The Quebec government has earmarked more than $1 million to help Montreal-area CGEPs such as Dawson, above, deal with their growing student populations. (CBC)

The Quebec government announced stimulus money Friday to help some Montreal-area CEGEPs accommodate their increasing student populations.

In August 2009, CBC News reported that Dawson College was one of many schools forced to reject thousands of potential students over its inability to accommodate all of the 8,000 applicants it received.

In a bid to give more students access to education, the province is handing out $600,000 to Vanier, Dawson and Andre-Laurendeau CEGEPs in hopes the money will allow each school to admit 750 more students in fall 2010.

The province is also doling out an additional $480,000 to help Dawson and CEGEP Saint-Laurent create more physical space to accommodate students, according to a Quebec news release.

Ginette Sheehy, director-general of John Abbott College in Sainte Anne de Bellevue, said a shortage of resources forced her college to reject 176 students for the upcoming academic year.

The province has not earmarked money for her college, but Sheehy said the rejections could be retracted if funding should become available.

The money, she said, would allow the school to rent space for extra students from a nearby high school.

"We've already talked to them," said Sheehy. "There are costs related to having these students. You need academic advisers, you need the library [and] you need services."

The ministry said it's reviewing John Abbott's demand right now and will make a decision shortly.