Brock University Students Win With New Higher Learning Investment
Investment In Learning Environment Supports The Success Of The Reaching Higher Plan
ST. CATHARINES, ON, April 10 /CNW/ - Postsecondary students in the Niagara region will benefit even more from a new McGuinty government investment to support quality improvements at Brock University, said Jim Bradley, MPP St. Catharines along with Kim Craitor, MPP Niagara Falls.
Bradley joined Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and
Universities, at Brock University to announce $6.6 million in new funding to support quality improvements at the institution in 2007.
"Now students at Brock University will benefit from even higher quality
education," said Jim Bradley, MPP St. Catharines. "This investment will also deliver economic benefits to St. Catharines by supporting projects at Brock."
"As an employment professional before entering politics, I can't
emphasize enough how important it is for our society to invest in education," added Kim Craitor, MPP Niagara Falls. "Brock University is taking a leadership role in helping develop our local economy by educating the people we need to make our region grow. This is an excellent investment by our government."
As announced in the 2007 Budget, the McGuinty government is providing an additional $365 million to create a better learning environment for students in college and university, including support for new classrooms, modernized lab equipment and greater energy efficiency. This builds upon the government's $4.2 billion investment in new faculty, library acquisitions and student services at colleges and universities this coming year. Under the $6.2 billion Reaching Higher plan, funding to colleges and universities is increasing by 35 per cent over five years.
"The continued growth and development of Brock University is focused on several objectives: providing students with a high-quality educational
experience in our undergraduate programs and in our rapidly increasing number of graduate programs; making research, innovation, and creativity a pervasive activity; and in contributing directly to the Niagara region's, Ontario's and Canada's economic, social and cultural development through increased community engagement," said Brock University President Jack N. Lightstone. "We are very grateful to the Ontario government for their investment to Brock as we work
together to achieve the goals of the Reaching Higher plan, and we are pleased to receive this additional grant to support our core infrastructure as we strive to develop further."
In addition to the new funding provided through the 2007 Budget, the
province provided more than $76 million to Brock University in total operating funding in 2006-07, an increase of about $9 million in annual funding compared to 2004-05. This includes $1.9 million to add 182 additional spaces for graduate students. Brock has received $10.6 million to upgrade and expand facilities since 2003.
"Record numbers of students have found opportunity in our colleges and universities - 86,000 more than when we started," added Bentley. "Ontario's new economic strength depends upon access to quality postsecondary education and training - which is why we're helping students gain skills that will last a lifetime."
