 | The St. Lawrence College Board of Governors has approved a balanced budget for 2011-12 as enrollment growth, new program offerings and investments from the province continue to build optimism for the future. | |
Cornwall - Mar. 25, 2011 - The St. Lawrence College Board of Governors has approved a balanced budget for 2011-12 as enrollment growth, new program offerings and investments from the province continue to build optimism for the future.
Enrollment at the college's Brockville, Cornwall, and Kingston campuses has increased by 12 per cent over the last three years, and 42 per cent in the last decade. A number of factors have contributed to this positive situation, said SLC President and CEO Chris Whitaker.
"We're committed to offering programs that are responsive to student and market needs, and our graduates are highly sought after," Whitaker said in a news release.
"St. Lawrence continues to lead the provincial college system in graduate employment rates, with 89.9 per cent of our graduates finding employment within six months of graduating."
SLC launched 12 new programs in the last three years, including a focus on programs in renewable energy: wind turbine technician, energy systems engineering technology and technician and geothermal technician. With continued growth in this sector, the college anticipates increased demand for its graduates.
The collaborative degree with Laurentian University in Bachelor of Science in Nursing continues to generate very strong enrollment numbers at each campus.
The college also expects an increase in international students, according to Whitaker.
"The college has been investing in this area for several years, providing benefits to students from abroad, but also contributing to the diversity of the college, our communities and the experience of all students," he said.
Looking ahead to 2011-12, the balanced budget includes investments that will continue to create a healthy and vibrant college, Whitaker explained.
These include investments in student engagement, academic centres of excellence, corporate learning, as well as continued investment in our Cornwall campus, which is undergoing a $13.5 million revitalization project.
"This revitalization will make a tremendous impact on the education we will offer to our future students," he said.
Corporate learning and training programs strive to meet the needs of local industry and organizations through offerings such as leadership for managers certificate, solar installation technician; power engineering technician; and chemical engineering technician certificates.
"These highly specialized programs demonstrate the critical role of the college in helping employers maintain the skilled workforce required to compete and succeed in the future," Whitaker said.
The president said the college will continue to invest in its people as a high priority. In addition to hiring new staff in several areas, plans are in place to enhance professional development and establish programming for leadership and management development.
"Within the plan and budget we are making important investments in our people and the college. We believe this will continue to make the college a great place to learn for future students and an important asset for our communities." |
