Georgian College

History

The college was established during the formation of Ontario’s college system in 1967—Georgian is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2017. Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology were established on May 21, 1965 when the Ontario system of public colleges was created.

Programs

Georgian College offers academic upgrading, apprenticeship training, certificate, diploma, graduate certificate, college degree and university programs (including combined degree-diplomas) and part-time studies in such areas as Indigenous studies, automotive business, business and management studies, community safety, computer studies, design and visual arts, engineering technology and environmental studies, health and wellness studies, hospitality, tourism and recreation, human services, liberal arts, and more.

Classes are small (26 people on average).

Georgian offers the following degrees:

Its University Partnership Centre is one-of-a-kind in Ontario, with university undergraduate and graduate degrees, college degrees, combined degree-diplomas and graduate certificate programs and partnerships with select universities. The college has developed over 590 articulation and transfer agreements with 56 institutions around the world.

Degrees currently offered in partnership with other institutions include:

Entrepreneurship

Georgian offers a special focus on entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurial outcomes are embedded in every one of Georgian's 125+ programs and entrepreneurship is a signature learning experience throughout the college – from classrooms to student-run businesses and clubs.

Students and community members alike gain professional assistance in planning and starting their own business with help from Georgian’s Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre. The centre:

Georgian's Centre for Social Entrepreneurship also brings together faculty, students and non-profit organizations to respond to complex issues and effect positive social change. 

Co-op education

Georgian has the most Ontario college students enrolled in co-op programs (more than 5,000). A total of 6,200 employers partner with Georgian to offer student work experiences (such as PowerStream, Algoma Central Corporation, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and more). Georgian is the only Ontario college with programs accredited by the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education; this represents the highest standard of achievement for co-op programs in Canada. C-op work terms can lead to full-time positions after graduation. Students may opt to be their own boss and start a business as part of Georgian’s eCo-op (entrepreneurship co-op) program.

Georgian is number one in graduate employment among all 22 English-language Ontario colleges. According to key performance indicators for 2015-16, 87.8 per cent of Georgian graduates found work within six months – well above the provincial average of 83.6 per cent. Georgian has maintained a graduate employment rate above the provincial average for more than a decade.

Academic research activity

Georgian students conduct real-world research through the Centre for Applied Research and Innovation.

Scholarships and bursaries

More than 900 awards and scholarships are disbursed to students with an annual combined value of over $700,000. The college joined Operation Hero, a scholarship program co-founded by General (Ret'd) Rick Hillier for dependents or spouses of serving or past members of the Canadian Forces entering any full-time post-secondary program at Georgian College.

The Government of Canada sponsors an Aboriginal Bursaries Search Tool that lists over 750 scholarships, bursaries, bursaries and other incentives offered by governments, universities and industry to support Aboriginal postsecondary participation. Georgian College scholarships for Aboriginal, First Nations and Métis students include the Casino Rama Aboriginal Tourism Award, Casino Rama Tourism Graduate Award, Monague Native Crafts Ltd. Award, Crossworks Manufacturing Native Education Award, Randy Anderson Memorial Award, New VR Award, Janet Stinson Memorial Award, and Native Education – Community and Social Development Graduate Award.

Barrie

Georgian College's main campus is located on a 140-acre (57 ha) site on the northeast edge of Barrie.

The Barrie Campus is home to the University Partnership Centre (UPC), offering degree studies and combined degree-diploma programs.

The Barrie Campus is also home to the Sadlon Centre for Health, Wellness and Sciences. Opened in 2011, this $65 million, 165,000-square-foot (15,300 m²) facility has allowed Georgian to double its enrolment in health and wellness programs to 3,000 students and allow students to pursue health sciences-related certificates, diplomas and degrees, including advanced degree programs. It is home to a variety of health care teaching clinics open to the public, as well as leading-edge laboratories and technology-enhanced classrooms.

Currently under construction is the $30-million, three-storey Advanced Technology, Innovation and Research Centre. When completed in the fall of 2018, it will provide study and learning space for students enrolled in new diploma and degree programs. It will also be an important resource where academia and industry can collaborate to innovate, diversify the economy and create new opportunities for the future.

The Barrie Campus offers an on-campus residence. The eight-floor residence houses approximately 525 students, which includes 16 live-in residence life staff (15 Resident Attendants and a Manager of Residence Life). There are also two dual bedroom rooms for students with disabilities. During the summer, this residence becomes a summer accommodation facility and hotel, although a few students remain in the building for the summer semester.

