Laurier and Conestoga continue work to bring satellite campus in Milton

WilfridLaurier University says itcontinues to work with the Townof Milton to bring a satellite campus to the area, months after the province announced it would no longer fund the project.

Laurier, who is also in partnership with Conestoga College for the project, has been working with the Townof Milton to build a campus in the areafor the past decade.

DeborahDubenofsky,vice-president of finance and administration at Laurier,said she along with Conestoga College president, John Tibbits, met with Milton council in January.

"We had an opportunity to provide an update to council and celebrate the fourth extension of our memorandumof understandingwith the Town of Milton," she said, adding that extension is for the nex three years.

The Laurier-Conestoga campuswas announced in April 2018, where the Liberal governmentpledged $90 million for the project. However, in October, the provincial Progressive Conservative governmentcancelled those plans.

The satellite campus was to be part of theexisting Milton Education Village.

Two-phased approach

In October,Dubenofskytold CBC K-W theprovince indicated it would entertain a business plan in the future. But so far, they haven't heard anything from the province, she said.

Tibbitssaidit's an opportunity to better implement a joint campus in Milton, with both partners having equal contribution.

Dubenofsky said the university will continue witha two-phased approach to the development in Milton.

Phase one will focuses on continuing existing part-time degree and non-degree courses atMilton's Education Village. Phase two will continue to workwith the Town of Milton to build the satellite campus.

In a release, the university said it has retainedDiamond and Schmitt Architects to develop a campus master plan for the 20 hectares given to the university by the town forthe project.