August 7, 2003 - D'Youville College, in Buffalo, New York, and Fanshawe College, in London, Ontario have signed a letter of intent for an educational collaborative that will see a D'Youville presence on the London campus to provide specific programs for Canadian students.

Under the proposed agreement, approved by both colleges, but subject to program and process approval by the Postsecondary Education Quality and Assessment Board and approval by the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, D'Youville would provide teacher education programs on the undergraduate level and graduate programs in health services administration and international business. Post Master's degree programs in health policy and planning, and education for Fanshawe staff and graduate students will also be offered. These programs are not currently offered at the Canadian college.

Under this program, expected to begin in 2004, Fanshawe students would be eligible to transfer to D'Youville to complete a four-year degree program or a graduate program.

"The agreement is built on the premise that this partnership is grounded in our commitment to student success and quality education. It will expand pathways for learners within our community," according to Howard Rundle, President of Fanshawe College. "It is an opportunity beyond borders."

The colleges hope the joint program will grow to accommodate approximately 1,000 students and it's expected the teacher education program will be the most attractive due to the shortage of teachers and the number of Ontario students unable to gain entry into one of the faculties of education at an Ontario university.

D'Youville will have administrative and faculty offices on the Fanshawe campus with designated classroom space. A joint steering committee composed of staff from both institutions would deal with any day-to-day issues as well as future planning, according to the agreement.

Fanshawe faculty eventually may also teach in the programs set up by D'Youville.

"It will provide students with credentials for both countries giving them greater job opportunities and mobility and the possibility of educational experiences in both countries," according to Rundle.

This is the first new teacher education program in the London-Windsor area in a number of years, according to Fanshawe College officials.

London based Fanshawe is one of the largest community colleges in Ontario with 13,000 full time students and campuses in Simcoe, St. Thomas and Woodstock.

Established in 1967 it offers undergraduate and post-graduate programs in health care, human services, business administration, information technology, communications, art and design, hospitality, automotive, environmental, manufacturing, electronics, and building technology. It offers one, two, and three-year full-time programs.

D'Youville College, chartered in 1908 as a private college, has a long history of graduating teachers and health care professionals and currently enrolls approximately 900 Canadian students, the majority in teacher education. D'Youville, named for Canadian Saint Marguerite d'Youville, currently enrolls 2,500 students.

"This partnership will benefit a great number of students in that they will be able to select from a wider variety of academic programs and those already in programs can earn post-graduate degrees to meet their goals," says Sister Denise A. Roche, President of D'Youville.

London, 120 miles from Buffalo and midway to Detroit, is Ontario's fourth largest city with a metropolitan population of more than 432,000 people.

Fanshawe College School Profile

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