Lambton College is working on a plan for the future that will focus on demographics and Sarnia-Lambton's workforce.
President Judith Morris told Sarnia's Seaway Kiwanis Club, during its weekly luncheon Tuesday, that work on their next strategic plan is underway, which will help navigate the college over the next five years, from 2019 to 2024.
"We have a consultant, we've been consulting with our students, with our faculty, support staff and admin [administration]," says Morris. "We're in the process of consulting with all the Chiefs of the First Nations, external partners and then we will pull all of that information together."
Morris says local demographics are shrinking and the college needs to be prepared.
"High schools closing. Public schools closing. That means that certainly, our domestic enrollment is not going to skyrocket," she says. "In fact, we will be lucky to hold onto it. So, not only will be do everything to hold onto our domestic enrollment, we will be attracting more international students to Sarnia, which helps with immigration and entrepreneurship."
A total of 786 international students are enrolled at the college this year and Morris says they're projecting 900 this September.
Lambton College's current strategic plan, which included significant growth projects, concludes this December.
Morris says the $50-million construction of two new world-class facilities on campus and a major renovation to the existing facilities continues to be on time and on budget.
Upgrades to the most southerly block, known as the Centre of Excellence in Energy and Bio-Industries, are to be complete this spring.
The new Athletic and Fitness Complex is set to open this September and the NOVA Chemicals Health & Research Centre is scheduled to welcome students in January 2019.
