As students in Ontario gradually return to school after a year and a half of online-only learning, the University of Guelph-Humber campus has begun to show some tentative signs of life. Though it seems like things may be getting back to normal, the school might be undergoing a very significant change in the next few years \u2013 a new home altogether.<\/p>\n
The school, which currently occupies a single building nestled toward the back of the Humber College North campus, is in the process of reintegrating in-person learning with about 50 per cent of students back on campus. While there are some exciting new projects in the current building \u2013 such as the under-construction \u201cpodcasting suites\u201d in 312 \u2013 it\u2019s possible that an even bigger campus update is in the works: a new spot in Brampton\u2019s upcoming Centre for Innovation, located in their burgeoning Innovation District.<\/p>\n
The Innovation District is a multifaceted project in Brampton\u2019s downtown core. Described by the city as an \u201cinnovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem,\u201d the District includes a network of tech companies and start-ups as well as educational institutions. A central feature of the project is the planned Brampton Centre for Innovation, which will be \u201ca collaborative space offering a new central library providing opportunities for digital creation and programming, performance and audio recording, assistive technologies for various abilities, and culture days.\u201d The building itself, which is being designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, may not just incorporate Guelph-Humber: Ryerson University, Algoma University, and Sheridan College could all utilize the space.<\/p>\n
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The proposed move was announced in June after the Brampton City Council unanimously approved a motion for the school and the city to begin talks. Mayor Patrick Brown described it as an \u201cexciting partnership,\u201d saying that it will \u201ctruly help develop our city into a major education and innovation hub.\u201d<\/p>\n
The earliest that a move could happen is before the fall semester of 2025, meaning that most current students will have graduated and wouldn\u2019t be affected. For applicants, however, the possibility of being a student while the school relocates to a different city may be something to consider \u2013 but even Brampton-based applicants haven\u2019t heard about it.<\/p>\n
Alyssa Gerardi, a 17-year-old high school student from Brampton who plans to apply to Guelph-Humber\u2019s Justice Studies program, was surprised to learn about the possible move. While she\u2019s excited about the prospect of going to school locally, she hopes that it wouldn\u2019t affect some of the things that drew her to Guelph-Humber in the first place: namely, the small-school feeling and intimate class settings.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like how small the campus is at Guelph-Humber,\u201d she says. \u201cI like how it\u2019s kind of a lot like a high school. I feel like it\u2019s more intimate; a better environment for people like me. I enjoy being in a class with fewer students.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a number of post-secondary institutions looking for a spot in the upcoming Innovation District, it\u2019s not clear how Guelph-Humber\u2019s campus culture would change. Brampton enjoys a reputation as a hub for international students, but the community has come under fire recently for lacking the appropriate supports.<\/p>\n
A Nov. 4 article in the Globe and Mail criticized the city\u2019s lack of support resources for international students, pointing to an increase in suicides and mental health struggles among students from India. In particular, a lack of student housing options has led to overcrowded rooming houses, illegal secondary units, and unsafe living conditions in Brampton, said the article, pointing to both Sheridan and Centennial colleges as examples of post-secondary institutions whose attempts to support international students have been lacking. Right now, a number of student support services at Guelph-Humber, such as the Student Wellness & Accessibility Centre and a number of equity hubs, are located on the Humber North campus.<\/p>\n
Elissa Schmidt, the school\u2019s Manager of Communications and Public Relations, says that Guelph-Humber is committed to continuing student support services regardless of the school\u2019s location. \u201cAs we move forward in exploring this opportunity further, there are will be a number of working groups that will explore all the details and ensure students have access to the services and supports they need to succeed,\u201d she says, also noting that some of the more specific details about the building and its facilities would not be ironed out until the school makes the decision to move.<\/p>\n
A digital pamphlet from the City of Brampton highlights its status as the second-fastest growing city in Canada, and part of the Toronto area which boasts the second largest tech sector in North America. Located \u201cin the middle of Canada\u2019s Innovation Corridor,\u201d the city says that Brampton\u2019s cybersecurity ecosystem sets them apart.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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