Sault College president says its getting harder to maintain 'core programs' with financial pressures

Another post-secondary institution in northeastern Ontario is struggling to operate as it is squeezed by dropping international enrolment and a longstanding tuition freeze.

The board of governors for Sault College has approved a budget with a $ 5.6 million deficit for the 2025-26 academic year.

It's the second year in a row the college has run a deficit.

President David Orazietti said that about 20 programs have been discontinued or suspended in the past year-and-a-half.

Among them, he said, are programs tailored to international students who pay much higher tuition, such as supply chain management and project management.

But after a decision by the federal government in 2024 to limit international student permits, those programs are being phased out.

A handful of other Sault College programs such as a certificate in climate change mitigation and an advanced diploma for a child and youth worker are being suspended, but may be brought back if interest warrants.

Steep drops in enrolment are part of the rationale for the program cuts.

Sault College is expecting an almost 40 per cent decrease in enrolment for the coming academic year.

The number of students is expected to drop from 11,215 to 6,830, in large part due to the closure of two campuses the college operated with a private partner in southern Ontario that catered to international students.

The college plans to focus on high-demand programs such as health, skilled trades, aviation and community studies

Orazietti said the challenge over the coming months is to bring down the deficit and balance the budget in future years.

He said the financial pressures are focusing efforts on how to keep mainstay programs going, which is getting harder.

"You know the concern more broadly is that longer term programs that have been staples at the college, that have declining domestic enrolment and may have had some international enrolment to help buoy the program, are no longer available," he said.

He said the college is grappling with how to meet its mandate to produce skilled trades and health workers, but refuses to speculate about their future.

Orazietti said the college is looking at deferring maintenance and infrastructure projects and that lay-offs of faculty and staff are a last resort.

Neal Moss, the president of OPSEU local 613 representing full-time faculty at Sault College, said about a dozen teachers have retired in the past year but none have been terminated.

However, he said part-time and sessional instructors have lost work because of the phasing out of programs.

Orazietti said it's a sensitive issue and the college won't make any rash decisions.

"We're taking our time to do this thoughtfully, and to ensure that we protect as many jobs as possible in the organization and have as minimal impact to our programs that the community relies on," he said.