On Campus

Laurentian University unveils ambitious five-year plan

Aims to add 1,150 students, spend $35 million on campus upgrades and reintroduce school hockey teams

Laurentian University is ready to step up its game. Announcing the details of its most recent five-year plan on Monday, the Sudbury, Ont.-based school revealed that it plans to reintroduce men and women’s hockey teams, create new departments of architecture and mining, spend $35 million on campus upgrades, and add 1,150 students to its annual enrollment by the 2017-18 school year.

In a press release, Laurentian said the latest budget was approved after consultations with more than 300 students, staff and faculty at the school’s Sudbury and Barrie campuses.

“We are one of the few Canadian universities in a strong financial position,” Carol McAulay, Laurentian vice-president of administration, told the Sudbury Star. “We have balanced budgets projected for at least the next six years, we have a solvent pension plan and low long-term debt ratios. This allows us to move forward with so many game-changing investments. It’s an exciting time to be at Laurentian.”

Highlights of the plan include:

  • $42.6 million for the new School of Architecture;
  • $6 million for the rehabilitation of the single-student residence
  • $4.1 million by 2017-18 to support the international accreditation of the Faculty of Management
  • $2.1M by 2017-18 to launch the School of Mines
  • $1.05 million by 2017-18 to fund the construction of an Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre, “enhance proactive hiring practices for Aboriginal faculty and staff, and increase Indigenous content in courses.”

Looking for more?

Get the Best of Maclean's sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for news, commentary and analysis.
  • By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.