University of Ottawa

About University of Ottawa:

Founded in 1848 as the College of Bytown by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, today the University of Ottawa is the largest bilingual (English-French) university in the world. The University is committed to promoting French culture in Ontario, and its mission is to “provide its students with an outstanding education and enrich the intellectual, economic and cultural life of Canada.” The University’s Destination 2020 strategic plan aims to improve student experience, excel in research, promote French culture and bilingualism, and increase the University’s international presence.

In F2015, University of Ottawa had 35,311 undergraduate students, 4,286 Master’s students, 1,916 Doctorate students and 235 other graduate students. Of this, 6,316 undergraduate students and 131 graduate students were enrolled in the University’s co-op program. The University’s largest faculties by enrollment are Social Sciences (25%), Arts (14%), Engineering (13%), Science (12%) and Management (11%). In F2015, the University had 813 research laboratories, 272 teaching laboratories and 280 classrooms and seminar rooms.

In January 2016, the University of Ottawa published a social impact report produced by the Conference Board of Canada. The study found that the University has a total annual economic impact of $6.8 billion to $7.4 billion. Further, the University’s activities contribute over $1.5 billion annually to Canada’s GDP, and generate and support over 29,500 jobs across Canada. University of Ottawa graduates living in the Ottawa-Gatineau census area earn a wage premium of $2.3 billion annually, paying an additional $591 million in government taxes. Further, the social returns on the University’s research spending are expected to be $479 million to $958 million in F2015.

Financial Review:

University of Ottawa is a Large-Cap charity, with donations of $16.7m in F2015. A large portion of its revenues are generated from government funding and tuition and other fees, making up 53% and 34% of revenues respectively in F2015. The University’s business activities are presented as gross numbers in this report as the audited financial statements did not explicitly provide the expenses related to the business activities. The University’s administrative costs are 12% of revenues and its fundraising costs are 35% of donations. The University does not report fundraising costs in its audited financial statements.

For every $1 donated to the University, 53 cents is put towards its programs, falling outside Ci’s reasonable range. The University of Ottawa’s funding reserves of $653.8m includes $214.2m in donor-endowed funds. This results in a program cost coverage ratio, excluding donor-endowed funds, of 60%, meaning that it can cover 7 months of its annual programs using its existing reserves. At the end of F2015 University of Ottawa has donation pledges of $31.7 million yet to be received that are not included in funding reserves (F2014 $23.2 million in pledges).

This charity report is an update that is being reviewed by University of Ottawa. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 24, 2016 by Lynn Tay.