By Sam Bennison

Education

CNC looks at cancelling three programs

Feb 18, 2025 | 5:47 PM

PRINCE GEORGE— Continued uncertainty at the College of New Caledonia (CNC) after the federal government restricted the number of immigrants allowed into Canada with CNC considering the cancellation of three programs. Those programs are Associate of Arts -Modern Classics, the Community and School Support Program, and the English Language Program.

The Faculty Association of the College of New Caledonia says the program closures will affect jobs.

“Any program cancellation is a concern for the faculty association,” says Association President Marta Tejero. “Especially with the ENLA program. It will be affecting at least seven faculty members and over 35 to 40 students.”

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CNC says the decision to close the three programs comes down to a lack of enrolment.

“We will have a significant decline in our new international students in 2025,” explains Shelley Carter-Rose, Vice President of Student Affairs and Interim Vice President, Academic.

Carter-Rose adds that the College believes there are adequate alternatives to cancel the English Language Program. The two alternatives to the English Language Program outlined by CNC is the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society in Prince George and online language programs. The Faculty Association says that they recognize that the lack of international students has put strain on CNC financially, but add that they don’t believe online language programs are an adequate replacement.

“The other concern for the union is the idea of contracting out,” says Tejero. “So, they’re going to close a program in their proposal, looking at partnerships with private ESL schools in Toronto or in Vancouver that also affects jobs here in the North. And, we would like our work to stay in the North.”

CNC says students in those programs will be able to finish them. However one student at the Associate of Arts – Modern Classics says they have already run into roadblocks with trying to transfer to UNBC as they say less classes are being offered in the summer.

“I feel like last year they offered about 300 or 400 classes. And, this semester they’re offering 190 total across all programs,” say Rosario Botelho. “For me, it means that I have to either transfer to UNBC a semester early, transfer to a different university entirely for a semester in order to fill in those classes, or potentially graduate up to a full year later than originally planned.

The final motion to cancel the three programs will be made on February 28, 2025 at the CNC Board meeting.

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Email: sam.bennison@pattisonmedia.com