Lambton College is working to develop three-year degree programs after getting the green light from the province.
College and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop recently announced that colleges can develop new three-year degree programs alongside their diploma programs and can expand their range of career-focused four-year degree programs.
Lambton's Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Success Mary Vaughan said it's tremendous news for students, employers and the community.
"Three year degrees will be able to elevate our programs on a global level," said Vaughan. "It provides more credential options for our students and it recognizes the already existing high caliber of our graduates of our outstanding programs, the curriculum that we offer, our incredible innovative learning environments, from the shops, to the labs, to the experiential learning opportunities and the co-ops."
Vaughan said all of it is closely tied to industry.
"Three year degrees are industry specific, industry focused, our students are being placed right into a career ready industry. Which is what our foundation has been for over 50 years."
Vaughan said it enables students to meet demands in Ontario and Sarnia-Lambton and increases their career options by widening their credentials.
"This has been a long time coming and there's been a lot of advocacy around increasing degree options for students and meeting labour needs."
Vaughan said developing the degree programs will take some time because they require ministry approval, so they won't be ready for the fall of 2022.
-With files from Stephanie Chaves