Wikipedia

Conestoga College

Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a public college located in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Conestoga College logo
TypePublic
Established1967
ChairFrank Boutzis[1]
PresidentJohn Tibbits
Vice-presidentDean Bulloch, Michelle Chretien, Joorg Dallmeier, Carolyn Galvin, Gary Hallam, Eric Johnstone, Norman Macdonald-Ewing, Julia Oosterman, Connie Phelps, Sandra Schelling, Tim Schill, Trish Weigel-Green
Students11,000 full-time; 30,000 part-time (2020: 10,536 FTEs)[2]
Location
Kitchener
,
Ontario
,
Canada
CampusUrban
Sports teamsConestoga Condors
ColoursNavy and red    
AffiliationsCCAA, ACCC, AUCC, OCAA, CBIE, Polytechnics Canada
MascotCondor
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Doon Campus sign

History

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In 1967, the college was founded as Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology by the government of Ontario to grant diplomas and certificates in career-related, skills-oriented programs.

The college started to offer degree programs in B.Eng. Mechanical Systems Engineering[3] and B.A. Tech Architecture - Project and Facility Management starting in August 2003,[4] and B.A. Tech in Integrated Telecommunication and Computer Technology[5] in 2007.

Corruption in Canadian Higher-Education that saw Canadian institutions abandoning academic ethics and standards to enroll foreign students was noted in 2016.[6] Conestoga faculty began reporting widespread cheating and fraud dating back to at least 2019.[7] The early 2020s saw 70% to 81% of Conestoga's enrollees as international students, most commonly from India, [8][9][10] and a 1,579% increase in international student population since 2014.[11] Its total revenue increased over $137 million year over year.[8][12]

By 2023, Conestoga College accounted for 30,395 international study permits, more than twice as many as any other post-secondary institution in Canada.[13] In October federal Minister of Immigration Marc Miller threatened a federal crack down on Canadian post secondary institutions operating as "bad actors" if they did not clean up their act.[14] President John Tibbits responded claiming Conestoga was "unfairly grouped" with "bad actors in the sector."[15][16] In November Cambridge MP Bryan May publicly criticized Conestoga saying "They are exploiting these students."[17] Reports of increased use of local food banks by Conestoga college and other students continued.[18][19][20][21]

In January 2024, at a public event, Conestoga president John Tibbits called fellow Sault College president David Orazietti "a whore" in reference to enrolment practices.[22][23] In February union locals called for Tibbits to resign.[24] In March, Conestoga College was criticized by the Minister of Immigration over its practice of foreign enrolment. [25][26] In April Orazietti filed a $200K defamation lawsuit against Conestoga and it's president.[27][28] Public criticism of Conestoga's business practices came also from their own staff.[29] The following month Conestoga announced they were offering 160 employees early retirement in December 2024 in an effort to cut costs following decreased international student demand.[30]

In March 2024, it was reported the college was expected to lose over half of its current international students.[31][32] In April college staff, faculty and students went public with concerns citing a lack of fundamental skills among those admitted and students who struggle to make ends meet while the college posted a surplus of over $100 million in 2022-23.[33] In August of 2024 Conestoga defended running a 2023-24 surplus of over a quarter billion dollars.[34] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized colleges of profiting from high enrolment of foreign students in November, Conestoga declined to respond to his comments.[35] Immigration Minister Marc Miller called out Conestoga saying that making $100 million dollar surplus "isn't the vocation of a college.[36][37] In December it was reported that 550 Conestoga students had made asylum claims.[38] Canadian colleges have been implicated in human trafficking by Indian authorities. [39][40]

Academic program

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Conestoga has one, two, three, or four-year programs, as well as apprenticeship training programs. There are also many options available to students including four-year degrees[41] in Mechanical Systems Engineering, Integrated Telecommunications and Computer Technology, Architecture, Health Informatics or the International Business Management degree which started in the fall of 2006.

Trades and apprenticeship

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The college operates trades programs at the campuses in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph; training facilities are operated in Brantford and Ingersoll. The school's programs include Construction, Motive Power, Industrial and Service sectors, as well as Traditional Apprenticeship and, most recently, Pre-apprenticeship,[42] offered in partnership with private enterprise companies.[43] The college's president revealed a plan in late 2019 to consolidate all of the trades programs at one location in future, but the date of the move was not disclosed at that time.[44][45]

Campuses

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Doon Campus is the main campus for Conestoga College. It is located at the south end of Kitchener and houses the central administration offices as well as the majority of courses offered by the college. Regional campuses have select programs.

