The University of Ontario Institute of Technology has an identity crisis.
Since the Oshawa-based university, commonly known as UOIT, admitted students in 2003, it has offered undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in business, education, and the sciences.
Many allege the current name is confusing, tongue-twisting, and unspecific. A name change has been in the works since June 2007. A name was to be proposed on Dec. 11, but the school continues wrestling with several suggestions, including leaving it as is. A committee has been formed to make a recommendation in March.
“I think the new name would be better for us in the long run in improving our image as an Ontarian University,” said Sean Corrigan, a forensic science student at UOIT. “The name is really confusing.”
Communications student Natalie Dallaire agrees.
“Often when I say UOIT people think I said U of T, which is annoying. University of Ontario would be cool. If it became University of Oshawa though, I think I’d consider transferring.”
The rebranding process is estimated to cost a million dollars.
