OLDS — Olds College is suspending 2025 fall term student intake for three on-campus programs, due to lower international student enrolment and smaller funding grants from the provincial government in recent years.
Intake into the Business Management diploma three-day cohort on campus and the Business Management diploma at Concordia University College in Edmonton are also suspended.
College officials made the announcements in a news release issued Thursday, Feb. 27, noting the loss in tuition revenue in its 2025-26 budget is expected to be about $5.1 million.
The three programs on the Olds campus for which intake is suspended are:
• Hospitality & Tourism Management (certificate, diploma, and post-diploma certificate),
• Craft Beverage & Brewery Operations (diploma) and
• Agriculture Technology Integration (post-diploma certificate).
Last year, the federal government announced new cuts to the number of international students allowed at colleges and universities.
The cuts are expected to result in about 300,000 fewer study permits over three years.
The number of international students coming to Canada is said to have dropped by 40 per cent.
Many post-secondary institutions have relied on income from international students to help offset lower provincial funding.
Olds College says the programs affected are not immediately discontinued.
“Intake suspension means that new students will not be admitted to these programs in upcoming intakes, but Olds College will be ‘teaching out’ the programs by offering second-year courses to current students as they complete their studies and graduate,” the news release says.
“These program intake suspensions represent a first step in addressing the financial challenges facing Olds College.
“The budget development process will continue throughout March and April, and that will include a comprehensive review of college operations, programs and services,” the release says.
“This decision was made after careful consideration of Olds College's long-term sustainability after analyzing enrolment projections for the coming academic year, historical enrolment trends, workforce needs and other relevant factors,” the release says.
“Olds College remains committed to providing high-quality education, experiences and support to our students,” Olds College interim president Debbie Thompson is quoted as saying in the news release.
“In order to navigate the growing demands and complex issues in the post-secondary system, we’ve been reviewing our program mix to ensure we align with industry needs, student demand and institutional priorities to ensure long-term stability for Olds College.
“The educational journey and success of our students remain our top priority.”
