VIDEO: Programming cuts possible with reductions in international student numbers
Federal policy changes on international students are forcing colleges and universities to make some very difficult choices.
Not only are they facing declining enrollment, but given the fact that international students pay much higher tuition, the impact on revenue is even greater.
At Okanagan College (OC) the numbers are stark.
"In September we had about 50% fewer first-year international students starting with us. And we're seeing that continue."
By January, international enrolment is expected to be down 70% from previous years.
"We're concerned about the impact on our enrollment here," said OC's vice president of enrollmen, Jenn Goodwin.
"If the enrollment continues to drop we will see fewer students again in 2026."
Fewer students mean less revenue, so the college is forced to find ways to decrease expenditures.
"What we need to do as a college is align our operations to match the number of students coming in."
And it's hard to cut costs without cutting programs.
"How do we do that if we have fewer students coming in?" asks Goodwin rhetorically, "because we obviously can't be operating empty classes or classes with really, really small numbers."
OC has some time to work with because the changes only affect new students.
Overall enrollment hasn't felt the impact, yet, but unless there's a change in federal policies it will.
So the conversations have begun.
"As we have these conversations, and look at how can we align our operations to reduced enrollment, those are tough conversations," said Goodwin.
"And they are impactful on people and our communities."
New federal rules were announced earlier this fall by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The changes greatly reduced the programs international students are permitted to take and be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit.
This comes along with a decision last winter to scale back the number of international students overall.
OC has already been receiving messages of support from its partners in the communities served by the college, and Goodwin calls that "encouraging."
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