Fanshawe College President Peter Devlin marked the start of the 2024 academic year by addressing faculty and staff with an optimistic yet cautious outlook, focusing on enrollment numbers, upcoming programs, and strategic investments.

Devlin began his remarks at the 2024 Academic Year Kickoff (formerly known as the President’s Breakfast) on Aug. 28 by highlighting the current enrollment figures, noting that Fanshawe serves 22,500 students across its southwestern Ontario campuses.

'58 per cent of those are domestic students, up 9 per cent from last year,' Devlin said, adding that 42 per cent of the student body is international, representing over 100 countries.

However, the college faces a shortfall of 1,600 international students due to recent policy changes by the federal government.

'These policy changes create a level of uncertainty for international students,' Devlin said, expressing concern that the changes could impact Canada's attractiveness as a destination for higher education.

Despite the challenges, Devlin reassured the audience of the college's financial stability.

'We're financially sound,' Devlin stated while emphasizing the need for 'wise' and 'efficient' decisions moving forward.

Fanshawe College will continue to make strategic investments to ensure long-term growth, including implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and developing a new Central Energy Centre.

'We are going to replace a whole bunch of old systems that are about to break with something that is state of the art and leading, and it will provide us with the opportunity to modernize,' said Devlin.

The Central Energy Centre is another significant project that provides heating and cooling on the Oxford St. campus. Devlin reported that most of the groundwork is complete, with roads expected to reopen soon. Furthermore, the college plans to develop the top three floors above Forwell Hall, pending board approval next month.

Fanshawe One, sponsored by Workday, is another one of the college's most significant strategic investments. The new system will modernize HR, finance, and student information systems, enabling greater collaboration across departments. Phase one of this project will go live in November.

The president also outlined new academic programs to align with labour market demands. Fanshawe will launch programs in business entrepreneurship, financial technology, and innovation this fall.

'The electric vehicle sector has great potential,' Devlin noted, pointing to opportunities arising from Volkswagen's new battery plant in St. Thomas.

Another notable development is the planned four-year Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, expected to begin in the fall of 2026. The program will allow students to complete their entire study period at Fanshawe.

'This is another excellent example of meeting labour market needs and filling a critical shortage in the healthcare sector,' Devlin said.

Complimenting this initiative is the Diane Blake Centre of Excellence and Extended Reality in Health Care, which will provide cutting-edge simulation technology for nursing students.

Devlin also highlighted a $1 million donation from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), which will fund full scholarships for 12 students. The funds are part of the WSIB's investment in the community following its relocation to London.

Looking ahead, Devlin announced two key initiatives: an enterprise-wide review and a strategic framework refresh.

The review aims to assess and enhance Fanshawe's operational efficiency. The strategic framework refresh will involve consultations with students, faculty, community partners, and industry leaders to redefine the college's vision, mission, values, and strategic goals.

'We have filled 200 vacant positions since April, with over half filled by internal candidates,' Devlin said, emphasizing Fanshawe's commitment to investing in its 'most precious resource,” its people.

As Fanshawe College enters the new academic year, Devlin's message is clear: despite challenges, the institution is in good financial standing, and continuing to make investments into its programming.