The brand-new university is expecting to receive approximately 1,000 students in the fall semester. Pictured: UNFC main building. Photo Credit: Global University Systems Canada.
The 2024-25 academic campaign is about to begin, and post-secondary institutions across Niagara are readying to welcome new cohorts of students to their campuses. It is a particularly special time for the University of Niagara Falls Canada (UNFC), which commenced operations earlier this year. UNFC is a private institution which is a part of Global University Systems (GUS). The school aims to provide cutting-edge education to students in the fields of business, communications, science and technology. The university is expecting to receive approximately 1,000 students in the fall semester.
Amidst all of the hustle and bustle, as September quickly approaches, Niagara Falls City Council has sought to confirm that all of the necessary preparations have been made to ensure the needs of students and their families will be met.
Councillor Lori Lococo raised the point that international scholars who will be enrolled in master’s programs can be accompanied by a spouse and children. Lococo and some of her colleagues have demonstrated an interest in how students and their dependants will access various essentials of life, including healthcare, education, food and accommodation. The councillor also referred to how the provincial government, earlier this year, instructed post-secondary institutions to guarantee housing for students coming from foreign countries.
In pursuit of greater clarity on these pertinent issues, city staff was commissioned by council to research what options may exist for helping student families in need of food assistance, including the potential for collaboration with organizations such as the Niagara Falls Soup Kitchen, Project Share and other charities. Council also tasked relevant municipal workers with determining where things currently stand with student housing availability. They were instructed to investigate how long it will take for additional housing structures to be completed, and how well-positioned local schools will be to welcome the children of international scholars to the classroom. Health matters will need to be discussed with appropriate provincial counterparts.
UNFC, for its part, has set up an extensive offering of resources to help students find affordable housing, including direct contact with housing coordinators. With this goal in mind, the school has partnered with Niagara Homestay, SpacesShared and 4Stay. All students additionally have access to a full staff of student advisers and support services.
The university insists that international students, specifically, purchase private health coverage for the duration of their academic studies. And, while the children of international students at publicly funded colleges and universities do have access to free education, students attending private institutions must pay applicable fees to enrol their children in school. In addition, the federal ministry of immigration, refugees and citizenship requires that all international students provide evidence that they have financial resources that meet the minimum living requirement, which is currently $20,635 per year.
Municipal staff were called upon to provide a progress report on their research during a Tuesday, Aug. 13 meeting of City Council.
“So, some of my questions and concerns were addressed and some of them weren’t,” said Lococo. “My main concern is that our local resources are going to be stressed to accommodate the students in a private university.”
The University of Niagara Falls Canada is currently located on 4342 Queen St. It is the long-term plan of UNFC to build an expansive new campus. Those who are interested in learning more about the University and its offerings can do so at the following link:
Nick Redekop completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labour Studies at Brock University. He has previously served in municipal and federal politics. In his free time, Nick enjoys following sports, taking part in outdoor activities, and reading biographies. Nick resides in Niagara Falls