A focus group at the Kemptville campus of the University of Guelph is restructuring the Food Service diploma in an attempt to save it. The replacement will probably be a 12-month course given all in the same year.

A decision was made in the summer of 2007 to temporarily discontinue the program after new enrolment had dropped to only three or four, said Paul Sharpe, in charge of academic studies at the Kemptville campus.

He said the Canadian student population had grown more urban over the years and similar courses had been established at community colleges. Kemptville was unable to attract enough urban students.

The course began as Home Economics in 1920 but has had various name changes as it adapted to changing times and changing tastes. In the 60s, the course was a major source of high school economics teachers; and through the rest of the century a source for food service supervisors in hospitals.

Contrary to rumour, the horticultural program is still running but has changed. The college is now running eight-week apprentice programs along with a two-year co-operative program.

The college had 298 students enrolled in the fall of 2008, augmented by a variety of certificate and short term programs.

The agricultural program, which had 90 students enrolled in the fall, will continue as is. But an additional program will offer training for entry level positions that support agriculture. "The course will focus on managing money and managing people," Sharpe said. Agriculture and food provides jobs for 14 per cent of the workforce. Only one per cent of work force are employed on farms.