As the academic and support unions representing the dedicated staff and faculty of St. Lawrence College (SLC), OPSEU Locals 417 and 418 wish to address the ongoing challenges faced by our members and the broader college community.
We recognize the significant pressures that college leadership teams across Ontario are facing, largely due to systemic underfunding of post-secondary education and external factors such as changes to international student visa policies. These issues, while not unique to St. Lawrence College, have had a profound impact on the college community.
The financial challenges that have emerged, particularly the over-reliance on international student tuition, were foreseen. Ontario’s Auditor General, Bonnie Lysyk, raised concerns in 2021 about the risks associated with this model. The challenges intensified after the federal government’s decision to cut international student visa allocations by 50% in Summer 2023, and the dissolution of the SLC/Alpha College partnership due to changes in federal and provincial policies.
In light of these changes, it is crucial to recognize the emotional and mental toll these challenges are having on our dedicated staff, who remain committed to providing quality education under increasingly difficult conditions. While staff are being asked to find efficiencies, the expansion of high-salary, non-student-facing management positions stands in stark contrast. This imbalance only deepens the strain on faculty and support staff, many of whom are working under precarious employment conditions. The justification for increased management roles often centers around growth in student population in recent years, yet current declining enrollment is cited as the reason for recent layoffs and future restructuring. This inconsistency only adds to the uncertainty and frustration felt by those on the frontlines.
Support staff, essential to ensuring the college’s educational mission, have faced extended vacancies, leaving teams stretched thin and under-resourced. Faculty, 75% of whom are on precarious 14-week contracts, are experiencing similar pressures. The toll of this ongoing uncertainty is affecting morale and undermining the quality of education that students expect and deserve. The emotional strain is real, and it is increasingly difficult for staff to continue to meet the demands placed on them while their own futures remain uncertain.
St. Lawrence College is more than an institution; it is a vital part of three communities, a major employer, and a hub for innovation and support. Yet, decisions being made seem increasingly disconnected from the institution’s core mission to provide accessible and high-quality education. While staff are asked to deliver efficiencies, management continues to expand its ranks and increase salaries, even as enrollment projections fall.
We urge the college administration to ensure that the Employment Stability Committees (ESCs), which include union representatives, are transparent and inclusive, and that they prioritize the needs of students, frontline staff, and faculty in addressing these challenges.
Specifically, we call on St. Lawrence College’s administration to:
- 1.Prioritize the well-being of frontline staff and faculty who are directly engaged in education and student support.
- 2.Collaborate with union Locals to back-fill essential vacant positions.
- 3.Ensure financial decisions are transparent and accountable, with particular attention to the growth of management positions and salary increases.
Ontario’s colleges were established as engines of opportunity and learning. Tackling systemic issues requires action at all levels, as well as an acknowledgment of the invaluable contributions of the dedicated individuals who make the college experience possible for students. While we understand that college leadership faces challenging circumstances, this does not absolve them of their responsibility to advocate for adequate funding from the Government of Ontario. Pursuing “efficiencies” alone merely diminishes the quality of students’ experiences, rather than addressing the pressing need for significant changes in funding across the province.
We remain committed to working collaboratively with the administration to find solutions that benefit all members of the St. Lawrence College community.