Federal caps on the number of international students allowed into Canada had a major impact on St. Clair College's budget when the board of directors met earlier this week. However, it's not as large as other Ontario colleges.
The board passed its budget with a $6.5-million deficit, while Vice President of Communications and Community Relations, John Fairley, said other colleges have shortfalls that dwarf St. Clair's.
"In the double digits," said Fairley.
Twenty support staff positions were declared redundant. Fairley cautioned once members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union take advantage of their bumping rights, the number of layoffs could be lower. He said it helped that 35 employees decided to take early retirement. The college has also undergone a reorganization.
"We have been very frugal," said Fairley. "We went to a zero budget-based process."
Unfortunately, lower enrolment prompted the college to suspend 18 programs, including its journalism program at the Mediaplex in downtown Windsor, the autism and behavioural sciences program, and the paramedic's program at the Chatham campus.
"We want to be clear. Suspensions are suspensions. There not cancellations," said Fairley.
New students won't be admitted to those programs in the fall of 2025, but that could change in subsequent years if enrollment improves.
"The past weekend, we had our open house. We included those 18 programs. Our spring open house brings together students in grades 10 and 11. We wanted to say these are not cancelled programs," said Fairley.