Ontario urged to create new strategy to expand degree programs at colleges

(Kingston, Brockville, Cornwall, July 7, 2020) – Ontario’s colleges are calling for a new provincial strategy for post-secondary education that will expand the range of degree programs at colleges, including the creation of career-focused three-year degree programs and master’s programs in specialized fields.

“This is the time for bold action to ensure we become a world leader in career-focused post-secondary education,” said Glenn Vollebregt, President and CEO, St. Lawrence College. “Working together with government, and our local communities we can help drive Ontario’s economic recovery.”

The recommendation has been submitted to Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano’s recently announced consultations on modernizing post-secondary education.

The call for a new vision for post-secondary education follows the recent release of a white paper, “The Future of Ontario’s Workers,” by the StrategyCorp Institute of Public Policy and Economy. The white paper proposes measures to drive economic growth as Ontario emerges from the COVID-19 lockdown.

The white paper calls for the province to give colleges the autonomy to decide independent of government what mix of credentials and programs will best respond to the evolving labour market and accelerating automation in the workplace.

The proposed post-secondary strategy would help fulfil Ontario’s transition to a performance-based post-secondary system by placing greater emphasis on graduates’ success. It would authorize colleges to:

• Create new career-focused three-year degree programs, replacing many of the current diploma programs.
• Expand the range of four-year degree programs at colleges to meet local demand without being restricted by arbitrary provincial maximums.
• Create master’s degree programs for university and college graduates for in-demand specialized fields such as robotics, cybersecurity and animation.

Colleges are also recommending the government provide more funding for short-term micro-credential programs to increase the retraining opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed.

St. Lawrence College currently offers three degree programs, the Bachelor of Business Administration (in collaboration with Laurentian University), the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and was the first college in Ontario to offer the Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology.

The government’s recent decision to allow colleges to deliver the entirety of the nursing degree program was a positive step forward for colleges to meet the workforce needs of the province going forward, and speaks to our expertise in delivering that education, according to Vollebregt.

“We must help more people acquire the expertise that is needed in our community,” Vollebregt said. “With greater autonomy and flexibility, our college can help ensure Ontario capitalizes on the opportunities to stimulate economic growth and prosperity.”