Algoma U in talks with Lambton College

Algoma University president Craig Chamberlin will travel to Sarnia later this month for talks with officials of Lambton College, the second-oldest of Ontario's 24 community colleges.

Algoma U already has 'pathway' agreements with Lambton and nine other Ontario colleges, granting credit for college courses toward a university degree.

The new talks with Lambton College will explore "a more extensive pathway agreement," Chamberlin told SooToday after a meeting of Algoma U's board of governors last night.

"They're very interested in working with us," Chamberlin said.

Some possibilities for new collaboraton include joint admission policies, co-ordination of programs and guaranteed credit.

Chamberlin said he will visit Sarnia on December 12 for the Lambton College talks.

On August 31, Chamberlin and Cambrian College president Bill Best signed an agreement streamlining pathways to Algoma’s bachelor of arts and science degrees, as well as bachelor degrees in fine arts, music, social work, business administration and computer science.

"We want to be this collaborative organization that really reaches out to the other postsecondary institutions," Chamberlin said last night.

"Because I believe in that system approach, that we actually think of ourselves as collaborators as opposed to competitors, when it comes to students."

Tony Hanlon, currently serving as interim chief executive officer at Algoma Public Health and a former vice president academic and student services at Sault College, was president of Lambton College for a decade ending in March of 2012.

Hanlon is not believed to have been consulted regarding the possibilities at Lambton College.

Other news from last night's meeting of Algoma University governors:

• projected full-time equivalent enrolment is down about eight per cent from last year, but that's actually three per cent better than the budget projection.
• domestic enrolment is better than expected.
• international enrolment is problematic.
• at least three short-term study groups will visit the university during the winter semester: two from Japan and one from Korea. A fourth group from China may visit subject to visa approval.
• student recruiters have recently visited Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. Applications have been received from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. India is proving to be a tougher sell.
• candidates are being interviewed for three vacant social work faculty posts.
• initial work has been done on a possible centre for continuing education at Algoma University.
• President Chamberlin was in Mexico last month to explore possibilities of partnering with a network of 11 indigenous (intercultural) universities there on cultural and academic exchanges.
• Algoma U is closely following a provincial call for proposals to improve access to university education in Brampton and Milton. Algoma's Brampton campus is too small to provide what the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development is looking for, Chamberlin said. "What we're looking to do is collaborate with the other universities that have expressed an interest in the region."
• the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21 will be a much bigger event than it was last year. University governors are being strongly urged to participate.