Georgian College is a powerful place, helping people from all walks of life to grow, thrive and succeed by delivering quality educational experiences that prepare them for meaningful careers. Georgian is a catalyst for economic development, bringing innovation, opportunity and strong social and cultural benefits to communities. Georgian is a good neighbour, connecting with its communities in many ways. The college has evolved into one of the leading colleges in Canada. It was the first co-op college in Ontario and is the largest co-op college in Canada, with more than 3,500 employers offering 4,500 co-op positions each year. Georgian is known for attracting the most dynamic industry and community leaders, building rich partnerships and providing industry with highly skilled graduates to sustain and grow their operations. Georgian College provides innumerable academic opportunities and pathways for its students, ranging from academic upgrading, apprenticeship and diploma programs, to graduate certificate, college degree and university degree programs through its unique University Partnership Centre. With three main campuses (Barrie, Orillia, and Owen Sound) and four regional centres (Midland, Muskoka, Orangeville and South Georgian Bay), Georgian has the largest geographical reach of any Ontario college and is also the fastest growing. Between 2000 and 2010, Georgian’s full-time enrolment increased by 68.5 per cent. Georgian today welcomes over 10,000 full-time and 16,000 part-time students annually including international students from more than 43 countries. Approximately 780 full-time and 1,500 part-time employees work at the college. Georgian’s Kempenfelt Conference Centre is located on the shores of Kempenfelt Bay, Lake Simcoe, just east of Barrie. It features a beautiful, natural setting on 15 acres, including 1,500 feet of private shoreline. Kempenfelt offers a variety of facilities and services for conferences and meetings, including both indoor and outdoor recreational activities. The facility features lakeside accommodations, a dining room and lounge, as well as a 180-seat hall, 10 meeting/classrooms and 10 seminar/breakout rooms. Georgian College operates three Employment Service locations in Barrie, Orangeville, and Orillia, helping over 2,000 people connect with employment and educational opportunities each year. As part of the provincial Employment Ontario (EO) network of services, Georgian helps community members who are looking for their first jobs, are mid-career, or are moving toward retirement to determine both short- and long-term goals. Georgian’s 10 Literacy and Basic Skills sites, operating as Academic Upgrading (AU), are also part of the EO network. AU provides the opportunity for about 1,500 learners annually to improve their academic credentials and skills to prepare for post-secondary programs and new employment opportunities. The Barrie Campus offers a one-year Pre-Health Sciences certificate program with an Aboriginal stream and a brand-new resource centre equipped with a medicine wheel (stone garden) and fire pit used for ceremonial gatherings. The Barrie Campus also hosts an annual traditional Pow Wow – run, in part, by more than 100 student volunteers. International education is thriving at Georgian College. The international student market has been important to Georgian for many decades, and strategies to strengthen the college’s involvement even further have been successfully introduced in recent years. Georgian has students from more than 43 countries who provide a global perspective invaluable to the world economy. Georgian plans to double its international student cohort in coming years, with a goal of 10 per cent international student enrolment. Georgian’s International Education and Training Centre positions the college well to achieve this goal, offering a unique English for Academic Purposes program designed exclusively for international students whose first language is not English. A strong array of services that support students from the moment they contact the college through to graduation helps to ensure that international students studying in a wide range of full-time programs have a great chance of success. At home and abroad, the college continues to expand its reach and strengthen global connections through increased international recruitment and partnership development. Currently, Georgian is engaged in international projects with institutions in India and Malaysia. Past projects have included partnerships with institutions in such countries as Argentina, China and Mexico. Research shows that the annual economic impact of Georgian College is $143 million regionally and $294 million provincially. Georgian College continues to score top marks in the Ontario college system annual survey, consistently maintaining one of the highest graduate employment rates among Ontario colleges. In addition, it received the highest possible marks in the provincial Program Quality Assurance Process Audit. Georgian has been named as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers (for the fifth time) and has been named as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the past two years. Georgian’s highly successful “Power of Education” campaign has now well surpassed its $25-million goal, money which has helped to develop and expand key programs and fund industry-driven improvements to Georgian’s campuses. More than 900 annual awards and scholarships, valued at over $700,000, are distributed to students annually. In 2010, The Georgian College Board of Governors approved a new strategic plan for Georgian College. Vision 2015 addresses current and long-term strategic priorities, and positions Georgian College not only to take on the future, but to set the standard for others to follow. Mission To inspire innovation, transform lives and connect communities through the power of education. Values • Connectedness, engagement and collaboration • Innovation and entrepreneurship • Strength through diversity • Continuous quality improvement • Respect for people and the environment Strategic priorities • Advance student access and success • Inspire extraordinary teaching and learning • Champion employee engagement • Strengthen community and industry connections • Build sustainability through innovation The college has 10 Centres of Excellence 1. Canadian Automotive Institute (Barrie): Offers the only Business Administration (Automotive Marketing) program and the only Bachelor of Applied Business Automotive Management degree program in Canada. Home of the Georgian College Auto Show, the largest outdoor student-run auto show in North America; 2. Centre for Automotive Parts Expertise (Barrie): CAPE students are trained to work as engineering technologists and technicians in the automotive parts industry, obtaining the high-tech skills, theory and workplace experience they need to thrive in the fast-paced automotive world; 3. Canadian Aviation Institute (Barrie): A national centre of aviation management training and education that is well respected throughout the aviation industry; 4. Centre for Applied Research and Innovation (Barrie): Addresses challenges faced by industry and partners with local businesses to bring ideas to life in the commercial marketplace; 5. Centre for Sustainable Technologies (Barrie): Serves as a learning lab with technology and systems that meet the needs of industry; 6. Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (Barrie): Aimed at sparking new business and encouraging students to think entrepreneurially; 7. Georgian College Skilled Trades Centre (Midland): Focuses on growing the skilled trades through pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship and post-secondary programs. Located at the Robbert Hartog Midland Campus; 8. Ontario Recreational Boating Centre of Excellence (Midland): A state-of-the-art skilled trades facility that prepares students to meet the critical needs of the marine industry; 9. Great Lakes International Marine Training and Research Centre (Owen Sound): Developed in co-operation with Transport Canada and the Canadian shipping industry. With a recent $8.5-million upgrade which includes state-of-the-art marine simulators, its facilities are world-class; and 10. Justice and Public Safety Institute (Orillia): Offers current, hands-on education for people interested in public safety fields. In August 2011, Georgian began a new era in health education with the opening of the $62.5-million Sadlon Centre of Health and Wellness. This state-of-the-art facility has enabled Georgian to increase enrolment in health science programs, allowing for more people to pursue health care careers in the region. It offers students and the public greater access to health care in new student-run teaching clinics. Georgian recently opened a new campus location in Collingwood – the John Di Poce South Georgian Bay Campus facility can accommodate 250 full-time students and more than 3,000 part-time students annually. The new building will allow Georgian to expand opportunities for corporate training, skills simulation and small business services in the South Georgian Bay region. Delivering excellent, career-focused programs in state-of-the-art facilities is not the only thing Georgian does well – Georgian is also committed to supporting its students in every way possible, providing access to friendly, knowledgeable staff and an extensive range of resources that help to ensure student success. For more information on Georgian College, please visit www.georgianc.on.ca.