  1. Brantford: 274 Colborne St.[46]
  2. Cambridge: 850 Fountain St. South, 25 Reuter Drive[47]
  3. Guelph: 460 Speedvale Ave. West[48]
  4. Ingersoll: 420 Thomas St.[49]
  5. Kitchener: 299 Doon Valley Drive (Doon Campus), 49 Frederick St. (downtown)[50]
  6. Milton: 8160 Parkhill Dr., 433 Steeles Ave. East[51]
  7. Stratford: 130 Youngs St.[52]
  8. Waterloo: 108 University Av. East[53]

Planned Milton Campus

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The town of Milton and Wilfrid Laurier University had been working together since 2008 to develop the 61-hectare (150-acre) campus in Milton within the planned Milton Education Village (MEV) on 61 hectares (150 acres) of land donated by the town.[54] The university subsequently partnered with Conestoga College which would also add a satellite campus at that location.[55][56][57]

In April 2018, the Province announced a funding plan of $90 million for the project. Construction of the 61-hectare (150-acre) campus was expected to conclude in Q3 of 2021; in the meantime, the college would offer courses in rented premises, commencing in September 2019.[58][59]

In October 2018, however, the new provincial government (elected in June 2018) withdrew the funding before any construction had begun, citing a greater than expected provincial deficit. This effectively cancelled the plans for the joint project with Laurier.[60] Mayor Gord Krantz said the town would explore alternatives for funding the Milton Education Village campus.[61] A news release issued by the college said that it would continue working with Laurier, "the government, industry and community partners to develop a revised model for the cost-effective delivery of post-secondary education ... in Milton..."[62]

Cambridge expansion

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The college decided to purchase 17 hectares (42 acres) of land in this city in 2019, to relocate all of the trades programs (offered at various campuses) to Cambridge at a future date. Specifics were not immediately provided at the time of the announcement in late 2019.[63] The new campus opened in Fall 2022 on 16 hectares (40 acres) of land at Reuter Drive, next to Highway 401. The college aims to modernize and consolidate all skilled trades programs in this single location.[64]

Planned Guelph expansion

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The college has operated a small campus in Guelph for some years, but in late 2019, it advised the news media that a major expansion was planned after the trades program was relocated to Cambridge. "Within five or six years, we will have at least 5,000 students there ... [with] full-service programming," said college President John Tibbits. At the time, the Guelph campus had approximately 1,000 students.[65]

In 2023, the college announced it would be purchasing a soon-to-be vacant building in downtown Guelph, with the first phase of a new campus scheduled to open in 2025. At full capacity, the new downtown Guelph campus will have approximately 5,000 students.[66]

Other buildings

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Doon Campus from Homer Watson Blvd.
  • Recreation Centre
  • ATS Centre
  • Woodworking Centre of Ontario

Future

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The School of Engineering and Information Technology was relocated, in 2011, to a new expansion of the Doon campus opposite the current facility across Highway 401. This City of Cambridge site will eventually hold 93,000 square metres (1,000,000 sq ft) of space.[citation needed]

Phase one of the new Cambridge Campus was finished and open for the start of the fall 2011 semester. 24,000-square-metre (260,000 sq ft) building is home to the School of Engineering and Information Technology, as well as to the Institute for Food Processing Technology. The Engineering facility has programs with a focus on advanced manufacturing, robotics, renewable energy, telecommunications, and information technology. The expansion has increased capacity by 2,350 additional full-time spaces and allowed for an additional 800 new spaces for apprentices.[citation needed]

In May 2019, a new downtown campus for the International Business program was announced to be opening at Kitchener's Market Square in January 2020. It will host 1,000 students to start.[67]

Residences

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Conestoga's Kitchener - Conestoga College Blvd. residence is close to the Kitchener - Doon and Cambridge - Fountain Street campuses. Scheduled to open in fall 2023, the Waterloo - University Ave. residence is close to the Waterloo campus and a short drive to the Kitchener - Downtown campus.[68] Despite the international student body at Conestoga College increasing by 1579%,[69] on-campus student housing does not meet the demand of enrolled students resulting in many students struggling to find housing in the region.[70][71]

Student Life Centre

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Student media

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  • 88.3 CJIQ is the college's campus radio station. It is used as part of the Broadcasting: Radio course and Journalism program.[72]
  • Conestoga Connected is a weekly half-hour newsmagazine all about Conestoga College student programs, news, events, innovations, sports, life off-campus and alumni. It is created and produced by second-year Broadcast Television students.
  • Conestoga College Digital[73] TV (CCDTV) is an online TV station run by the School of Creative Industries. It features original shows and updates students about the current affairs. The channel officially launched on June 12, 2024.[74]

Student sports

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Conestoga College student sports teams are named the "Condors". They compete against varsity level teams. There are also intramural and extramural programs.

