Loyalist experiences highest spring enrolment in college’s history

Belleville, Ontario, June 15, 2020 – Spring semester enrolment at Loyalist College reached a record high with 732 full-time students pursuing several programs through the Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses. This is an increase of 76 percent from the 2019 Spring enrolment and 39 percent from the College’s previous Spring enrolment high in 2018. The Belleville campus Spring student population grew 32 percent year-over-year and five percent from Spring 2018. 

The Personal Support Worker (PSW) program, delivered through the Bancroft campus, grew by 53 percent from the previous Spring as a result of a new Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credit granting process as well as additional flexibility through hybrid online and community-based alternate delivery methods. In addition to attracting new PSWs who want to provide supportive care in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this program offers existing PSWs an accelerated pathway from which to complete their certificate in less than a year.

Other Loyalist Spring semester programs include:

• Advertising and Marketing Communications – Creative Design Ontario College Diploma (Belleville)
• Business Ontario College Diploma (Toronto)
• Computer Systems Technician Ontario College Diploma (Belleville and Toronto)
• Project Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate (Belleville and Toronto)
• Supply Chain Management – Enterprise Resource Planning Ontario College Graduate Certificate (Toronto)
• Supply Chain Management – Global Logistics Ontario College Graduate Certificate (Belleville and Toronto)

The higher Spring enrolment is in line with strong 2019 September enrolment, which increased seven percent from the previous Fall, with international students comprising 38 percent of the student population.

Quotes
“Students are using this time to gain new marketable skills and credentials so that when Ontario emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, they will be ready to launch, advance or change careers. A recent survey revealed our students feel supported both academically and personally while learning through remote delivery. Our exceptional faculty get to know students one-on-one, leverage their strengths and encourage support through our enhanced online Student Success services. We know these last few months have been difficult – and we’re here for them – to help them get ahead.” – Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President and CEO

“Loyalist went above and beyond to make sure I was successful leading up to graduation. Even though my courses shifted quickly to online delivery, Loyalist made the transition easily adaptable and resources were readily available. My professors always made time to assist with questions and do everything they could to help me earn my credentials.”  – Taylor Wightman, 2020 Public Relations – Event Management graduate and 2019 Customs Border Services graduate

About Loyalist College
Loyalist is Ontario’s Destination College, empowering students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. The College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Of 2017-18 Loyalist graduates, 88.5 percent were employed within six months after graduation. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 5.8 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $465 million annually to the regional economy – based on an October 2018 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit YoureGoingPlaces.com.

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Contact: Kerry Lorimer, Director, Marketing, Communications and Recruitment
Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistcollege.com, 613-969-1913, ext. 2536