Canada College to suspend 40 programs, cut staff amid financial challenges

Toronto: Sheridan College, one of Canada’s top post-secondary institutions, announced it will suspend 40 programs and reduce staffing levels, citing financial challenges driven by government policy changes and declining admissions.

The college, which serves over 40,000 students across campuses in Brampton, Mississauga, and Oakville, attributed the cuts to a significant drop in international student enrollment following federal limits on study permits.

In response to housing shortages and rising living costs, Ottawa recently capped study permits at 360,000 for 2024, a 35% decrease from 2023, with further reductions expected next year.

In a statement, Sheridan President Janet Morrison estimated a 30% drop in enrollment for the next academic year, potentially slashing revenue by $112 million.

“These changes are necessary for Sheridan to remain a financially sustainable and vibrant institution during a period of long-term low funding, changing government policies, and social, technological, and economic disruption,” Morrison said.

Suspensions will affect programs across multiple faculties: 13 in Applied Science and Technology, 13 in Business, six in Animation, Arts, and Design, five in Health and Community Studies, and three in Humanities and Social Sciences.

The changes will take effect in phases, starting in May, but all current students will be allowed to complete their studies.

Sheridan, known as Canada’s leading animation college with seven Academy Award-winning alumni, also revealed that 27 additional programs are under review.

The institution’s challenges reflect broader concerns across Ontario colleges, as reduced international enrollment could cost provincial schools up to $1 billion annually, according to the Council of Ontario Universities.