After examining options to re-launch academic programming in St. Thomas, Algoma University has made the decision to discontinue operations at this extension site as of the end of the current academic year.
The University remains committed to the students currently in second-year at St. Thomas. It will continue to offer courses to the end of the winter term, at which time students will be welcomed to Algoma U’s Sault Ste. Marie campus for their third year of studies, in keeping with the original design of the program.
The decision to discontinue the program in St. Thomas comes after an announcement in late May that the 2014-15 intake would be suspended as a result of lower than anticipated demand by prospective students. Since then the University has examined a number of options to enhance academic programming. “At this time, we have been unable to adopt an alternative that assures us the ability to achieve required student enrolment for next Fall, as well as long-term economic sustainability,” said Brian Leahy, Algoma University Director of Extension Programming.
“We appreciate the generous support that our program has received from the Dorothy Palmer Estate, the City of St. Thomas and from others in the community,” said Dr. Richard Myers, President of Algoma University. “While we are disappointed that we could not continue to operate University programming in St. Thomas, we remain committed to providing students in Southern Ontario a personalized and unique university experience at our small university in the north.”