Notable alumni

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  •  
    Doon Campus Library and pond
  •  
    Doon Campus sidewalk
  •  
    Cambridge Campus building
  •  
    Cambridge Campus bike rack
  •  
    Cambridge Campus

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About conestoga Governance". Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Ontario College FTEs". Ontario Colleges Library Service. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  3. ^ B.Eng. Mechanical Systems Engineering
  4. ^ B.A.Tech Architecture - Project and Facility Management
  5. ^ Integrated Telecommunication and Computer Technology
  6. ^ Broitman, Mel. "Corruption in Higher Ed: Canada in the Crosshairs". www.insidehighered.com. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  7. ^ Williams, Robert (2024-12-17). "POWER PLAY — How John Tibbits turned a struggling community college into an international student destination". The Record. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  8. ^ a b McGinty, Joe (15 December 2023). "New rules for international students will change the landscape for local colleges". CambridgeToday.ca. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  9. ^ "College enrolment - Dataset -Ontario Data Catalogue". Government of Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  10. ^ Fleguel, Indira Kannan and Jordan (22 September 2023). "India tensions source of concern for Canada's postsecondary schools". BNN. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  11. ^ Davis, Stefanie (21 September 2023). "Conestoga College president addresses need for housing as international enrolment soars". CTV News. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  12. ^ Groleau, Carmen. "Conestoga College president John Tibbits defends school's intake of international students". CBC. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  13. ^ Valerie Ouellet; Mike Crawley (February 27, 2024). "Canada's international student spike was blamed on private colleges. Here's what really happened". CBC.
  14. ^ "Miller to provinces: If you can't fix international student rackets then feds will". CTVNews. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  15. ^ "Conestoga unfairly grouped with 'bad actors,' says school president". GuelphToday.com. 2024-02-05. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  16. ^ "Conestoga president says college is not a 'bad actor' in sector". CambridgeToday.ca. 2024-02-05. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  17. ^ "International students say they feel exploited by college system". CambridgeToday.ca. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  18. ^ "Waterloo Region transit, food banks seeing record breaking usage with high student enrolment numbers". Kitchener. 2023-09-22. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  19. ^ Reporter, Robert Williams Record (2023-11-13). "Students accessing food banks increase by 220% in October". The Record. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  20. ^ "International students overwhelming Waterloo Region food banks, soup kitchens". 2024-09-15. Archived from the original on 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  21. ^ "Editor's Letter: How Ontario schools lure and abandon international students". Toronto Life. 2024-04-18. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  22. ^ "Conestoga College President Under Review for Offensive Remarks". GuelphToday.com. 2024-02-15. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  23. ^ November 11, Policy Options Originally published on Policy Options; 2024. "Changes to permits for international students reward the worst colleges and hurt serious researchers". Policy Options. Retrieved 2024-12-28. {{cite web}}: |first1= has generic name (help); |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Bueckert, Kate (20 Feb 2024). "Union locals urge Conestoga College president to retire over 'derogatory' comments on women, foreign students". CBC News.
  25. ^ Outhit, Jeff (26 March 2024). "Immigration minister slams Conestoga College over foreign enrolment". The Record. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  26. ^ Sandstrom, Alison (26 March 2024). "Immigration minister criticizes Conestoga for international student strategy". Kitchener. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Conestoga College and John Tibbits named in defamation lawsuit". Kitchener. 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  28. ^ Fraser, Justine (2024-04-23). "Sault College sues Conestoga College, president for alleged defamation". CityNews Kitchener. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  29. ^ "Conestoga's own staff critical of international student recruitment policies". CambridgeToday.ca. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  30. ^ "Conestoga College offering 160 employees early retirement". Kitchener. 2024-12-12. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  31. ^ Douglas, Mark (28 March 2024). "Conestoga College to lose more than half its current international students in Ford government changes". CityNews. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  32. ^ "Conestoga College will need to cut international student intake by more than half this September". CBC News. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  33. ^ Al Mallees, Nojoud. "Conestoga College under fire by students, union leaders for aggressive international student recruitment". CBC News.
  34. ^ Shetty, Aastha (2 Aug 2024). "Conestoga College defends $252M surplus saying it's 'a one-time occurrence'". CBC News.
  35. ^ Outhit, Jeff (2024-11-21). "Trudeau criticizes colleges over high intake of foreign students". The Record. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
