The College of New Caledonia (CNC) has announced that some of its programs will no longer be offered. These programs will continue to be taught for the remainder of the winter semester, but starting next fall, they will no longer be available to students.
The board of directors announced Friday, Feb. 28, that the Community and School Support Associate of Arts – Modern Classics program and the English Language Programs have been cancelled.
However, the Education Assistant Certificate program has been spared from the cuts.
These closures will also result in the loss of seven teaching positions in the English Language department.
Reasons for these closures include a decrease in student enrolment and a nearly $7-million loss due to a decline in international student enrolment.
“The reason the administration gave to the board of governors was that we have a massive budget deficit of $6.8 million, so we have to cut something,” said education council chair Wendell Schwab. “It's just an issue of not if, but when, it's going to get cut because that’s a pretty big budget hole and they have to fill it. By statute, they can’t have a budget deficit.”
The loss of international students is due to new federal policies making it harder for students to study abroad, such as a new cap on the number of international students.
Schwab told The Citizen that international students have been a key pillar for CNC in recent years, and these new regulations are a primary reason behind the loss of revenue.
“Before COVID, the number of international students started ramping up because the federal government thought it was a great way to increase immigration numbers,” Schwab said. “So the federal government is really throwing a wrench into the works, which has had a big effect on the college and our budget. That’s really what's happening.”
The program cancellation that has received the most opposition is the English Language Program, which has garnered vocal support from both CNC faculty and students. Despite this, students will have to find alternatives next semester.
“I think the board of governors made a mistake cutting this program,” Schwab said. “At the same time, I understand why they thought they needed to do it, but if I had a vote, I would have voted no for this cancellation. I’m sure other difficult decisions are coming down the road, but it’s just a bad situation all around for everybody.”
CNC has stated it plans to work with English Language students who have been impacted to find alternatives for the loss of classes, with one mentioned alternative being the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS).
However, as previously reported by The Citizen, students in CNC’s English Language programs claim that while IMSS is useful for beginners, CNC’s language programs are essential for learning higher-level skills and academic English.
Schwab also told The Citizen that these cancellations are just the beginning.
“This is unfortunately the tip of the iceberg,” Schwab said. “It’s unfortunate, but because of such a large budget hole, there are going to be more program cancellations. It’s not going to be a good time. I’m not sure which programs will be cut or what we’re going to do, but unless the federal government reverses its course on international students, this will be the reality for at least the next couple of years.”
Schwab also added that, in addition to program cancellations, CNC staff are facing layoffs.
“I do know that they have already started laying off administrators and support staff, and our operational staff ... I couldn’t comment on individual departments, I don’t know enough about that, but I do know that, from what I understand, layoffs are going to happen all over the place. It’s not just going to be faculty; it’s going to affect everybody.”
