Lakehead-Georgian expansion proposal submitted to MTCU
September 26, 2014 – Orillia, ON
Today, Lakehead University, in partnership with Georgian University Partnership Centre, submitted its proposal for major capacity expansion to the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU).
The joint proposal was developed in response to a call from the Province of Ontario to institutions to increase degree capacity in areas of the province with growing demand for post-secondary education.
As part of the Lakehead-Georgian plan for major capacity expansion, Lakehead University and Georgian College – already the two largest post-secondary institutions in Simcoe County – will deliver more than 50 degree programs to as many as 6,000 students by 2030.
“Our plan combines the best of college and university education,” says Lakehead University President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson. “We are confident our proposal will rise to the top among the many submissions from throughout the province. We are offering innovative solutions for meeting the needs of students, while being fiscally responsible and student centred.”
The Lakehead-Georgian proposal will leverage existing infrastructure and resources, including established campus facilities, services, faculty and staff. The initial phase of the plan would maximize the use of existing space to add 2,000 new degree students – 1,200 at Georgian’s Barrie Campus and 800 at Lakehead University’s Orillia Campus.
Subsequent phases of the plan would create two new specialized facilities – a Centre for Advanced Technology at Georgian’s Barrie Campus and a Design and Visual Arts facility with Entrepreneurship Hub in downtown Barrie. The plan also includes a collaborative online student services portal.
“Our plan has a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs because this is a critical gap in our region and essential to sustain a competitive edge in our local economy,” says Georgian President and CEO Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes. “The combination of applied and theoretical skills we will offer through many integrated degree-diplomas in STEM and other programs will develop an educated and skilled workforce capable of driving innovation. This is key to the economic vitality, development and growth of the central Ontario region.”
In all, the Lakehead-Georgian proposal would add 25 new degree offerings, including integrated degree-diplomas, Lakehead bachelor degrees and Georgian bachelor degrees with an applied focus.
“The benefits are clear,” adds Stevenson. “Our plan means improved access to postsecondary education, close to home, for more students throughout Simcoe County and Central Ontario.”
The proposal would generate an ongoing economic impact of up to $232 million for Central Ontario and create more than 234 faculty and staff jobs in Barrie and Orillia.
Further information can be found at lakeheadgeorgian.ca.
The decision on major capacity expansion submissions from MTCU is expected sometime in 2015.
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Media: For more information, please contact Lakehead University’s Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.
or Georgian’s Associate Director, Communications, Sharon Burkhart at 705-728-1968 ext. 1043 or sharon.burkhart@georgiancollege.ca
In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by a new Strategic Plan (2013-2018), our University is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses, in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s first new Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and Faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health and Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, Science and Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education and Graduate Studies. Lakehead is among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities (2014 Maclean’s University Rankings), as well as 1st in Ontario and 2nd in Canada for its innovative research (Re$earch Infosource). Visit http://www.lakeheadu.ca.
Georgian’s leadership in co-op, student work experience and entrepreneurship education delivers powerful ways to accelerate your learning, your career and your future. With more than 125 career-focused programs across seven locations in Central Ontario – Barrie, Midland, Muskoka (Bracebridge), Orangeville, Orillia, Owen Sound and South Georgian Bay (Collingwood) – Georgian has 11,000 full-time students and 28,000 Continuing Education registrations annually and is home to the one-of-a-kind University Partnership Centre. Georgian has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers seven times and one of Canada’s Greenest Employers five years in a row. Visit GeorgianCollege.ca.