100 years | St. Thomas University celebrates centenary next year

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By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

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A spokesman for St. Thomas University says there's no set timeline for setting up a satellite campus in Miramichi.

But Jeffrey Carleton, STU's director of communications, said the hope is a formal announcement with details about the proposed St. Thomas expansion will be made during the university's 100th anniversary celebrations in 2010.

"We have a lot of meetings and co-ordinating to do and there's a lot going on at STU next year with the centenary celebrations, but that would be a nice time frame to make a definitive announcement," Carleton said.

"At the same time, we have to be realistic about the kinds of things we have to do first before we can make any announcement."

The university's board of governors recently gave approval in-principle for a proposal to establish a "college of extension" in Miramichi - in the city it left 45 years ago to establish in Fredericton.

Carleton said the board agreed to the proposal provided government funding is arranged, a budget and fundraising ideas are established, and a five-year plan is developed.

He said university officials have already met with MLAs and the MP for Miramichi, along with a prominent business owner.

But Carleton said further meetings to discuss funding details and programming will be required.

"We need to sit down with representatives from the federal and provincial governments, and we'll also have to co-ordinate with the New Brunswick Community College to avoid duplication of services in Miramichi," he said.

"This is why there is no specific timeline. We know this is a complicated process, but we look forward to working with partners at various stages to see if we can get this off the ground."

Carleton said the satellite campus would add to the educational opportunities in Miramichi.

It would allow more people to access post-secondary education, including six First Nations communities within 100 kilometres of the community, he said.

The new campus will likely be located in the former St. Michael's Basilica convent - steps away from where the university's old Miramichi campus was located before it moved in 1964, Carleton said.

"There's a tremendous amount of history tied up in this, which is part of the appeal," he said. "We're celebrating our centenary, which traces back to 100 years ago on the Miramichi. There's a strong historical connection there."