Just two weeks after Laurentian University announced plans to shut down programs in Barrie, Georgian College and Lakehead University say 20 new degree programs will be added over the next few years.
Some new programs will allow students to earn a diploma and a degree in their four year program.
Georgian College president and CEO Dr. Mary Lynn West-Moynes says the institutions are ready to fill the void left by the closure at Laurentian.
“We are proud to offer degrees in such high-demand fields as business administration, science, environmental management and more,” she said.
“We are committed to providing education that is market and career-focused. Our students will graduate job-ready, and our communities will have the workforce they need to grow our economy.”
Today’s announcement builds on the report of former cabinet minister John Gerretsen on the future of degree studies in Simcoe County. Lakehead and Georgian worked closely with the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities (MTCU) on this new five-year framework for degree studies. The report confirms the ability of both institutions to introduce new and expand existing degree offerings to serve two thousand new degree students in the region.
It's a plan that was in the works for almost five years as Lakehead worked with Georgian's president and CEO Dr. MaryLynn West-Moynes.
Both schools are committed to putting students first and expanding the programs that "make sense".
Lakehead University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson says the expansion will benefit students in Barrie, Orillia and across Simcoe County by providing new education opportunities closer to home.
“Today’s announcement is about students and collaboration," he said.
"We are pleased to tell the students of today, and the graduates of tomorrow, that the City of Barrie and the County of Simcoe can expect even more university programs from Lakehead, even more degree programs from Georgian, and even more joint programs from both institutions that result in more graduates walking across a convocation stage with both a degree and a diploma in their hands.”
Today's announcement builds on a government report on the state of degree programs in the area. Georgian and Lakehead worked with the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities to build a five-year framework for degree studies.
The added degree programs will bring an estimated 2,000 new students to the region. Here are some of the programs in the works:
- Psychology
- Engineering - Electrical
- Engineering - Civil
- Engineering - Mechanical
- Marine Studies
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Studies
- Business Administration - Health Management
- Bachelor of Arts and Science - Kinesiology
- Industrial Design
