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Timeline of Assumption College and University History

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  • 1855

    The cornerstone of Assumption College’s new building is laid and blessed by the Bishop of Detroit.

  • 1857

    Assumption College officially opens and welcomes its first class of students. The Jesuits are named the administrators of the college with Fr. Pierre Point, SJ as the first superior. The Jesuits remain in control of Assumption College for seven months.

  • 1858

    Under the leadership of Fr. Joseph Malbos, CSB, Assumption College is incorporated into Upper Canada later to be the province of Ontario.

  • 1861

    The Order of St. Benedict (Benedictines) lead Assumption College for the next two years with Fr. Oswald Moosmueller, OSB as the new superior of the college.

  • 1870

    Bishop John Walsh places Assumption College under the leadership of the Basilian Fathers. Fr. Denis O’Connor arrives to become the new superior remaining in this post for twenty years.

  • 1907

    Assumption College’ Chapel is built in order to provide students with a place to worship.

  • 1915

    St. Denis Hall is built to house Assumption College’s new gymnasium. The new facility is named in honour of Archbishop Denis O’Connor who passed away in 1911.

  • 1919

    Assumption College becomes the largest affiliate college of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario.

  • 1926

    A new classroom building that would be later named Dillon Hall after Fr. Daniel Dillon, CSB is completed.

  • 1934

    Fr. Stanley Murphy, CSB establishes the Christian Culture Series to connect the Church with the contemporary world.

  • 1934

    Holy Names College under the direction of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary affiliates with Assumption College.

  • 1941

    Nobel Prize Laureate, Sigrid Undset becomes the first Christian Culture Series Gold Medalist.

  • 1945

    Army barracks are constructed at Assumption College in order to house returning troops from the World War II.

  • 1953

    Assumption College is granted university powers and ends it affiliation with the University of Western Ontario. Shortly thereafter, Assumption affiliates with Essex College and Holy Redeemer College.

  • 1954

    Essex College is established and offers programs in the sciences and affiliates with Assumption College.

  • 1955

    Assumption College is formally granted armorial bearings from His Grace the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk.

  • 1956

    Assumption College officially changed its name to Assumption University of Windsor.

  • 1957

    In the year of its centennial, Assumption University signed a historic affiliation agreement with Canterbury College becoming one of the first Roman Catholic universities in the world to formally affiliated with an Anglican college.

  • 1962

    Assumption University acquires the residence for female students and renames the building Electa Hall in honour of Sister Mary Electa, SNJM first dean of Holy Names College.

  • 1963

    The University of Windsor is established with Assumption University has its sole federated institution. Fr. E.C. LeBel, CSB becomes the first president of the non-denominational University of Windsor.

  • 1984

    The Christian Cultures Series celebrates its fiftieth anniversary with Robert Rambusch, distinguished liturgical artist and war hero receiving the Christian Culture Series Gold Medal.

  • 1992

    The Institute for Pastoral and Educational Ministry (IPEM) was established under the leadership Fr. Ulysses Paré, CSB and admitting a new cohort of students.

  • 1996

    The Institute for Pastoral and Educational Ministry’s first class graduates from Assumption University.

  • 2002

    Bishop Ronald Peter Fabbro, CSB becomes Assumption University’s new chancellor.

  • 2004

    The Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair in Religion and Conflict is established through a generous one-million-dollar gift from the Jarislowsky foundation and a matching gift from the Basilian Fathers of Sandwich.

  • 2005

    The Institute for Pastoral and Educational Ministry is renamed the Department of Theology.

  • 2007

    Assumption University celebrates its sesquicentennial anniversary receiving a special blessing from Pope Benedict XVI.

  • 2012

    Assumption University celebrates the Alumni of the Century Gala in its 155th year.

  • 2014

    The Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute at Assumption University (CCBI-A) is established with Fr. Leo Walsh, CSB as its executive director.

  • 2021

    Assumption University relaunches the Fr Joe Quinn, CSB Social Justice Series with a topic on the environment. The virtual event attracts over 1,600 students and teachers from elementary and secondary schools in the area.

  • 2022

    Assumption University will celebrate its 165th anniversary will special festivities planned for the occasion.