Orillia

The Orillia Campus was established in 1969. On-site facilities include a 150-seat theatre, fitness centre and weight room. Over 1,600 students pursue studies at the campus. It is home to the Justice and Public Safety Institute and the Community Education Partnership Centre.

Many but not all programs at the Orillia Campus focus on the health sciences and human services field. Other programs include Honours Bachelor of Police Studies, Police Foundations, Protection, Security and Investigation, Child and Youth Care, Veterinary Assistant and Veterinary Technician, plus numerous graduate certificate programs.

Leading social change in the community is Georgian’s Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Orillia Campus. Here, faculty, students and non-profit organizations work together to effect positive social change—close to 100 students from four programs work with 25 community partners annually. Partners include The Sharing Place, Orillia Museum of Art and History, Barrie Public Library and Huronia Transition Homes, among others.

Owen Sound

The Owen Sound Campus has over 1,100 full-time and 4,600 Continuing Education registrations.

Among the most notable features of the campus are its marine training facilities. The Algoma Central Corporation Marine Emergency Duties (MED) Centre, which opened in October 2016 is a $7.5 million, 13,600-square-foot facility is a key part of the college’s renowned Marine Studies and is used extensively by students enrolled in Georgian’s postsecondary marine programs as well as by working mariners who require certification or refresher training. MED training is mandatory for anyone who works on a ship in Canada. After several years without a marine emergency duties training facility in Ontario, mariners will no longer need to travel to Canada’s east or west coasts to obtain this certification. Life-saving training includes firefighting, survival craft, life raft and immersion suit training, as well as first aid.

The renovated $8.5-million Centre for Marine Training and Research 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m²) is the most technologically advanced marine training centre in the country. The CMTR is used to certify professionals already in the marine industry and to train students in the Marine Engineering Technician and Marine Technology – Navigation programs. Graduates of these programs have an average annual starting salary of more than $60,000. The college also offers a graduate certificate in Marine Engineering Management.

Midland

The Robbert Hartog Midland Campus is a regional campus of Georgian College, providing education and training opportunities to North Simcoe. Campus features include 39,000 square feet of dedicated shop space, Indigenous Resource Centre, cafeteria and Recreational Boating Centre of Excellence. It has 710 full-time students with a focus on electrical, mechanical, welding and plumbing programs and over 1,200 part-time registrations.

Muskoka

The Muskoka Campus was established in 1977 and is located in Bracebridge, 100 km (62 mi) north of Barrie. Campus features include a 7,000-square-foot carpentry shop, computer labs, free parking, multimedia classrooms and videoconferencing capabilities. It has 250 full-time and close to 700 part-time registrations in program areas such as health care, skilled trades and business.

South Georgian Bay

The South Georgian Bay Campus, located in Collingwood, Ontario, was established in 1985. Campus features include 20,000 square feet of multi-function classrooms, community room, computer lab, student lounge and videoconferencing capabilities. It has 250 full-time students and 450 part-time registrations in such program areas as business, administration and skilled trades.

Orangeville

The Orangeville Campus was established in 1988. Campus features include a computer lab, student lounge, videoconferencing capabilities and state-of-the-art nursing lab. It has 160 full-time students in such programs as Office Administration – General, Office Administration – Medical, Personal Support Worker, Practical Nursing and Pre-health Sciences. It also has close to 1,000 part-time registrations in such areas as business, computers, corporate training, design and visuals arts, hospitality and tourism and languages.

Automotive Business School of Canada

Georgian College is also home to the Automotive Business School of Canada, the only one of its kind in the country. The school offers a two-year diploma and a four-year Honours Bachelor of Business Administration, specializing in the automotive industry. Students host North America's largest outdoor student-run auto show every year with a show date now in June. The Automotive Dealership Management graduate certificate builds on professionals' existing experience and helps them upgrade their skills.

Canadian Aviation Institute

Georgian's three-year Aviation Management advanced diploma co-op program is designed to give students knowledge and hands-on experience in aviation and management through in-class instruction and co-operative work experience in the aviation industry. Students are given the opportunity to pass the examination to receive their Restricted Aeronautical Radio Operation License. Management courses are designed to give students an understanding of management practices and procedures to prepare them for future promotional opportunities.

Some Georgian graduates are employed by NAV CANADA, Lester B. Pearson Airport and the Ministry of Natural Resources, among other aviation-related companies. Graduates of the Aviation Management program have gained employment in airline management, airport management, airport planning and flight dispatch and in government aviation agencies.

Notable alumni