  36. ^ Outhit, Jeff (2024-08-01). "Immigration minister slams Conestoga College over foreign enrolment". The Record. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  37. ^ "Immigration minister criticizes Conestoga for international student strategy". Kitchener. 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  38. ^ "Student asylum claims soar at Conestoga College in wake of international student cap". CambridgeToday.ca. 2024-12-23. Retrieved 2024-12-26.
  39. ^ "'People are being exploited': Canada's international 'student trafficking' industry backfiring on Trudeau". financialpost. Archived from the original on 2024-03-08. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  40. ^ "India alleges widespread trafficking of international students through Canada to U.S." CP24. 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
  41. ^ "Welcome to Degrees Home Page - Conestoga College". www.conestogac.on.ca.
  42. ^ "Funding injection for skilled trade program at Conestoga College's Cambridge campus". Cambridge Times. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019. help people gain experience and knowledge in trades and foundational job skills to secure fulfilling and vibrant jobs. Pre-apprenticeship programs are free for participants and always includes a work placement.
  43. ^ "Trades & Apprenticeship Programs / Courses". Conestoga College. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  44. ^ "School of Trades & Apprenticeship". Conestoga College. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  45. ^ "Conestoga's Guelph campus targeted for big growth". Guelph Today. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019. move all of its trades programs from all its campuses to the Cambridge location
  46. ^ "Brantford campus". Conestoga College. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  47. ^ "Cambridge". Conestoga College. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  48. ^ "Guelph". Conestoga College. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  49. ^ "Ingersoll Skills Training Centre". Conestoga College. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  50. ^ "Kitchener". Conestoga College. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  51. ^ "Milton". Conestoga College. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  52. ^ "Stratford campus". Conestoga College. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  53. ^ "Waterloo campus". Conestoga College. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  54. ^ Gregory, Michael (22 July 2014). "Milton to transfer 150 acres for Wilfrid Laurier campus". Inside Halton. Metroland News. Retrieved 26 October 2018. University's acquiring of land valued at $50-million subject to Province's approval of satellite campus
  55. ^ "Milton Campus". WLU. 23 May 2018.
  56. ^ "Town of Milton". Milton.ca. 2014-04-01. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  57. ^ "Town of Milton". Milton.ca. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  58. ^ "Milton Education Village to go ahead after a decade of work". CBC News. April 18, 2018.
  59. ^ "Conestoga and Laurier partner for new campus in Milton". Conestoga. 18 April 2018.
  60. ^ "Laurier in Milton". WLU. 23 May 2018.
  61. ^ "Milton mayor extremely "disappointed" with cancellation of $90M for Laurier campus – Conservative government says large budget deficit reason for funding withdrawal". Milton Canadian Champion. 23 May 2018.
  62. ^ "Province pulls funding for Laurier-Conestoga campus in Milton". Kitchener Post-Metroland Media. 24 October 2018.
  63. ^ "Conestoga's Guelph campus targeted for big growth". Guelph Today. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019. move all of its trades programs from all its campuses to the Cambridge location as part of some major changes.
  64. ^ "Conestoga College skilled trades campus set to open this fall". Cambridge Today. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  65. ^ "Conestoga's Guelph campus targeted for big growth". Guelph Today. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019. What we want to have is a full-service programming college like we have in Kitchener. Not just social services but information technology, business, applied computer sciences, health ... there will be many more opportunities globally than there are now with some post-secondary and even degree programs
  66. ^ "New $90M Conestoga College campus coming to downtown Guelph". Guelph Mercury Tribune. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  67. ^ "New Conestoga campus to open in Downtown Kitchener". Conestoga College. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  68. ^ "Conestoa Residenc - Conestoga College". Conestoga College. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  69. ^ "Labour market imbalance: Why international students in K-W are struggling to find jobs". 12 September 2023.
  70. ^ Stefanie, Davis (21 August 2023). "'I'm unable to find anything': Waterloo Region students struggle to secure housing as fall semester inches closer". CTV News Kitchener. CTV News. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  71. ^ Aastha, Shetty (24 Aug 2023). "University, college students coping with high rent and scams ahead of fall semester". CBC News. CBC. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  72. ^ "About Us". CJIQ 88.3 FM is the Tri-Cities Alternative.
  73. ^ "Conestoga TV – Conestoga College's Digital TV". Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  74. ^ "CCDTV Launching June12 at 12pm". YouTube. 12 June 2024.
  75. ^ McIntosh, Andrew. "Metamorphosis". Canadian Film Encyclopedia. Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  76. ^ Gillis, Wendy; Siekierska, Alicja; Goffin, Peter (October 29, 2016). "From caring nurse to accused serial killer: who is Elizabeth Wettlaufer?". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  • Aggerholm, Barbara (January 10, 2006). "University Heights getting new educational role: Conestoga College buys school to expand apprenticeship courses". The Record. Kitchener, Ontario. pp. A1, A2.
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