Georgian College — Local services in Barrie

UPDATE: Unfrotunately, with the utterly expensive service we pay, the customer service is HORRIBLE. June 28, 2025 I had called customer service for a tuition question (note international student are paying close to $ 10 000 CAD PER SEMESTER, which is not a cheap service, nor a small amount for 4 MONTHS. When I aksed the question, the customer service representative laughed at me. I stated I do not find the question funny at all, and she continued. This is the most disrespectful institution I have had to deal with, please note that I have studied at a collefge and university in Montreal, the service is not as disrespectful. I strongly encourage international students to find an institution where at least the service will be provided in a respectful manner.

Unfortunately, it is similar to a scam. As an international student, I do not recommend this institution at all.

Be aware there are some programs were if you fail one or two courses you are either suspended or out of the program. In immigration terms, this is quite serious, and you life path might be affected seriously, as you may have to go back and restart the process, without mentioning the amount of money you may loose. Please consult an immigration advisor for that. They claim they have this rule in place due to their academic quality. However, it surprises me that they do not understand that quality is measured by both, the provider and the receiver. Some students have complained that teachers read slides of extremely difficult subjects and then expect them to understand perfectly the subject. Teachers claim they read it as is the summary of a textbook. However, the education has evolved alongside technology. Nowadays Chat GPT can do that even more accurately, so I continue to ask, what is the relevance of the teacher in the class, what are they guiding and doing for students to understand the “summary” they are reading? Unfortunately, no answers were provided, and students were suspended.

The students are the only ones judged by this suspension rule, but teachers are not questioned, rated or examined. Sometimes, the amount of power a teacher can have, impacts a life, not only an academic one, and this seems still an abstract concept for them. Teachers are not measured, the quality continues to be poor, and worst part is that the students are the ones that suffer the total of the consequences. As immigrants, we are already in disadvantage, as the different language, cultural shock, and integration challenges play a role in both personal and academic life. This is not understood by someone who has never left even their town, so the rules are done from a local perspective only, which is why I do not recommend this institution.

They sell a good, prestigious image. Their peach is their support to students, which is not true at all. Most of the administrators react as pre-recorded robots, seem unable to show humanity and emotion. They have old policies were students are questioned, but the lack of preparation and capacity of their teachers to teach is not examined.

We continue to experience difficulties as we trusted too much what they said they were on orientation day, but they have a rigid, old school and squared mind and policy, that do not allow students to reach their full potential, but perhaps to have fear and pressure to drop out. Is a complete disappointment, do not get scammed and look for a college with humans for administrators and teachers to actually teach, not only to read slides. Look for a college were if they admit international students, rules are adjusted to both realities, with teachers that are able to evolve their teaching methods, and are able to be...

I have attended Georgian for a few different programs and have never had an issue; however, I decided to return after completing the Law Clerk Program to continue my education to become a Paralegal. Unfortunately, this has been a horrible experience. The program is extremely unorganized, and the Coordinators aren't of much help. I was disappointed from the first semester on. I am in shock that the LSO doesn't have more of a grasp on the program. For instance the Accounting course, literally useless. Now how the college handled the COVID-19 situation was extremely disappointing, especially for a student who lives in the rural area of Muskoka who relied on travelling to and from school for the resources. I have no access to reliable internet and I was on my final semester of the Paralegal Program. I am an honor roll student for both my entire law clerk program as well as my two semesters in the paralegal program. Due to the COVID-19 event, I have been unable to attend the virtual classes; however, Georgian provided me with a long distance telephone number that cost me over $400.00 in fees to attend Web-Ex via telephone. I was not reimbursed but provided a local number instead. Well let me tell you how hard it is to follow along and interact in 7 courses, 3 hours long via telephone. It really is a struggle. So after long and hard consideration and talking with my Coordinator I made the decision (an extremely hard one at that as I was so set on my future career) to leave my last semester and continue next summer when things go back to normal. Well I was advised that the LSO only honors 40% of the courses you have completed up until summer semester but I still decided I wasn't being provided the resources to succeed and maintain my Deans List standing. I withdrew from the program and a couple weeks later I am told I must pay my Full Tuition balance. Hmmm, yet I am not attending due to the Covid-19 situation and the college's lack of understanding for students who don't have access to internet to attend Web-Ex meetings and are unable to be included in lectures like the rest of the students. I reached out to the Registrar and they said nope, sorry nothing we can do. I reached out to the Coordinator who said if I had paid the fees she would STRONGLY advocate on my behalf for a refund, I told her I hadn't paid the fees and she said "oh good", at that point never advised me that I would have to pay them regardless. I reached out to the Dean, who said " Program Coordinators do not have a responsibility to advise students of such things". Okay, so it is my bad. The confusion of all of the events that has gone on in these circumstances they couldn't be a bit more on the lenient side. I am A DEANS LIST student, a single mom of two trying to better my life and my future for my children and attended a condensed, hard as heck program and I get nothing out of it because of the colleges lack of consideration for students who have no access to things like the internet. To top it off I also have to pay FULL...

This institution has not only failed its students but, in my view, has betrayed them. It’s a place rife with unprofessional behavior, dominated by individuals with inflated egos who seem indifferent to the very students they’re supposed to support. The environment here is genuinely troubling, and I can’t help but question the emotional toll it takes on students, as it often feels unsafe and unsupportive.

Leanne Jackson, the Conflict Resolution officer, exemplifies this problem. She has, on multiple occasions, targeted students during high-stress periods, like reading weeks and exams, exploiting their vulnerability to get her way. Rather than offering constructive support, she comes across as aggressive, even willing to endanger a student’s mental health to serve her own interests. Her actions appear entirely self-serving—focused on maintaining her reputation rather than ensuring students’ well-being. Furthermore, her interactions often reveal a lack of cultural sensitivity, creating an unwelcoming atmosphere for students from diverse backgrounds. It’s deeply concerning that someone in her role would act this way, and I question how such behavior has been tolerated.

Dean of Students, Brian Muscat, acknowledged to me during a WebEx conversation that the college is not a safe environment for students. Despite his significant salary of $190,000, he seems content with the status quo, expressing little genuine intention to drive change or advocate for student welfare.

Mary-Lynn West Moynes, the former president, further reflected this pattern of leadership failure. Her decision during the teachers’ strike to retain students’ funds for services not rendered demonstrates a lack of respect for the students who trusted her leadership. Her demeanor often hid behind an insincere smile, while her actions, in my opinion, showed racial insensitivity and hypocrisy, particularly disappointing in a position meant to uphold inclusivity and fairness.

For parents and prospective students, I would strongly advise reconsidering this institution, particularly for those from minority backgrounds. Although they promote inclusivity, the reality is a lack of genuine respect and care for all students, leaving many to feel marginalized...