Two Ontario colleges to merge creating one large institution

Two Ontario colleges announced they are merging to create one large institution.

Fleming College and St. Lawrence College in eastern Ontario announced they will integrate as equal partners.

Fleming College’s main campus is in Peterborough, while St. Lawrence’s largest campus is in Kingston.

The two colleges are beginning a formal process to “create a stronger institution with greater scale, broader access for students to programs and services, and improved long-term financial sustainability,” the announcement read.

The announcement comes as many colleges struggle following the federal government’s reduction in the number of international students in Canada in 2024 and 2025.

Fleming College and St. Lawrence College have been working closely with the provincial government to ensure a smooth integration with minimum impacts on students and communities, the colleges said.

There are no planned changes to local brands, programs, campuses, services or student supports, the colleges said in the joint statement.

They said the merger will benefit students by providing expanded academic pathways, increased access to specialized programs, enhanced research opportunities and broader work-integrated learning experiences.

“This integration represents a forward-looking investment in our students and communities,” said Theresa Knott, interim president of Fleming College, in a statement. “By bringing our strengths together, we are positioning ourselves to deliver more opportunities, more innovation, greater access, and a stronger foundation for the future across our combined regions and campuses.”

Glenn Vollebregt, president and CEO of St. Lawrence College, said the integration gives the college the scale and capability to serve more students, offer more opportunity and build a stronger institution for the long term.

“We are committed to ensuring that students have the tools, programs, and support they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving economy,” said Vollebregt.

The boards of both Fleming College and St. Lawrence College have approved an integration framework agreement that sets out the steps to a full integration. This announcement marks the beginning of that process.

The new college will have a single management team. Glenn Vollebregt will serve as the initial president and CEO and Theresa Knott will serve as the initial associate president and chief academic officer.

The integration will proceed through the next phase of implementation, which includes detailed due diligence, operational planning and community engagement.

More information will be shared as it becomes available.

Lead photo: Pixabay