canadian universities: Arts and Contemporary Studies; Biomedical Engineering; Disability Studies; Early Childhood Education; Fashion; Graphic Communications Management; Health Information Management (degree-completion); Health Services Management; Image Arts; International Economics and Finance; Occupational and Public Health (Occupational Health and Safety option); Radio and Television; and Retail Management

School of Graduate Studies

• The School of Graduate Studies was founded in 2000
• Graduate students from 57 countries around the world study at Ryerson
• 9 PhD and 31 master’s programs offered in 2009/2010
• The Master’s of Architecture program at Ryerson is the first new professional program in architecture to be launched in Canada since 1971

G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education

• Canada’s leading provider of university-based adult education offers:
  • more than 1,100 courses, workshops and seminars, including 300 distance education courses
  • 14 part-time degree programs, 77 career-related certificate programs and accreditation programs for 15 professional institutes and associations
• Hub for bridging programs for internationally trained health-care, social work and financial sector professionals  

Research

• Scholarly, research and creative activity is a top strategic priority at Ryerson University and central to its mission
  • More than $21 million in external research funding for 2008-09
  • 12 Canada Research Chairs
• Research at Ryerson University is on a trajectory of success and growth
  • Externally funded research has doubled in the past four years
  • 23% growth in externally funded research 2007 to 2008
  • Ryerson in top half of Canadian non-medical universities for funded research
• Research at Ryerson University provides real world solutions to real world challenges
  • The Research Strategic Plan identifies seven areas of special opportunity: Digital Media, Communication and Information Technology; Energy, Sustainability, and the Environment; Health and Well Being; Cultural Prosperity; Technological Innovation; Management, Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship; and Learning and Teaching Effectiveness
• Major research centres and laboratories include Privacy and Cyber Crime Institute, Law Research Centre, Propulsion Research Facility, Robotics and Manufacturing Automation Lab, Centre for Health in At Risk Populations, Sleep and Depression Lab, HIV Prevention Lab, and the Centre for Studies in Food Security 

Campus and Facilities

• The Ryerson University campus is an urban oasis of 21 acres tightly woven into the heart of downtown Toronto. Vibrant, dynamic RU signage, street banners, gateway and illuminated signage define campus borders and proudly declare Ryerson’s presence in the centre of the city.
• Construction is underway for Ryerson’s new, multi-functional athletic and recreational centre at Maple Leaf Gardens.  The Ryerson University Sports and Recreation Centre will be completed in 2011 and will add nearly 150,000 square feet of sports and recreation space on the upper floors of Maple Leaf Gardens.  It will be accessible by both Ryerson's students and the local community.
• The expansion and renewal of the School of Image Arts (under construction) will create a state-of-the-art facility that will position Ryerson as one of the major schools for new media, documentary media and cutting-edge film and photography research in North America. The building will also be the home of the Ryerson Gallery and Research Centre, which will house the Black Star Collection at Ryerson University, one of the world’s largest and most significant photo archives.
• The new Student Learning Centre (currently in the planning stage) will be a signature, multi-purpose building that will be the gateway on Yonge Street to the University campus. 

Master Plan

• Ryerson’s Master Plan was completed in 2008.  It is a flexible framework for growth and revitalization of the campus and a catalyst for renewal of the surrounding downtown neighbourhood
• Major themes:
  • Intensification, making efficient use of small and valuable urban properties
  • ‘People first,’ with a focus on creating a pedestrian-friendly campus including open green spaces and informal meeting places
  • Design excellence, a commitment to new and inspirational academic and student spaces