Niagara College is expanding its Academic Upgrading programming to the Hamilton area to support adult learners on their path to postsecondary education.
Set to begin this fall, the new offering will provide foundational courses in English, math, and biology to adult learners who are preparing to enter college or pursue an apprenticeship but do not currently meet the academic requirements. Funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development (MLITSD), the program will be free of charge to eligible learners and delivered from a new site in downtown Hamilton, located at 225 King William Street, within the Goodwill building.
Referred to by the Ministry as Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS), this expansion fills a growing gap in the region, following the suspension of similar programs previously offered by another college. It also presents a great opportunity for Niagara College to support domestic recruitment and create new pathways to post-secondary education while aligning with the college’s strategy of identifying new sources of revenue. With 97% of learners expected to go on to pursue a college education, this new program will play a key role in leading more students to NC and boost future enrolment.
The College’s target for this site is 174 students, with continuous intake offered throughout the year. Prospective students will be able to apply directly through the Niagara College website.
Key benefits and features at a glance
- Ministry-funded programming with a portion of funding returning to the College to support operational costs
- Revenue generation for the College and a pathway to grow domestic postsecondary enrolment, with over 100 students transitioning to postsecondary in 2022-2023
- Strategic location within a community hub among potential referral partners such as Goodwill, the John Howard Society, Fedcap Canada and Community Living
Academic Upgrading
Academic Upgrading has proven to be a strong enrolment pathway at NC. In 2022 to 2023, more than 100 domestic students transitioned from Academic Upgrading into NC postsecondary programs, contributing to over $6.5 million in tuition revenue and funding across Ontario’s college system. The Hamilton site will exist among Academic Upgrading programming at NC’s Welland Campus and Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, allowing NC to build on this success and welcome even more students into the College community.
To learn more about Academic Upgrading, including program eligibility and course information, please visit our website www.niagaracollege.ca/liberal/program/literacy/. The opening date will be confirmed shortly with a targeted launch date of late-August.
Further updates will be provided in the coming weeks.
