The president of Laurentian University says the province left them with no choice but to leave Barrie.
Speaking with CTV News on Saturday, Dominic Giroux says the government refused to allow Laurentian to offer four year programs taught university faculty. He notes the province also denied an expansion request for the university on the Georgian College campus.
“Unfortunately the government is not treating Laurentian University in Barrie like any other university,” Giroux says. “Since 2010, we've been advised that if we leave Georgian College and deliver programs elsewhere in Barrie, we will not be funded and since 2011, the ministry has imposed a moratorium on new programs at Laurentian in Barrie.”
However, officials with Georgian College says the partnership program with Laurentian was helping students, period.
“When you put the best of a college and the best of a university experience together the type of program becomes much more market and job focused,” says college president MaryLynn West-Moynes. “Just disappointed that Laurentian has chosen not to be a part of that.”
At the same time, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Reza Moridi says he is disappointed by Laurentian’s decision.
“We are disappointed that we could not find a path forward in Barrie and Simcoe County that builds on the unique strengths of all three institutions. We are pleased, however, that Laurentian has communicated that a plan is in place to ensure a smooth transition for students who are impacted by this decision.”
Laurentian is the fifth university in recent years to leave the partnership program with the college, but West-Moynes says there's no need to be concerned.
“One of the great things that's happened for us in the last month is we've been given authority by the province to call all of our own degrees "honour degrees"; the same degree that every university is offering Ontario.”
Some Laurentian programs will not be offered next September and by 2019, the university will be completely out of Barrie.
“We wish we could have done more in Barrie, as we've been doing since 2001,” says Giroux.
