Ridgetown College bursting to expand recruiting wing

Thursday, May 26, 2011

by PAT CURRIE

RIDGETOWN — Although enrolment at the Ridgetown Campus, University of Guelph, has climbed by 30 per cent over the past three years to a record 670 students, the 50-year old institution is looking to add a new $3.2 million wing that will house a new student recruitment and service centre.

"All that remains to be done is to get a few approvals, then construction should start this fall and the new wing completed by August, 2012," said school spokeswoman Liz Meidlinger.

A $1.4 million grant from the province to help fund the new wing was announced Tuesday during a visit by John Milloy, Ontario minister of training, college and universities.

The expansion to the Reek administrative building will include two new classrooms. Student Ryan Little said things have become a little crowded around campus.

While other institutions are facing staff crises as large numbers of baby boomers hit retirement age, Art Schaafsma, Ridgetown College director said: "We're running out of teacher space."

Meidlinger said the school has 130 to 150 total contract and full-time staff, including administration. Full- and part-time teachers account for between 35 and 55 of the total, she said.

Schaafsma said the fundraising by the school has been boosted by a donation of $150,000 from Maizex, a Tilbury-area seed and bulb wholesaler, and that "has motivated a number of other gifts."

"On June 3 we’ll be holding the largest graduation in our history," said Meidlinger, noting that will be a milestone for the college in its 60th year as an academic institution and 85th year since it was founded as a research facility. BF