Boreal, Cambrian Colleges hold enrolment compared to low provincial average

Two Sudbury area colleges are holding decent enrolment rates against Ontario’s decreasing average but still maintain they could do better.

Colleges Ontario said that, overall, the number of students at the province’s 24 colleges is down almost one per cent.

However, officials with Cambrian College and College Boreal said that while their numbers could improve they are holding steady with enrolment numbers over the past couple of years.

Elizabeth Kidd, with College Boreal, said this year the college is levelling out after a couple of years of increasing enrolment.

“I mean it’s fantastic to be flat, because all the other colleges are on the decrease,” Kidd said.

As for Cambrian, its enrolment is up almost two and a half per cent.

France Quirion, with Student Services, said it has had the biggest jump of any schools in the north partly because the school offers popular programs such as Medical Laboratory Technology

“And we've zeroed in on niche programs for the college where there are strong job prospects,” Quirion said.

Both Kidd and Quirion added that the push is on to sign a large number of undecided, last-minute students.