Strategic Adjustments: Frequently Asked Questions

We are committed to sharing information with the college community as we work through strategic adjustments. This is a dynamic, evolving situation, and we have chosen to provide written updates for the time being so we can follow our communications protocols, ensure we’re respecting our employees, and adhere to collective and employment agreement terms and conditions. 

As soon we have information to share, we’ll publish it in our newsfeed or update these FAQs. 

For media requests, please contact Maggie Keczan, director of communications & public engagement.
 

Selkirk College continues to offer high-quality, accessible programming that aligns with labour-market needs for the long term. 

To meet the decline in international enrolment, we have suspended the intakes of several programs and introduced new cost-saving measures, including strategic hiring, better space utilization and spending restrictions. We’re trying to minimize layoffs by identifying voluntary workforce reduction opportunities. We’ll be leaving several vacant positions unfilled and have not renewed contracts in some cases. 

We are working closely with the three unions representing employees at the college: BC Government Employees Union (BCGEU), Selkirk College Faculty Association (SCFA) and Public Private Workers of Canada (PPWC).  

Selkirk College is following a strategic hiring review process. Some positions are required to maintain basic service levels, regardless of operating deficits, and we must fill them if they become vacant. 

All new vacancies go through an executive leadership review process—in consultation with the affected department or area—to determine whether the position will be filled.

At this time, eight employees have either been laid off or have not had their contracts renewed, equaling six full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.

These layoffs will take effect on July 31, 2025. 

Both regular ongoing employees and short-term employees have been affected. 

At this time, about one per cent of employees have been affected.

Some employees chose early retirement or voluntary severance, and this prevented some layoffs for some less-senior faculty.

At this time, the School of Hospitality & Tourism has been most significantly affected, as most of the students in its programs are international.

Students are no longer enrolling in many of our programs because they are no longer eligible for post-graduate work permits under IRCC’s new restrictions. 

The School of Business and the School of University Arts & Sciences will also be affected by the lower enrolments, and we anticipate further labour adjustments in these areas.

Yes. As enrolment numbers and the ripple effects of fewer students on campus become clearer, we expect more layoffs across all employee groups. 

The labour adjustments are due to a substantial reduction in international enrolment caused by changes to federal immigration policy. 

We anticipate a 60 to 85 per cent reduction in international students over the next two years. This decrease is expected to result in annual revenue reductions in the range of $9 million.

Selkirk College’s new strategic plan—Land, Learning & Legacy: Our Path to 2040—offers a road map to a future grounded in sustainability, highlighting environmental, social and economic resiliency. It will help establish Selkirk College as a destination for learning grounded in a sense of land and place. 

The actions in our strategic plan will improve our ability to recruit domestic students from within and outside our region. Growing domestic enrolment will offset the impacts of lower international student enrolment in the future.

We have not cancelled any programs at this time. We have suspended some intakes of:

• Accounting – Postgraduate Diploma
• Business Administration Accounting Finance – Diploma*
• Business Administration Professional Management – Diploma*
• Business Management – Postgraduate Diploma
• Culinary Management – Postgraduate Diploma
• Full-Stack Web Development – Postgraduate Diploma
• Gerontological Nursing – Postgraduate Diploma
• Hospitality Management – Postgraduate Diploma

*Please note, applications for this program are welcome for the September 2025 (fall) term and for part-time studies in the January 2026 (winter) term.

All students currently enrolled in classes and programs will be supported through to graduation.

Explore a list of programs that may be eligible for post-graduation work permits. 

Note that several programs that enrolled the majority of international students at Selkirk College are no longer eligible for post-graduation work permits, including Hospitality & Tourism and Business.