Today, as Mohawk approaches the final year of the plan, over 78 milestones have been met. Some highlights, described more fully in Vision Like A Hawk: Strategic Plan: Update 2006, include:

• successful launch of a comprehensive and student- friendly one-stop shopping service for registration, with online program and course registration for all students

• implementation of recommendations from the President’s Council on Quality Performance, a college-wide group designed to improve Key Performance Indicator results throughout the College, address a variety of student and staff challenges, and enhance student success and retention

• development of new, market-driven programs/streams, all to be responsive to employer and community needs

• implementation of Activity Based Budgeting to achieve appropriate budget balance and return on investment by academic school and service divisions

• introduction of the Freshman Integrated Tracking (FIT) System, resulting in over 4,000 Personalized Learning Plans providing students with the help they need to achieve success

BUILDING FUTURES

Building on the foundation of these successes, Mohawk is now planning a series of ambitious program, service and facility development initiatives—all built on our six cornerstones—designed to respond to employer needs and to enhance the learning experience for our students.

THE STARRT INSTITUTE

Mohawk College is situated in one of the most diverse manufacturing regions in Canada. In Hamilton, new opportunities are being created in food processing, biotechnology and cultural industries, adding to advanced manufacturing, tourism, education, and enhancement of business and industry both at the airport and downtown. Brantford is expanding in plastics and chemicals, and Burlington focusing on financial services and software. The economies in these regions are projected to grow from two to four per cent in the coming years, and will require skilled workers to grow and expand these business areas.

As Ontario’s largest trainer of apprentices, achieving an 18.2% increase in apprenticeship enrolment in 2005-06, Mohawk is in an ideal position to meet this demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers. As part of its strategic imperative to support Economic Growth and Prosperity, Mohawk is reinventing its Stoney Creek Campus as the Mohawk Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship Research, Resources, and Training (STARRT) Institute. The STARRT Institute will enable Mohawk to double enrolment in skilled trades to 1,020 students, and increase apprenticeship enrolment by 35% to 3,571 students.

Transforming Stoney Creek into the Mohawk STARRT Institute requires two new buildings. The first, to open in September 2007, provides additional classroom and shop/lab capacity, an Enterprise Training and Research Centre to undertake collaborative training and research in partnership with business and industry, and an Awareness Resources Centre to promote skilled trades and apprenticeship career choices to prospective students, parents and employers. The Gerald Marshall Truck and Coach Centre, planned for opening in September 2008, is designed to double enrollment in, as well as enhance the facilities and equipment for, the Truck & Coach Technician and Trailer Service Technician programs.

By bringing the College’s many skilled trade programs together in one purpose-designed campus, the STARRT Institute will act as a catalyst for further innovation in program development and will provide students with a significantly enhanced training experience.

STUDENT BURSARIES

Mohawk understands that education is the door through which people pass to achieve the best that they can be. This is particularly relevant in Hamilton, where one in five families live below Statistics Canada’s low-income cut-off benchmark, and where poverty and literacy levels constitute major barriers for many young people wanting to enter the workforce. In its role as Champion of Students and recognizing the significant challenges that young people coming from such environments can face, Mohawk currently provides $3 million annually in bursaries, scholarships and work-study opportunities, helping thousands of young people to pursue rewarding and satisfying careers. Unfortunately, there are not sufficient funds to assist every deserving student, and other young people may have to delay or forego their education for lack of funding.

The governments of Canada and Ontario have both recently committed to enriching financial assistance designed to reduce barriers to access to education. In 2005, the provincial government announced a new Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS) program, wherein Ontario will match donations to a new bursary fund. Based on Mohawk’s existing bursary endowment of $5.5 million, OTSS will provide $1 for each $1 Mohawk raises to a ceiling of $464,000, and $3 for each $1 raised for the next $232,000 donated. Mohawk seeks to increase its endowment by a minimum of $4 million, which will empower many more students needing financial assistance in order to access a college education.

INSURANCE & FINANCIAL PLANNING CENTRE

Mohawk today celebrates the strength of its insurance and business programs, with insurance graduates found in all major brokerage and adjustment offices, many now at decision-making senior levels in their profession. Alumni and members of the insurance industry affirm that Mohawk needs to create dedicated facilities, as well as more programs and credential opportunities, in order to celebrate success through higher profile, support industry growth, and ensure labour force strength in the industry, particularly given anticipated retirements. At the Fennell campus, Mohawk will create a Centre of Excellence to provide state-of-the-art learning facilities suited to both postsecondary and career enhancement opportunities.

last updated: July 17, 2008