Confederation College Announces Program Suspensions to Align with Changing Enrollment  

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Confederation College has announced the suspension of 11 academic programs following a thorough review of enrollment trends, financial performance and labour market data. The decision was approved at the Board of Governors meeting on March 26, 2025.  

The affected programs include:  

School of Business, Hospitality & Media Arts: 

School of Engineering Technology, Trades & Aviation:

School of Health, Negahneewin & Community Services:

Students currently enrolled in these programs will be able to complete their studies with full academic and student support. The suspensions will impact 4% of projected incoming domestic students starting in September 2025.  The College’s Admissions and Recruitment teams are actively working with affected applicants to identify alternative program options.

“These decisions are never taken lightly. While we must ensure our long-term sustainability, our focus remains on supporting our students and employees throughout this transition,” said Michelle Salo, President of Confederation College. “As the education and employment landscape evolves, Confederation College remains committed to delivering high-quality, career-focused programs that equip students with the skills they need to succeed.”  

The program suspensions come amid broader shifts in enrollment patterns, including the impact of federal policy changes on international student recruitment. Confederation College continues to advocate for expanded program eligibility for post-graduate work permits and remains engaged with industry partners to ensure alignment with workforce needs for Thunder Bay and the region. These challenges are further compounded by ongoing constraints in post-secondary funding within the Ontario college sector, which impact program sustainability and the ability to expand educational offerings to meet evolving student and industry demands.  

“We are committed to delivering programs that lead to strong employment outcomes for our students,” said Aaron Skillen, Vice President Academic. “As we adjust our academic offerings, we are also exploring new opportunities for growth in high-demand fields.”  

Students, faculty, and staff impacted by these changes have been notified, and the College will continue providing guidance and support in the coming weeks. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Program Suspensions

A program suspension means ceasing enrollment for new students in a specific program. This decision allows the College to fully assess factors such as enrollment trends, industry demand, and program sustainability. When a program is suspended, current students can complete their studies as planned, but no new applicants will be admitted.

The suspensions will affect 11 programs, beginning in September 2025. 

The suspended programs are:

School of Business, Hospitality & Media Arts: 

School of Engineering Technology, Trades & Aviation:

School of Health, Negahneewin & Community Services:

If your program is not listed above, it means there is no impact to your program. 

Program suspensions will come into effect in September 2025. New students (both domestic and international) will not be able to apply to or accept offers to enroll in Semester One of these programs.

These suspensions are a result of declining enrollment, shifting industry demands, and financial sustainability. The decision to suspend these programs was made to ensure the College remains responsive to the labour force needs of northwestern Ontario and to emerging strategic priorities. Confederation College is not alone in making the difficult decision to suspend programs; over the past few months, colleges across the country have announced similar measures as a result of federal policy changes on international student recruitment, which have impacted enrolment in many programs.

No, current students will not be affected. If you are already enrolled in one of the suspended programs, you will be able to continue your studies and complete your program within the normal time period. Students should try to stay on track and shouldn’t plan to take time off. If you're not sure, talk to your Student Success Advisor to make sure you’re on track to graduate. The suspensions only apply to new student intakes for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. 

Yes, both domestic and international incoming students will be unable to apply for or enroll in these programs as they are being suspended beginning September 2025.  This is not limited to international students – all prospective students who had applied to an affected program will be impacted. However, students currently enrolled in these programs will be able to complete their studies. 

All affected students (domestic and international) will be notified via email. The email will include specific instructions on how to apply to an alternate program or explore other career options.  We will host drop-in sessions for domestic students and our Recruitment Officers will help guide you through the process. International students will receive information from the International Education Centre on exploring and applying to alternative programs. 

No, you will not be able to apply for admission to the suspended programs.

We are committed to supporting all incoming students during this transition. Domestic students can attend drop-in sessions with our Recruitment Officers to explore other program options. International students will receive guidance on how to apply for alternative programs or explore other pathways from the International Education Centre. Our Student Success Advisors, International Student Advisor and Recruitment teams can help with any questions.

The program suspensions are indefinite at this time. The status of these programs will be reevaluated in the future.

Yes, if you are currently enrolled in the program and you applied for your study permit or study permit extension  before Nov. 1, 2024, you will still be eligible for a PGWP upon successful completion of your program. If your current program of study is not the academic program named on the original Letter of Acceptance used in your study permit application, please check with the International Education Centre.

Yes, your credential will remain valid. Program suspension does not affect the value of your diploma or certificate. 

Domestic Students: It is recommended that students avoid unnecessary breaks, follow the program progression. Talk to your student success advisor or program coordinator if you’re not sure you can take an unscheduled break.

International Students:  You cannot interrupt your studies and take an unscheduled break. 

Policy changes  by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have set caps on international student permit applications and restricted post-graduation work permits to select programs.  This has resulted in a significant decline in the enrolment of international students in several programs, particularly those that no longer permit international students to gain valuable work experience in Canada upon graduation. The impact of these changes are being experienced by colleges and universities across Canada; they have directly, and very negatively, affected Canada’s reputation as a destination of choice for international students. 

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