A comparison of two small Maritime universities with differing religious backgrounds: Saint Mary's University and Mount Allison University

Abstract

This thesis, entitled “A Comparison of Two Small Maritime Universities with Differing Religious Backgrounds: Saint Mary’s University and Mount Allison University” is an attempt to find significant features of each institution which are either based on or have evolved from their traditional religious backgrounds. The investigation was limited by the complexity of modern universities to the selected areas of: historical backgrounds, administrations, faculties, ownership and control, and program and students. The history traced the development of both universities through the nineteenth century up until the present. Particularly significant were two Acts, one passed in 1963 and the other in 1970. The 1963 Act, passed in the New Brunswick Legislature, and entitled “The Mount Allison University Act” helped change the direction of that institution for the foreseeable future. In 1970 the Nova Scotia Legislature passed the “Saint Mary’s University Act” which drastically altered the ownership structure of the institution and probably altered its future as well. The chapters on administration and ownership and control deal predominantly with the legal structures of both. However, underlying sources of authority and control are also discussed. Faculties is probably the most comprehensive of the chapters. It attempts to point out the position of each of the University’s staffs particularly in view of their relationship with the administrations and control bodies. The final chapter deals with students and programs. It attempts to make comparisons of the two Institutions through comparisons of the type of student attracted to look at the programs they offer.