College task force courts private college in search for a Kemptville operator

Thursday, April 17, 2014

by MATT MCINTOSH

While the provincial government is preparing a statement on how it intends to support the University of Guelph Kemptville campus, the group appointed to explore options for keeping the campus open after the university ceases operating it next year has met with Trillium College, a privately-operated series of nine Ontario colleges.

Quad Partners, a New York-based education investment firm, lists Trillium College as one of its 11educational portfolios on its website.

Brian J. Carré, CAO for the municipality of North Grenville and chair of the Kemptville College Renewal Task Force, says he is unable to provide any details on what was discussed in the recent meeting with Trillium representatives.

“We have been asked to keep details of the meeting confidential for now,” says Carré. “We do not want to jeopardize any potential progress that is being made.”

Carré explains that any solutions being discussed with Trillium College are designed to fulfill long-term goals for Kemptville, or what will happen after the University of Guelph officially closes the campus’ doors at the end of 2015. In the short-term, he says, the task force is waiting to hear from the provincial government on how it plans to support Kemptville in the coming academic year.

“We are hoping the province will support the status quo at Kemptville for 2014,” says Carré.

“We expect to hear the province’s position this week or early next week.”

The University of Guelph cited low enrolment and high costs as the reasons behind its decision to close the Kemptville and Alfred campuses, and announced its intent to close in early March. While Kemptville’s future remains uncertain, some programs at the Alfred campus will continue to operate, delivered by a joint partnership between La Cité Collégiale in Ottawa and College Boréal in Sudbury. BF