Langara College instructors worry about international student cap

The union representing instructors at Langara College says its qualified instructors are at risk of losing their positions due to the new international student enrolment cap.

Pauline Greaves, president of the Langara Faculty Association, says they lost 27 faculty members in September, and they anticipate layoffs to increase next year.

Because of this, she says, they sent a letter to Langara’s senior leadership asking for a detailed plan to mitigate the impact of decreasing enrolment, as well as suggestions and strategies.

“We had no response. We have not received a plan,” she said. “I think it is incredibly disrespectful for faculty to not know that going into Christmas they don’t have a job, and they won’t be able to inform them until December.”

Early this year, the federal immigration minister announced a cap limiting the number of international students universities can accept, citing pressure on housing, health care, and other services.

But Pouyan Mahboubi, Langara’s vice-president academic and vice-provost, says he is not concerned about the impacts of the international student cap.

“We totally understand that people are worried about this disruption unfolding right across the Canadian landscape. [But] we currently have no plans for reductions. We are working on the data this point,” he said.

“Fall-over-fall, we are slightly down on international students — approximately 10 per cent less — which is not unusual for this sector. Most Canadian colleges will see that kind of reduction, as well as Langara.”

Mahboubi says the college is working on providing new job opportunities to offset the decrease in international student enrolment.

“We are developing a micro-credential that will allow us to offer additional work to the same faculty in the program area, which could be new work opportunities for them,” he said.

As for the union, it’s now a waiting game as they wait to hear how many jobs will be impacted by the drop in enrolment.

“We have 175 faculty that don’t know if they will have jobs or not,” Greaves said.

“We need to know what the plan is. And by doing it at the end of November, early December, that is extremely disrespectful.”