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 Trent University Unveils Compelling Vision for New University Campus in OshawaFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New Trent in Oshawa Thornton Road Campus to Accommodate More Students and a Growing Range of Degree Programs and to Build on Trent’s 35 year Presence in Oshawa FROM THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING – Friday, January 29, 2010 Trent University announced today a new, compelling vision to transform the former St. Michael’s School on Thornton Road into a new campus for the delivery of its full-time and part-time programs for over 1,300 students in Oshawa and the Durham Region. The strategy for a new Trent presence in Oshawa will result in more students gaining access to a postsecondary education and the delivery of a growing range of degree programs. A fast-tracked construction plan will ensure the new $11.5 million facility for students and faculty is ready for the next academic year. The new campus will provide capacity for the introduction of new academic programs and allow for projected enrolment growth. “Trent is signalling to Oshawa and the Durham Region that we believe the University has a vital role in responding to students’ needs in the Oshawa area,” said Dr. Steven E. Franklin, president and vice-chancellor. “The University has been quietly serving Oshawa for over 35 years. Trent believes Oshawa is a dynamic community that has turned a tough financial corner and has tremendous potential. Trent intends to contribute to that recovery and help shape Oshawa’s future by supporting our students in the Durham region with our new vision and extending our presence in the broader community.” Students, too, have expressed their enthusiasm for a distinct Trent University presence in Oshawa. "The new campus has many benefits; it’s close to amenities and easily accessible,” said Lindsay Timmins, a fourth-year English Literature student and a peer mentoring coordinator at Trent’s current Oshawa location. “Trent in Oshawa can now have its own identity, autonomy, and stability. I have encountered amazingly supportive staff, faculty and students and now they will have a campus unique to their needs. It is an exciting time for this campus." In 2009, the University announced that it had acquired St. Michael’s School to build out its presence in Oshawa and Durham. Renovations at the school will include a new front façade added to the structure to serve as a student commons area, more classroom space and construction of an addition to the rear of the school for faculty offices, research needs and administrative offices. The construction timetable for the facility will see construction beginning in March and ending in August of this year. Central to the expansion initiative are the continued collaborations and strong partnerships between Trent University and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Durham College. Trent will continue to provide its own degree programs for both full-time and part-time students, along with elective courses to UOIT students. Current degree offerings include Anthropology, English Literature, Environmental and Resource Studies, History, Psychology and Sociology. Over time, Trent’s academic programming will evolve. In September, Trent will offer for the first time in Oshawa its first-year introductory Business Administration course. Trent is continuing to work with UOIT and Durham College to design a range of postsecondary options for students, including more joint degrees, opportunities for students to complete two degrees in a compressed timeframe, and more articulation agreements. Dr. Franklin emphasized that collaboration with existing partners remains a top priority. “Trent and UOIT recently approved a new Materials Science Ph.D. program,” said Franklin. “This wonderful collaboration exemplifies how the existing postsecondary institutions in Oshawa are working together to provide new, flexible pathways that are providing more students with access to a postsecondary education.” For more information contact: Kate Shaughnessy, Planning and Administrative Assistant, (705) 748-1011, ext. 6180 |
