Carleton is awaiting the approval of a $35-million fund from the Ontario government to build brand new health sciences and business faculty buildings on campus, according to documents released by the provincial government.
In December 2013, the Ontario government asked post-secondary schools in the province to propose potential developments they would like to add to their current facilities under the Major Capacity Expansion Policy.
In order to receive the fund, Carleton must prove they have long-term enrolment growth, an impact on the surrounding community, be economically secure, show they have a quality student experience, and be affordable for students and the province.
Chris Cline, media relations co-ordinator at Carleton, said the specialties “were chosen because of significant programming and research needs over the coming years. The exact locations have yet to be determined.”
The two new buildings are expected to be 100,000 square feet and cost about $35 million each, he said. Of the $70 million required to construct the new buildings, Carleton will cover half, while the rest will come from the provincial fund. The exact locations of the two new buildings have yet to be determined, Cline added.
One of the proposed buildings would help facilitate the new health sciences program, which was recently approved by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities, and is in its first year of operations, according to the documents.
The new program is targeted toward students who don’t necessarily want to become doctors, but do want to work in health care.
The other focus of Carleton’s Major Capacity expansion fund is to build a business faculty to house the expanding enrolment rates in the program.
They also want the space to be able to add a managing hospitality program, a bachelor of information technology joint program with Algonquin, an undergraduate and master’s in accounting, and a master’s of engineering in technology innovation management.
Carleton is also eyeing possible satellite campuses in Cornwall and Niagara Falls.
Cline said both of the municipalities approached Carleton about the possibility of offering courses or programs in the two cities. However, he said he didn’t have any further information as the plans are still in their early stages.
“There are significant benefits to the surrounding communities involved,” Cline said. “There could be benefits for Carleton in attracting students who otherwise might have attended another university or not attended university at all.”
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