Algonquin cancelling academic upgrading courses in next phase of cuts

Algonquin College president Claude Brulé talking to the media at college in a file photo. Photo by Tony Caldwell /PostmediaArticle content

Algonquin College is phasing out its academic upgrading courses as it grapples with a budget deficit of at least $60 million next year, rising to $93 million by the following year.

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The Ottawa campus upgrading courses are for students who are considering entering post-secondary either at Algonquin or another institution and helps them complete missing credits in the subjects they need to begin a new course of study.

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Academic upgrading has been available at Algonquin for at least 25 years though a contract with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. The college will not be renewing the contract, Algonquin president Claude Brulé said.

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“It was not a decision taken lightly,” he said. “We looked at our financial situation, and we felt the need to realign our resources in support of our longer-term strategies.”

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Current students will be allowed to complete their current courses, likely over the next six months. New students will no longer be accepted. Upgrading courses are still available at the Pembroke campus as well as at the John Howard Society of Ottawa location through a partnership with Algonquin.

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Algonquin is committed to supporting a smooth transition for students to the other providers of upgrading, Brulé said.

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It is unclear at this point how much cancelling the contract will save.

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Algonquin College, Woodroffe campus in Ottawa. Photo by Tony Caldwell /PostmediaArticle content

Heather Ryall, dean of Algonquin’s faculty of arts, media and design, says the courses are offered in other places through school boards and community organizations.

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“We will be working very closely with the others in the community who provide this service to ensure that we can transition students to where they can best get a service or the particular course that they require,” she said.

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Martin Lee, second vice-president of OPSEU Local 415, is skeptical.

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“We’re an educational facility based on public need,” he said. “That’s what colleges are. We will be the college that will no longer be able to support basic academic needs.”

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About 20 OPSEU members teach the upgrading courses. There are between 250 and 300 students at any given time in academic upgrading, Lee said. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were more students taking courses at any one time, but the numbers have not rebounded, he said.

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Students who take the courses have a 10 per cent higher retention rate in their programs over other students, Lee contends. Although there are other resources in the community, the style, delivery and focus of these programs are very different.