Lincoln University (New Zealand)


Lincoln University is a New Zealand university that was formed in 1990 when Lincoln College, Canterbury was made independent of the University of Canterbury. Founded in 1878, it is the oldest agricultural teaching institution in the Southern Hemisphere. It remains the smallest university in New Zealand and one of the eight public universities. The campus is situated on of land located about outside the city of Christchurch, in Lincoln, Canterbury.
In 2018 Lincoln University had 2695 Equivalent Full Time Students and 633 full-time equivalent staff.
Lincoln University is a member of the Euroleague for Life Sciences.

History

Lincoln University began life in 1878 as the School of Agriculture of Canterbury University College, opening in July 1880. By 1885 it had 56 students, 32 of them in residence, and all classes were held in the main building. The teaching staff included the head of the school William Ivey, George Gray, who remained on staff until 1915, Eric Manley Clarke, and part-time lecturer Thomas Hill.
The college farm was worked by the students, who took part in ploughing, milking, and stock management, as well as taking lectures on agricultural science and chemistry.
From 1896 to 1961 it served students under the name Canterbury Agricultural College, and offered qualifications of the University of New Zealand until that institution's demise. From 1961 to 1990, it was known as Lincoln College, a constituent college of the University of Canterbury, until achieving autonomy in 1990 as Lincoln University. It is the oldest agricultural teaching institution in the Southern Hemisphere. It remains the smallest university in New Zealand.
In March 2009, the Crown Research Institute AgResearch announced that it planned to merge with Lincoln University. However, Lincoln University rejected the plan later that year over financial concerns.
On 18 November 2010, after a period of consultation, it was confirmed that a merger between Lincoln University and Telford Rural Polytechnic would go ahead, with the merger taking effect on 1 January 2011.
On 18 June 2013, a new blueprint for the Selwyn campus was announced which included the "Lincoln Hub" concept previously announced by the Government on 29 April 2013.

Management and governance

The School of Agriculture, followed by the Canterbury Agricultural College, was under the leadership of a director or principal. After becoming Lincoln University in 1990, the role became that of Vice-Chancellor.
There has been a board of governors since 1896. The following chairmen and chancellors have served:
† denotes that the person died in office

Student life

Lincoln University Students' Association has been active on campus since 1919. LUSA acts as a representative for students on university policy, as well as providing advocacy services to students and running campus events such as the annual Garden Party and O-Week.
LUSA is central in organising, supporting and funding the clubs on campus. These clubs include but are not limited to; Lincoln Soils Society, Tramping and Climbing Club, Wine Appreciation Club, LSD, Alpine Club, LEO, Food Appreciation Club, The Lincoln University Campus Choir, Bunch Rides, Lincoln University Rugby Club, Lincoln Malaysian Students Society, International Rugby Club, SPACE, Boxing Club, Young Farmers Club, and Lincoln Christian Fellowship.
In 2018 Lincoln University has 1369 international students from 75 countries.

Campus buildings

Lincoln University has had an Entomology Research Collection since the late 1960s, which is now the third-largest entomology collection in New Zealand, containing approximately 500,000 specimens and about 60 types.

Rankings

The New Zealand Tertiary Education Commission's first Performance Based Research Fund ranking exercise in 2003—equivalent to the United Kingdom's Research Assessment Exercise—ranked the quality of Lincoln University's research at sixth place. It also received the highest percentage increase in research funding.
For 2017/18 Lincoln's ranking is 319, released by Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings. Lincoln also has QS Five Stars rating. Lincoln ranks in the top 50 in the fields of Agriculture and Forestry, and also Hospitality and Leisure Management. Lincoln is ranked in the 401–500th bracket according to the 2017 Times Higher Education world university rankings.

Notable people

Alumni

Lincoln University has since 1993 been conferring honorary doctorates.

Faculty