Lang School History

A new name and building dedicated to business education at the University of Guelph.

2019

Thanks for a transformational and historic $21M gift from Stu Lang, the College of Business and Economics is renamed to the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics. Named after Stu's father, Gordon S. Lang is the visionary and leader behind CCL Industries, one of Canada's largest global companies.
The School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management celebrates their 50th anniversary during Alumni Weekend

A new name and new building dedicated to business education at the University of Guelph.

2014

In January 2014, the University of Guelph announces that the College will be headquartered in Macdonald Hall, following an extensive renovation.
In February, the College of Management and Economics rebrands to become the College of Business and Economics, the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is renamed the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management and the Department of Business becomes the Department of Management.

2018

Macdonald Hall reopens as the new home of business at the University of Guelph.
- The College announces a $7M gift from local entrepreneur John F. Wood to rename CBaSE as the John F. Wood Centre for Business and Student Enterprise.

College of Management and Economics becomes the new home of business and economics education at the University of Guelph.

2006

The University of Guelph creates the College of Management and Economics. The new college is home to the commerce majors and graduate programs from CSAHS and the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. It also includes the MBA in Food and Agribusiness from OAC. The College is organized into five academic units: Department of Economics and Finance, Department of Business, Department of Marketing and Consumer Studies, Executive Programs and the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Chris McKenna is appointed Interim Dean of the new college.

2009

Julia Christensen Hughes is appointed Dean of the College of Management and Economics.
The College of Management and Economics expands with the launch of the Centre for Business and Social Entrepreneurship (CBaSE), which is now the Centre for Business and Student Enterprise.
The College launches the PhD in Management program with three areas of focus: marketing and consumer behavior, services management and organizational leadership.

2010

The College of Management and Economics launches its accounting major in the Fall semester.

2013

The College of Management and Economics announces the creation of the Business Career Centre (now the Business Career Development Centre) after receiving a monetary gift from the Certified General Accountants of Ontario (now CPA Ontario).
The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management launches the Master of Science in Tourism and Hospitality program.
Executive Programs launches the MBA in Sustainable Commerce program.

More majors, graduate programs and structural changes across the University of Guelph.

1992

The School of Hotel and Food administration launches its first graduate program, the Master of Management Studies (MMS). This program is renamed the MBA in Hospitality and Tourism in 2000.

1997

OAC welcomes its first cohort of MBA in Agriculture students. This program later becomes the MBA in Food and Agribusiness.

1998

The College of Social Science and the College of Family and Consumer Studies join to create the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS). CSAHS creates the Faculty of Management to house and govern the commerce and economics majors from the two colleges.

2000

The University of Guelph adds three more majors to its commerce offerings: Tourism Management (School of Hotel and Food Administration), Human Resources Management (CSAHS) and Public Management (CSAHS).

2002

The School of Hotel and Food Administration is renamed the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The new name recognizes the addition of the Tourism Management major as well as the School’s focus on management in all aspects of the hospitality industry.

2004

The University of Guelph launches the MA Leadership program.

Six new business-focused programs are developed at the University of Guelph.

1969

The University of Guelph begins offering its first bachelor of commerce program through the School of Hotel and Food Administration, the first school of its kind in Canada.
The Macdonald Institute is renamed the College of Family and Consumer Studies, the original home of consumer studies at Guelph. That year the new college launches the Master of Science in Consumer Studies, later called the Master of Science in Marketing and Consumer Studies.
Wellington College splits into the College of Arts, College of Physical Science and the College of Social Science, where economics is based.

1990

The University of Guelph launches four new commerce majors: Agricultural Business (OAC), Management Economics in Industry Finance (College of Social Science), Housing and Real Estate Management (College of Family and Consumer Studies) and Marketing Management (College of Family and Consumer Studies).

The formative years of the University of Guelph, including the development of its founding colleges and Wellington College, the original home of economics.

1874

The Ontario government purchases 500 acres of farmland from Frederick William Stone and opens the Ontario School of Agriculture on May 1, 1874. The school is renamed the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) in 1880. This land later becomes home to the University of Guelph’s main campus.

1903

The Macdonald Institute is founded by Adelaide Hoodless and Sir William Macdonald. The College traces its focus on food education and research back to Hoodless. Impassioned by the death of her infant son from unpasteurized milk, she advocated for young women to learn about safe and healthy food preparation alongside managing a home and family.
Macdonald Hall is constructed as a residence for women studying at the Macdonald Institute. More than 110 years later, this building becomes home to the College of Business and Economics.

1964

The University of Guelph is officially formed with the amalgamation of the Ontario Agricultural College, Ontario Veterinary College and Macdonald Institute. This is quickly followed by the creation of Wellington College, the original home of economics at the university.