Retrenchment Watch
Retrenchment Watch monitors institutional cutbacks in the postsecondary education, with a focus on Canada and the Anglosphere. As public funding declines, the sector faces a patchwork of institution-driven cuts with significant implications for decision-makers and institutional leaders. Our platform provides timely updates, pattern analysis, and insights into who is cutting what — and why. While still in development, we’re rapidly expanding coverage, starting with Canadian institutions.
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British Columbia
Camosun College is projecting a $5M deficit for 2025-26 due to an enrollment shortfall of 400 students below projections. Layoffs are expected, but the number of affected staff has not yet been announced.
Source: Times Colonist
OC has experienced a 50% reduction in new international student enrolment this fall and anticipates a further 70% decrease in the upcoming term. These declines have led to a notable shortfall in tuition revenue. In response, OC has canceled 11 part-time term faculty contracts for the winter semester. Additionally, the provost has indicated that up to 80 full-time positions may be at risk, potentially affecting both term and continuing faculty members.
Sources: Castanet News, Global News
SFU has already cut 85 jobs both staff and faculty positions and announced program closures like the English Language and Culture. SFU is anticipating a 20M revenue loss in 2025-2026 which will result in cuts across “most” units at the institution.
Sources: Global News, SFU
TRU is facing a $21M revenue drop for 2023-24 following a significant decline in new international student enrolment—50% for undergraduates and 75% for post-baccalaureate diploma students. The university plans to reduce costs by $12M, reduce travel budgets by 15%, and leave 75 positions unfilled. Job cuts are expected, but specific numbers have not been announced.
Sources: CFJC Today, Castanet
UVic is undergoing a $13M budget reduction as a result of reduced international student enrolment. Layoffs are expected, while no numbers have been specified, UVic anticipates less than 20 involuntary staff cuts.
Sources: Victoria News, UVic Budget Site
VIU is facing a $20.2M deficit after losing 384 international students; 60% of incoming international graduate students, 48% of incoming international undergraduate students, and 7% decline in continuing students.
Sources: Sooke News, CHEK News
Alberta
MRU projects their international student population to be similar to prior years at approximately 3.7%. Small changes in international revenue have been accounted for in the budget and no lay offs, program cuts are expected from the change in international student policy.
Source: CBC
UofA has announced a 10% increase in international tuition and a 2% increase for domestic students for 2026. No job cuts have been reported. UofA has announced cuts to their competitive swim program citing financial challenges.
Sources: Bears and Pandas, CBC
The University of Calgary faces an $11M revenue drop following a reduction of international students from 6,998 to 6,394.
Source: CBC
Manitoba
Brandon University saw a 15% decrease in international students in 2024-2025, decreasing from 527 to 447.
Source: CBC
Brandon University saw a 15% decrease in international students in 2024-2025, decreasing from 527 to 447.
Source: CBC
The University of Winnipeg projects a $4M-$5M loss in revenue this year. A hiring freeze has been announced, but no layoffs have been reported.
Source: CBC
Ontario
Algonquin College is projecting a $32M deficit due to 2,400 fewer students. AC is discussing job cuts but none have been announced yet.
Source: City News
Carleton is projecting a deficit “significantly” above $26M in the 2024/25 operating budget due to a 55% drop in first-year undergraduate international students and 35% at graduate level. “Significant measures” are expected but no firm announcement yet.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
Fleming College is dealing with a $38M revenue drop and has suspended 29 programs (possibly 42) due to the loss of 5,000 international students.
Sources: Global News, Global News Video
Georgian College faces a $45M deficit in 2025-2026 and has laid off 23 employees. 2,500 students have been lost from enrolment.
Source: CTV News
Mohawk College is facing a $50M deficit for 2025-26. 65 full-time administrative staff have been laid off, accounting for 20% of its administrative workforce.
Sources: City News, The Spectator
The university estimates a $36M deficit for 2024/25 and has already been laying off some support staff. 16 personnel were laid off by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and 17 accepted voluntary exit incentives before the start of this academic year.
Sources: Global News, Queen’s Journal
SLC experienced a decrease of 50% in new international student enrollment resulting in the elimination of 30 jobs. While more job cuts are possible, SLC has not instituted a hiring freeze.
Source: City News
Seneca is “temporarily” closing its Markham campus, which primarily served international students.
Source: City News
Sheridan expects at least a 30% reduction in international students next year and a reduction in revenue of $112M, and will suspend 40 programs and put 27 into review. Staff will inevitably be laid off, there are estimates of around 700 layoffs but the numbers are not finalised.
Source: CBC
Trent is anticipating a $12.9M shortfall in tuition revenue, resulting in a $1.4M deficit in 2024. Trent received $1.5M from the Ontario University Stability Fund.
Source: Peterborough Examiner
The University of Waterloo estimates a $75M deficit and will freeze hiring and cut jobs, although there are no firm numbers available yet.
Source: University of Waterloo
The University of Windsor estimates a $10M deficit this year and a $30M deficit next year and will cut jobs, although there are no firm numbers available yet.
Source: City News
As a cost reduction initiative, Western will set minimum enrollment thresholds below which a course may not run. The Western Gazette reports that within each Faculty at least 90% of undergraduate courses must meet thresholds of 50 students for a 1,000-level course, 40 for a 2,000-level, 30 for a 3,000-level and 15 for a 4,000-level.
Source: Western Gazette
York University estimates a $142M operating budget deficit in 2023/24 and is reducing costs by $130M over three years to fill a gap in the budget.
Sources: Excalibur, York University
Nova Scotia
CBU experienced a 52% reduction in its international student allocation from 2023 to 2024. In 2024, new international student tuition increased 9%, returning international student tuition increased 2.5%, and domestic student tuition increased 2%.
Sources: Coastal Radio, CBU
Dalhousie University has reported an $18M revenue drop and a 20% decline in international student enrolment. A hiring freeze has been implemented and is anticipated to remain until, at least, March 2025.
Source: CBC
Newfoundland and Labrador
Memorial University reported a $9.5M revenue drop. New cost reduction measures include a limited hiring program, changes to carry-over funding, and exploration of new funding models.
Source: MUN Gazette
Quebec
Concordia University projects a $34.5M deficit for 2024-25 due to a loss of 1,200 students. The hiring freeze implemented in 2023 will remain.
Sources: Concordia CSU Report, Concordia News
