Dianne Spencer, executive director of Loyalist College advancement and external relations, told Thursday’s college board of governors meeting that there will be multiple events to celebrate Loyalist’s 50th anniversary this year. Photo by Makala Chapman, QNet News
BELLEVILLE – Enrolment numbers for those starting Loyalist College in January are up, say officials from the college say.
On Thursday evening, the Loyalist board of governors was told that a total of 355 students registered last month – a record number for the college for this time of the year.
Loyalist’s new president, Anne Marie Vaughan, credits a wider selection of programs being offered and retention efforts for the success.
New programs being offered at Loyalist, as of September, will include radiation safety, community integration through co-operative education, computer networking, project management and advanced service leadership.
But Vaughan also said increased enrolment from international students played a large role in last month’s record numbers.
“It’s wonderful,” said Vaughan. “We had 355 students start in January and what’s really interesting about that is about 150 of those students were international.”
She added that the school is currently home to over 300 international students who come from 17 different countries.
Loyalist College’s marketability across the world is something Vaughan said she is proud of, as it will benefit the community as a whole.
“(Not only will it) provide opportunities for international students to study in Canada,” she said, “but also for Canadian students to learn from students’ perspectives from all around the world. That just improves the whole quality of the learning experience offered at Loyalist.”
The college’s goal for international enrolment is three years ahead of schedule, she said.
“The college had 150 international students last year. The 300 target is well ahead of what he had anticipated. We are hoping that’s a continued trend.”
The increased enrolment numbers are also good news for the college’s multimillion-dollar deficit, she said.
“This has allowed us to draw down on the deficit in a very positive way,” said Vaughan. “The deficit that was previously $2.4 million, we should see that drawn down by $1.1 million as we start the next year.”
She credited the hard work over the past three years by staff and the community in helping chip away at the school’s deficit, which originally sat at close to $4 million.
In other board meeting news, the college is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
In honour of the milestone, Loyalist will have various events planned for students and the public to attend throughout the year.
Dianne Spencer, executive director of college advancement and external relations, said it has been amazing to see the school flourish over the years.
“Loyalist started 50 years ago with 172 students,” she said. “Over that 50-year period since 1967, there’s been a great deal of growth. The way (Loyalist) has developed within the community and as part of the community is just so exciting.”
Spencer, who has worked for Loyalist since 1990, said the college has always been a special place.
“We have an amazing, amazing college here,” she said. “There’s so much to celebrate and it’s all because of the people and what we do to help one another, particularly the students, to succeed.”
More information about the various events and activities will be made known to the public as the dates come closer, says Spencer.
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