What's New
Province Invests in Expanded Student Services Space at Ridgetown Campus
May 24, 2011
The University of Guelph’s Ridgetown Campus — experiencing the highest enrolment in its 60 years — has received more than $1.4 million from the provincial government for a new student service and recruitment centre.
The funding was announced today in Ridgetown, Ont., by Pat Hoy, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex, and John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
“Ontario’s economy is turning the corner to a better tomorrow, and the McGuinty government’s investment in the Ridgetown Campus is an investment in Ontario’s future prosperity,” Milloy said.
Hoy added: “I’m pleased that the McGuinty government continues to invest heavily in the Ridgetown community. Today’s announcement builds on the millions of dollars of wise funding we’ve delivered for this community and this region.”
“This new facility will allow us to further enhance the quality of the educational experience that we deliver to our students and also support the greater demands for classroom space and services on the campus,” said Rob Gordon, OAC dean.
The building will double as a careers centre and as a welcome venue for prospective students and their parents. It will also hold conferences and other campus and community events. The project will combine new construction and renovation that will make better use of the existing Reek Administration Building.
“Ridgetown is proving to be an attractive option for students across Ontario, especially during this period of a changing economy,” said U of G President Alistair Summerlee. “Our goal is providing our students with the best possible teaching and learning environment.”
The Ridgetown Campus offers degree, diploma and certificate programs supporting agriculture, food, veterinary technology and environmental management. The campus will see its largest-ever graduating class in June, and the trend is expected to continue. Enrolment in the agriculture diploma programs has nearly doubled in the past two years, and the campus forecasts additional growth.
The new centre has also received support from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO), and the Ridgetown Campus Agri-Food Foundation. The Foundation will continue working with the campus to raise funds for the centre’s construction, which will cost about $3.2 million.
