THUNDER BAY — April 21, 2022: Lakehead University and Confederation College have signed a joint admission agreement that will facilitate the seamless transfer of students earning a college diploma directly to undergraduate studies at university.
Covering more than 30 distinct diploma-to-degree programs, this agreement will reduce red tape and the time, costs, and barriers of higher education by encouraging students to continue with post-secondary education after they complete their respective diploma program.
Through this agreement, students will experience improved and collaborative recruitment, communication, transition, and academic advising.
“It is important for eligible students to know in advance they have a place in both a diploma and a degree program, which allows for long-term planning and greater stability,” said Richard Gemmill, Confederation College’s vice-president, academic.
“If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that access to post-secondary education and the ability for individuals and families to plan long-term cannot be taken for granted,” said David Barnett, provost and vice-president (academic), Lakehead University.
“As the only comprehensive university in Northern Ontario, this agreement will expand post-secondary options to those throughout Northwestern Ontario,” said Moira McPherson, president and vice-chancellor, Lakehead University.
“In particular, it will provide students who begin their studies at any of Confederation College’s eight campuses the ability to seamlessly complete some, if not all, of certain degree requirements in their home communities,” McPherson said.
“Confederation College and Lakehead University have long worked together and been committed to facilitating access to post-secondary education throughout Northwestern Ontario,” said Kathleen Lynch, president, Confederation College.
“This agreement builds on our individual institutional strengths, broadens our collective commitment to the communities we serve, and paves the way for new and innovative opportunities,” Lynch said.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2022 World Universities Rankings for the third consecutive year, and in the top 100 of 1,115 universities from around the world in THE's 2021 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has seven regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Greenstone, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake, as well as a growing distance education division. Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 7,000 combined full- and part-time students per year and currently has a total of 600 full- and part-time employees. Confederation’s regional economic impact and contribution is valued at $707.3 million annually.
