Fanshawe EV program `cash grab' stalls students
Fanshawe College's electric vehicle technician program is a “cash grab” as the school will charge international student tuition to domestic students, one London woman charged.
Josephine Bondi, frustrated her daughter will have to pay international student tuition of $31,400 during two years for the course, questioned why the school has not yet applied to have the Ontario government fund the program.
If the province approves funding, domestic students will be charged a lower tuition. Comparable Fanshawe programs now cost $12,700, nearly $20,000 less.
But the school has to apply to the province for financial support and it has not done so, said Kyle Rooks, communications official with the college.
“Fanshawe is following the required process for developing a new post-secondary program in Ontario, and will be seeking Ministry approval when we are able to do so,” Rooks said Tuesday, declining to detail why it has not yet applied.
When the ministry approves funding for courses, the college receives money to cover part of the cost for Canadian students. This reduces the cost to domestic students.
Fanshawe College announced in September 2023 it was to offer the course, giving it a full year to apply before classes begin.
Once the college applies for funding, it takes about 90 days to get approval, meaning time is running out for the start of classes in September 2024, said Bondi.
“It is frustrating. I feel like I have to give up hope that my daughter will go to school in September,” said Bondi.
“It's like they are deterring Canadian students. It's a cash grab. They want to get huge tuition from international student fees.”
Bondi may look to St. Clair College in Windsor, where the EV technician program was approved in 2023. It charges domestic students $4,323 a year in tuition.
“I can't pay $31,000. This is giving international students an advantage when it comes to getting a job in the EV sector,” Bondi said.
Since funding for the program is not approved by the provincial government Bondi does not qualify for grants and loans through student assistance programs.
Honda is expected to announce this week it is locating a new electric vehicle battery plant in Ontario, joining Volkswagen and Stellantis which are both building plants here. Volkswagen's plant in St. Thomas is expected to open in 2027 employing 3,000. Stellantis will also open an EV battery plant in Windsor in 2025 expected to employ 2,500.
In addition, several automotive manufacturers across Ontario will supply the EV plants and more are expected to open or expand production in Ontario.
Fanshawe now offers a twoyear aviation technician and aircraft maintenance programs at a cost of $3,176 a term or $6,352 for the year, or $12,704 for the full program.
While the EV technician program is geared toward repair and maintenance of vehicles, Bondi believes it will still better her daughter's chances to work in an assembly plant.
When searching for a home for its plant Volkswagen officials met with Fanshawe College administrators, toured the school and discussed offering a program to help supply workers. But many college programs can be used to educate workers for the shop floor of the plant, said Sean Dyke, chief executive of the St. Thomas economic development.
“People working on the factory floor will have many different skills from different programs. I suspect Fanshawe has more (courses) in the hopper. A lot of colleges and universities will," said Dyke.
“It is a great program to get involved in the EV sector.”
Dyke is not concerned the cost of the Fanshwe program might reduce the number of workers for the Volkswagen plant, which will operate under its subsidiary Powerco. There will be new programs offered by the time the plant opens in three years and there is time to ramp up education programs.
“There will be changes in education to meet the demand; it is inevitable, but they do not have to be EV focused. We have robust college programs, good education programs to offer,” said Dyke.
“I am not worried.”