Fleming College

Philosophy and English Literature are not the most typical of college credits. However, these two courses are part of Fleming’s two-semester General Arts and Science – University Transfer program that – now in its fourth year – is finding greater and greater success launching students from the certificate program to university. A large part of the success of the program is the partnership with Trent University. Students meeting the program requirements can enter directly into their second year at Trent with four university credits to their name. In what is quickly becoming tradition, students in the certificate program – located at the Sutherland Campus – make the trek to Trent each fall to hear firsthand from program alumni, staff and faculty on what to expect upon entering university. This year more than 50 students in the program travelled to Trent in November meeting at Gzowski College. Peter Lapp, Program Coordinator of the University Transfer program said the large numbers of students making the trip to Trent, “gives us a sense this is all worthwhile.” “We want to make this a smooth and seamless transition (from Fleming to Trent),” said Karen Maki, Director, Distance and Continuing Education and College Partnerships at Trent. “We want you to feel like you are as much Trent students as Fleming students.” Manuela LaFranc of Trent’s Registrar’s Office, told students the Fleming-Trent partnership of the program is envied throughout Ontario.” My wish for you is that your urge to learn has been awakened and that you’ll continue with life-long learning,” she said. Fleming University Transfer graduate Tim Lizotte shared his story with the Fleming students. Now in his second year at Trent as an English and Geography joint major, Mr. Lizotte had been away from school for a number of years, working as a full-time herd manager on an organic dairy farm. He found himself asking questions about the business on a philosophical level which inspired him to go back to school. While Mr. Lizotte at first found the University Transfer program intense, “it turned out to be really cool,” he said. “It peaked my interest to get out there and learn.” Mr. Lizotte assured students that the support they get from faculty and fellow students at Fleming continues at Trent. He added that the University Transfer program prepared him to go into any discipline. This is evident in the majors of other program alumni. One former Fleming now Trent student is studying Physics, another is taking Psychology, while yet another is doing a double major in French and Sociology with an emphasis in Linguistics.