**NORTHERN COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE**

Northern College is pleased with the Ontario Government’s recent announcement
allowing colleges to offer stand-alone nursing degree programs for the first time.

Since 2000, Northern College has been offering Laurentian University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing
(BScN) degree with great success; graduates of Northern’s program offering have scored some of the
highest marks in the province on their Nursing entry examinations.

“Our graduates have found great success in the Nursing field,” stated Dr. Fred Gibbons, Northern
College President & CEO. “Much of that success comes from the quality of the faculty who deliver the
program year after year, providing decades of insight, skill and nuance to what has grown to become a
uniquely Northern learning experience.”

This change will permit colleges and universities to offer Bachelor nursing degree programs on a standalone
basis, no longer requiring a University partner to provide legitimacy to their programming.

Today, Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities, was at Georgian College to announce the
new education policy, that will allow students more freedom when assessing their post-secondary
future.

“Building Ontario’s economy means ensuring our postsecondary institutions are training students for the
jobs of today and the future,” stated Minister Ross Romano, Ontario’s Minister of Colleges and
Universities. “This new pathway for nursing education will offer students greater choice and make it
easier for them to pursue rewarding nursing careers.”

During his announcement at Barrie’s Georgian College, Romano went on to outline how the postsecondary
education system has grown and evolved since the collaborative nursing model was
implemented in 2000. This change will benefit both Ontario’s students and its health care system.

“This will give Ontarians the opportunity for more choices, while ensuring we maintain the highest
quality nursing workforce,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

“Nurses play a vital role in the delivery of health care as we continue to build a connected and sustainable health care
system centred around the needs of patients.”

Northern College is pleased with the government’s approach to broadening options for Ontario’s
students.

“The post-secondary world in this province is becoming more and more competitive, any opportunity
for a college to step into the limelight with a high-quality program is essential” stated Gibbons. “Over
the past 20 years, through the dedication and talent of many Nursing Faculty, our program has achieved
more than we could have hoped, this change in legislation allows us to continue to push the envelope in
offering the highest quality programming to our students.”

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