MEDIA RELEASE: Mohawk College applauds Government of Ontario for investing in students
HAMILTON – The Government of Ontario’s commitment to transform student assistance will put a Mohawk College education within reach of more young people in the community, says President Ron McKerlie.
“This is a good news budget for young people, their families and the communities we serve,” says McKerlie about the 2016 Ontario budget. “More of our students will graduate future-ready and debt-free.”
The Government of Ontario announced more than 50 per cent of young people from families with incomes of $83,000 or less will receive grants that are greater than the cost of average tuition. For students from families with incomes of less than $50,000, average tuition will be free.
In 2014-15, nearly 6,200 Mohawk students received $54.6 million in grants and loans through the Ontario Student Assistance Program. An additional 1,078 students received $3.7 million through the Province’s 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant. “Many of our students depend on tuition assistance to finance their education,” said McKerlie.
Mohawk launched an access project in 2010 to increase post-secondary participation rates among young people from priority neighbourhoods. “For many students and their families, the cost of education is a major issue. The Province has removed that barrier for many of those families and Mohawk is ready to deliver a quality education to the students who will build Ontario up.”
McKerlie also said the Province’s investment of $20 million over three years for college-based applied research projects is good news for students and Mohawk’s industry partners.
Mohawk currently ranks among the top 20 colleges in Canada for applied research activity, with hundreds of students working with dozens of private, public and nonprofit sector partners on mobile and electronic health, additive manufacturing and smart energy projects.
“Applied research projects give our students invaluable real-world experience and help our partners bring innovative solutions to market. The Province’s investment will help Mohawk keep up with growing demand from our partners and strengthen our role in driving innovation and building prosperity.”
Mohawk College educates and serves more than 29,500 full-time, part-time, apprenticeship and international students at three main campuses in Hamilton, Ontario and learning hubs across Hamilton through City School by Mohawk, and at the College’s Centre for Aviation Technology at the Hamilton International Airport. Mohawk is among the top five colleges for applied research in Canada. It has been named one of Canada’s greenest employers seven years in a row, holds a GOLD STARS rating from AASHE for sustainability achievements and is home to the country’s largest and first institutional building to receive dual certification for Zero Carbon Building Framework design and performance for The Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation. More than 135,000 people have graduated from Mohawk since it was founded.