By Cheryl Jahn

CNC plans for disruptions

Nov 20, 2024 | 3:52 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The College of New Caledonia is predicting “very few international students” to arrive in subsequent terms and “if no changes are made,” the college anticipates an operating deficit in the 2025-2026 fiscal year and the fall enrolment. So what does that mean for the college?

“We have already paused our new international student enrolment for intersession,” says Shelley Carter-Rose, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. “So you can see the trends of fewer students in January, fewer students for intersession. And we will have fewer students for September.”

The college is planning budget reductions, which will impact programming and, by extension, jobs.

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“This message from the government’s been only six weeks. We’ve been working very hard and really being mindful of how we do this work. We’ve made some decisions. We’ve shared that now. And now our work is how we manage. But there will be reductions. And we’re looking across the college, we’re looking at all labour groups.”

Is it possible the college may have put too many eggs on one basket? Relying too heavily on international enrolment. Shelley Carter-Rose says the College did recognize the imbalance between international and domestic populations.

“Over time we got a little heavy and a little out of balance and we knew that and that’s why we were reducing. So it really is intentional. It wasn’t a surprise. We knew this, but [the government decision] is just a little more abrupt and a little more acute for us at this time.”

The college will maintain programs for international students who are currently enrolled so they may complete their studies, while it works to offer programs for international students that align with the new federal regulations for study areas eligible for post-graduate work permits. In the meantime, the College plans to redirect it attention in terms of enrolment, elsewhere.

“The last three falls CNC has had an increase in its domestic enrolment. That’s unheard of in the province, where the majority are declining. So our enrolment management work was positioning us more focused on domestic. And we’re going to continue that. We’ve been saying that our domestic work will go on steroids now.”

She says this sudden set of restrictions on international student enrolments and programs has really cast this country in a dark light in terms of destinations for education.