University of Western Ontario

"UWO" redirects here. For other uses, see UWO (disambiguation).

The University of Western Ontario
Coat of arms
Other name
Western University
Former names
The Western University of London, Ontario[1]
MottoVeritas et Utilitas (Latin)
Motto in English
Truth and usefulness
TypePublic
Established7 March 1878; 146 years ago (1878-03-07)[2]
Academic affiliations
ACU, CARL, COU, CUSID, Fields Institute, Universities Canada, U15
EndowmentCA$1.3 billion (2024)[3]
BudgetCA$930 million[4]
ChancellorKelly Meighen
PresidentAlan Shepard
ProvostFlorentine Strzelczyk
Academic staff
1,403[5]
Undergraduates33,879[5]
Postgraduates6,705[6]
Location
London, Ontario, Canada[a]

43°00′30″N 81°16′21″W / 43.00833°N 81.27250°W / 43.00833; -81.27250
CampusUrban, 455 hectares (1,120 acres)[7]
ColoursWestern Purple and White [8]
NicknameMustangs
Sporting affiliations
U Sports, OUA
MascotJW the Mustang[9]
Websiteuwo.ca

The University of Western Ontario (UWO; branded as Western University) is a public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on 455 hectares (1,120 acres) of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thames River bisecting the campus's eastern portion. The university operates twelve academic faculties and schools.

The university was founded on 7 March 1878 by Bishop Isaac Hellmuth of the Anglican Diocese of Huron as The Western University of London, Ontario.[2] It incorporated Huron College, which had been founded in 1863. The first four faculties were Arts, Divinity, Law and Medicine. The university became non-denominational in 1908. Beginning in 1919, the university had affiliated with several denominational colleges. The university grew substantially in the post-World War II era, and a number of faculties and schools were added.

Western is a co-educational university, with more than 24,000 students, and over 306,000 living alumni worldwide. The university is a founding member of the U15, Canada's group of most distinguished research-intensive universities. Western's varsity teams, known as the Western Mustangs, compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of U Sports.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Act1923 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "An Act to incorporate The Western University of London, Ontario" (PDF). The University of Western Ontario. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  3. ^ "University of Western Ontario: Combined Financial Statements, Supplementary Information And Independent Auditors' Report thereon" (PDF). 30 April 2024.
  4. ^ "2024-25 Operating and Capital Budgets" (PDF). Office of Institutional Planning & Budgeting. University of Western Ontario. 31 March 2024. p. 15. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Facts & Figures, 2021–2022". Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Facts & Figures, 2021–2022". Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference size was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Western Visual Identity FAQs". Western University. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  9. ^ "JW – The Official Mascot of the Western Mustangs". Western Mustangs. Western Ontario Athletics. 20 July 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011.


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