Photo: St. Lawrence College
Story by The Canadian Press
Two Ontario colleges have announced plans to merge.
Fleming College and St. Lawrence College say the announcement marks the beginning of the integration process under a framework approved by their boards.
The colleges say the new school will be run by a single management team, and no changes to programs, campuses, services, student supports or local brands are planned.
Officials say this move will help expand access, better align programs with regional labour market needs, and improve long-term financial sustainability.
The colleges say the next phase will include detailed due diligence, operational planning and community engagement, and updates will be shared as information becomes available.
Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton, while St. Lawrence College has campuses in Kingston, Brockville, and Cornwall.
Ontario colleges have been struggling financially due to low levels of government funding, stagnant tuition levels and the federal government’s cuts to international student permits. Colleges have cut $1.4 billion in costs, suspended more than 600 programs and eliminated more than 8,000 staff positions in a bid to save money.
