Saanich's Camosun College, a key post-secondary institution in British Columbia, is navigating severe financial pressures as international student numbers plummet due to federal policy changes. President Lane Trotter recently outlined a "new financial reality" in a special update, signaling budget reductions of $7.2 million to $9 million for the 2026/27 fiscal year to align with drastically reduced enrollment. This situation mirrors a nationwide crisis in Canadian higher education, where colleges reliant on international tuition—often three to four times higher than domestic fees—face shortfalls amid study permit caps imposed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The decline has already triggered layoffs, program restructurings, and operational efficiencies, raising concerns among faculty, staff, and students about program quality and job security. Yet, amid challenges, the college reports modest domestic enrollment growth and anticipates targeted provincial funding for skilled trades, offering glimmers of adaptation strategies.

Understanding Camosun College's Role in Greater Victoria

Camosun College, located across two campuses in the Saanich area near Victoria, British Columbia, serves over 18,000 students annually through more than 160 programs in areas like business, health sciences, trades, and technology. Established in 1971, it functions as a community college (distinct from universities by focusing on diplomas, certificates, and associate degrees) under the College and Institute Act, which mandates balanced budgets absent approved recovery plans.

Historically, international students have been vital, contributing about 28% of tuition revenue ($47 million budgeted for 2025/26). These students, paying premium fees—such as $33,000 for a two-year biology associate degree versus $9,000 for domestics—subsidized broader operations. The sudden revenue drop has forced a reevaluation of sustainability.

Federal International Student Caps: The Policy Backdrop

Canada's federal government introduced study permit caps in January 2024 to address housing shortages and public service strains, limiting approvals to 360,000 for 2024—a 35% reduction from 2023's 560,000. Further tightened in September 2024 and the 2025 federal budget, permits dropped to 437,000 for 2025-2026, resulting in a 61% year-on-year decline in new arrivals by late 2025.

Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) allocated to British Columbia further constrained colleges like Camosun, which could issue only 1,643 PALs from January 2024 to 2025. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility changes compounded this, deterring applicants. President Trotter noted these shifts are "beyond the college's control," transforming a revenue pillar into a liability.

Step-by-step, the process unfolded: IRCC announcements led to immediate application drops; colleges adjusted marketing; fall 2024 saw shortfalls; winter terms confirmed trends; and 2026 projections locked in cuts.

Enrollment Timeline: From Boom to Sharp Decline

Camosun's international enrollment trajectory illustrates the crisis:

• Fall 2023: Peak pre-cap numbers supporting balanced operations.
• Fall 2024: Budgeted 2,200; actual 1,800—a 400-student gap.
• Winter 2025: Dropped to 1,400 by January.
• Fall 2025: Projected 1,200; actual nearer 930, a nearly 60% decline from targets.
• 2026 Outlook: Continued low, prompting $7.2M-$9M cuts.

Domestic enrollment rose 3-4.9% in Fall 2025, thanks to recruitment efforts, but cannot offset losses given fee disparities.

Financial Breakdown: $11M Shortfall and Beyond

Revenue shortfalls escalated: $5M initial for 2025/26, ballooning to $11M by mid-year, reducing the $180M budget to $169M. For 2026/27, further $7.2M-$9M reductions are mandated, with a projected $2.2M deficit by March 31, 2026, per nine-month update.

Provincial base grants ($114M) and tuition caps limit flexibility. Lost federal grants, like Indigenous trades programs, exacerbated gaps previously covered by international fees.

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Immediate Measures: Layoffs, Restructuring, and Efficiencies

To balance books:

• Layoffs: Fewer than 50 positions cut initially; more via Section 54 notices to unions; de facto via course cancellations.
• Restructuring: Programs grouped into five study areas (e.g., health/human services cluster), saving $1.1M; capacity matched to demand ($4.6M savings).
• Other: Early retirements, non-essential spending freezes, admin consolidations.

President Trotter emphasized layoffs as "last resort," prioritizing minimal impacts and support services. For faculty eyeing stability, resources like academic CV tips can aid transitions.

Stakeholder Voices: Tensions and Perspectives

President Lane Trotter: "There's a lot of fear... much anger directed at me." Advocates for immigration to fill skilled trades gaps.

Camosun College Faculty Association (CCFA): Lynelle Yutani questions "sweeping changes" on "small fluctuation," worries over course offerings. Negotiations broke down, per X posts.

Students: Concerns over reduced sections affecting schedules; international cohort diversity loss. Unions push mediation.

Explore professor ratings at Rate My Professor for insights into Camosun faculty experiences.

Canada-Wide Echoes: Colleges in Crisis

Camosun isn't alone. BC peers like Kwantlen Polytechnic (KPU) laid off 70 faculty; Algonquin suspended 30+ programs; Saskatchewan Polytechnic cut jobs. Nationally, 60% new intl arrival drop decimates budgets, prompting protests and restructurings.

Search higher ed jobs across Canada for openings amid shifts.

Provincial Sustainability Review and Funding Hopes

BC's post-secondary sustainability review (concluding March 2026) examines operations amid intl declines. New skilled trades funding starts April 2026. Camosun submitted responses emphasizing long-term value.

Adaptation Strategies: Domestic Focus and Efficiency

Positives: 4.9% domestic growth via marketing; no program suspensions planned; core supports intact. Future: Demand-based offerings, service efficiencies. Ties to labor market via trades boost.

• Boost domestic recruitment
• Program alignment with provincial needs
• Union collaborations for retirements

Professionals can leverage career advice for resilience.

Photo by Fotos on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Challenges and Opportunities

Without intl recovery or grant hikes, ongoing adjustments loom, risking service strains. Yet, domestic upticks and trades funding signal pivots. Implications: Slower growth, skilled worker pathways emphasis. For job seekers, university jobs and faculty positions remain viable amid college shifts. Check Canadian academic opportunities.

What This Means for Higher Ed Careers in BC

Budget cuts highlight volatility, urging diversification. Explore admin jobs, community college roles, or lecturer paths. AcademicJobs.com positions itself as a resource for navigating these changes.