Georgian College
Barry Bergey introduced Gabrielle Koopman who has been at Georgian College since 1990. She has been the Program Manager, the Child Care Manager, the Associate and the Acting Dean and is now the Director. She graduated in 91 in Adult Education from Brock.
Gabrielle thanked Rotary for the invitation and said it is part of what the College is trying to do - connect with the community and tell what Georgian's all about. Anyone who wants to is welcome to drop in - they are running tours all the time.
The College system in Ontario graduates 45,000 students every year. Georgian has 7 campuses; Barrie, Orillia, Owen Sound, Midland, Muskoka, Orangeville and Collingwood. There is a small campus in Alliston now. In these 7 there are 9,000 full time and over 30,000 part time students which represents a 10% increase this year. In Midland there's a higher proportion of mature students because the mandate is skilled trades. Many make a long commute to take the courses. The demand is so great they are running the welding on 3 schedules. Plumbing is being offered for the first time this year and there were 17 in the first class. There were 255 electrical apprentices in 2008.
There are a variety of pathways to learning. Upgrading, Apprenticeship, Diploma, Post Secondary (for marine engines) Graduate Certificate and Certificate. Provincial commitment is strong and there has been money for enhancements and upgrading - about $3,000,000.00.
Skills training is the backbone of the Ontario College System. Whenever a need is identifies, they try to fill it - kitchen staff, nursing assistants etc. - and they gear it to a specific industry.
The Midland campus has been especially fortunate to have strong local support from Mr. Hartog and Mr. Weber. With their help, for instance, the school fulfilled a 5 year fundraising goal of $1,000,000.00 in 1 year.
They also offer electrician training, tool and dye, recreational vehicle technician (which includes everything except the engine), plumbing, and marine engines which started this year with 55 students and has 72 registered for next. The school is the official trainer for all Harley Davidson mechanics - they come from all over the country and they have 17 new machines on site - and for Mercury/Volvo techs.
There were 50 full time students on the campus in 2005 and there are 650 now. There is a credit course offered through the High Schools - the kids come to take the course and if they like it they can transfer in. High School groups from Fenelon Falls and Toronto have come to take a tour. Their Job Connect program brings prospective employers and employees together and teaches students job search and preparation skills.
The Campus faces some challenges. There is no transit. Kids are walking on poorly lit roads or across winter fields to get to the Wal-Mart bus stop. There is insufficient student housing. Their access to Highway 12 is indirect, past the OPP. The incredible rate of growth has left them playing catch up on some issues and they need more linkages with the local High Schools. The school makes a major economic contribution to the area and they feel there should be more support on some of these issues.
On August 22nd the school was dedicated to Robbert Hartog, the first named campus in the Georgian College system. They are on 27 acres, which gives them room for growth, which they need cause the existing facility is already full. They have made modifications and done some expansion but they are still growing, largely through word of mouth by the students. The College has partnered with Laurentian because this large catchment area has no university of its own. Now many students can get a University degree without leaving home and both institutions have grown and benefited. They also have linkages with York and the Universities of Sydney and Central Michigan. They are trying to bring the University to the students, especially the mature student who can't leave for several years to upgrade.