Details were shared today by Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities who was joined by Stephen Lecce, MPP for King-Vaughan and David Agnew, President of Seneca.
“I’m here today to highlight an important milestone for postsecondary education in Ontario. Seneca will offer a stand-alone nursing degree independent of a university partner at its campus in King City,” said Minister Dunlop. “By allowing colleges and universities to both offer stand-alone nursing degrees, our government is increasing choices and reducing barriers to high-quality, local education for Ontario’s students.”
The new program builds on Ontario’s recent changes allowing both publicly-assisted colleges and universities to offer a baccalaureate degree in nursing to increase opportunities for students to access a high-quality education.
“Ontario’s nurses go above and beyond to provide exceptional care to patients and we are grateful for their continued efforts throughout the pandemic,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Seneca’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program will provide students with more choices for nursing education, further strengthening our health care workforce as more Ontarians pursue this important career.”
Seneca will welcome the first cohort of new nursing students starting in September 2022.
“Our government announced the addition of over 5,000 new and upskilled registered nurses and registered practical nurses, and to do that, we are leveraging the good work of Seneca’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program that will help keep students closer to home,” said Stephen Lecce, MPP for King-Vaughan. “By expanding access to Seneca in King’s high-quality postsecondary education, we are helping more young people access well-paid, in-demand jobs in this field and meeting our province’s growing health care needs as the population ages.”
“Seneca is delighted to add a baccalaureate degree in nursing to our credential options for health care professionals,” said Seneca President David Agnew. “This degree builds on 50 years of nursing education at Seneca and allows us to support the urgent need for registered nurses in Ontario.”
As part of the government’s recently announced $35 million investment to increase enrolment in nursing education programs in publicly-assisted colleges and universities across the province, the province is also providing up to $1.2 million to help increase enrolment in nursing education programs at Seneca, supporting the training of 55 new practical nursing students and 80 new Bachelor of Science in Nursing students.