The other side of the story regarding Mohawk College’s Brantford plans has finally come out in the media.
Brantford Expositor city hall columnist Tim Philp talked about the harm to the community from Mohawk moving most of its hands-on, skilled trades programs out of the city, to Stoney Creek and Hamilton.
At the same time, Mohawk plans to move all human services programs, such as personal support worker, early childhood educator, and law and security to an as yet unbuilt, unfunded downtown campus. It is looking for the provincial and federal governments to put up $10 million to renovate the Expositor building and erect a second structure. It also wants some $2 million from city hall.
Philp says opening a downtown campus will have benefits, but the long-term economic bonus to the community is questionable. That’s partly because the careers Mohawk’s programs will train for will be low-paying, and there will be limited opportunities in the community for them. In other words, they’ll be trained to work outside the community. That will not lead to long-term economic prosperity for the city, Philp said.
The columnist challenged Mohawk to make a commitment to Brantford, and get out of its Hamilton-first focus.
“We desperately need a community college that offers skilled trades to serve our local interests and not one controlled by Hamilton that milks our community for money and then leaves when times get tough,” Philp wrote in the daily paper.
Pretty damning comments, but hopefully it makes a few people stop and think.
It’s great that Mohawk College is making a commitment to downtown Brantford. Now if only Mohawk/McMaster could expand presence in downtownHamilton.
It would be great to hear Mohawk’s take on all the proposed reorganizing in Brantford. They must have a rationale. As I understand it, the Hamilton campus already has many trades’ programs. Perhaps they are consolidating their trades’ campuses as a cost reduction strategy? Are they in financial straits?
Hey Mark,
I’m curious to know what you think of laurier’s master plan since you teach at the school and all.
BTW love the blog.
Hey Faron:
I haven’t looked at Laurier’s master plan, but I guess I should. I’m done my teaching for now, but may have a chance again later this year.
One thing I have heard Laurier could do better at is helping prepare students for the work world. I’ve been told that senior people there don’t view that as the role of the university. But having taught a practical kind of course — i.e., journalism — I think it is important to offer that hands-on skills-based training at university.