Awards & recognition
The Acadia Advantage program has won worldwide recognition for the University. This technological infrastructure is unparalleled across Canada and is at the forefront of undergraduate education technology for North America. No other Canadian university has a mobile computing initiative that reaches every undergraduate student. Acadia's achievements recognized both nationally and internationally, are reflected in its academic initiative and its graduates. The following information reflects the achievements made possible through the Acadia Advantage Program.
Smithsonian Institution
The Acadia Advantage program was honoured in April 1999 when Acadia became a laureate of the Smithsonian Institution. The only Canadian institution selected for inclusion in the Education and Academia category of the prestigious Computerworld Smithsonian Award, Acadia's submission is now part of the permanent research collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
Pioneer Award for Ubiquitous Computing
Acadia University was named one of North America's leading post-secondary institutions at the fourth annual Conference on Ubiquitous Computing held in 2001 at Seton Hall University. Acadia received the Pioneer Award that recognizes outstanding commitment to the creation of a successful ubiquitous learning environment. Acadia is the only Canadian university to receive the Pioneer Award.
The Canadian Information Productivity Award
CIPA is Canada's premiere awards program, which celebrates the use of technology in the transformation of organizations. Winners are private and public sector organizations that have designed or implemented innovative solutions to Canadian business problems. Awarded first place in the Best Systems Solutions category in 1997, Acadia was praised as the first university in Canada to fully utilize information technology in the undergraduate curriculum.
National recognition as the best
Acadia University finished in the top three in the Annual University Rankings 2008 released recently by Maclean’s magazine, placing third after Mount Allison University and University of Northern British Columbia in the primarily undergraduate category. It was the highest ranked undergraduate university in Nova Scotia.
“Canada has a host of excellent post-secondary institutions and we are proud to take our place among them,” said Dr. Tom Herman, Acadia’s interim president and vice-chancellor. “Acadia has consistently scored near the top of the Maclean’s rankings since they were introduced 18 years ago. I’m pleased that student engagement is now part of the Maclean’s coverage and that our students are giving Acadia top marks.”
Kyle Steele, president of the Acadia Student Union agrees. “Acadia has continuously demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to its students. From our low student to teacher ratio, modern residence life system, and relationship with the town of Wolfville, Acadia gives every student a unique chance to not only succeed but to make every student experience unique.”
“Achieving third place in Maclean's magazine simply reflects the hard work of everyone on campus who has made Acadia what it is today. Students past, present, and future will always have something to be proud of at Acadia, and this ranking is just another feather in our cap,” says Steele.
The top three finish follows the October release of the Globe and Mail’s, Canadian University Report, which surveyed more than 43,400 undergraduate students about their post-secondary institutions. It is the largest opinion survey of undergraduates in Canada.
In the Globe and Mail’s survey, Acadia was awarded A+ in the categories of class size, safety, and computer access, and A’s in attractive campus, faculty availability, interaction, and knowledge. Acadia also received an A for overall satisfaction.
About Acadia
Acadia University, in Wolfville , Nova Scotia , has long been recognized as one of Canada 's premier undergraduate institutions. It is ranked Canada 's best overall primarily undergraduate university by Maclean's magazine. With its nationally and internationally recognized research initiatives, small classes and technology-rich teaching and learning environment, Acadia offers students an experience that includes academic achievement combined with personal growth and development.