New cuts come following Theatre and Motion Arts Program cuts

by Lexey Burns, Senior Reporter

Students at Laurentian University have been given a shocking back to school surprise from the school’s administration. Laurentian has decided to axe enrolment to 17 different programs across 13 units.

The 17 programs include Études de l’environnement/Environnement durable, Mathématiques– tous les programmes (spécialisation, majeure, concentration) (FR) (BA & BSc), Music – specialization, Modern languages – all programs, Théâtre (FR) – spécialisation, Geography (EN/FR) – specialisation, Archaeology – all programs, BAA en Ressources humaines (FR), BBA in International Management (EN), BBA in Entrepreneurship (EN), Outdoor Adventure Leadership (FR), Kinésie humaine (Maîtrise) (FR), Anthropology – all programs. 

This list was recently published in an article by Sudbury.com and confirmed by Robert Haché, Laurentian’s president.

“We’re having challenges with their enrolments on an ongoing basis over many years,” Haché said. 

Students currently enrolled in their programs will be able to finish their studies with no changes, but future enrolment will be suspended and students will be encouraged to enrol in a closely related alternative, Haché said. 

Haché added that the programs, as they were, created a more difficult learning experience as students didn’t have a large peer group to interact with.

“I’ve also seen feedback that understands that it’s challenging for the students as well as for the institution to offer programs that may have three or four students,” Haché said.

Eric Chappell, SGA (Students’ General Association) President said he learned about the program suspensions through the Sudbury.com story.

“I didn’t expect [the suspension of Laurentian programs] to happen in the way it did and as quickly as it did,” Chappell said.

Haché, on the other hand, said that “these are not spur of the moment decisions,” explaining that there are different subcommittees that have carefully tracked the enrolment of each program over past years. 

The low levels of enrolment were a large factor in the final decision, as only 49 students were enrolled in the 17 programs, Haché said.

When asked what concerns him about the University’s actions, Chappell said that he is worried about the fear this announcement has caused, following quite closely after the termination of the Theatre and Motion Picture Arts programs.

Haché confirmed no professors will lose their jobs because of the cuts.

The SGA and AEF (Association des étudiantes et étudiants francophones) released a statement saying:

“all students deserve the programming they signed up for without hindrance, which includes the level of quality and opportunities expected. As student representatives, we are continuously advocating to Laurentian University and provincial stakeholders to guarantee that students graduate with the highest quality experience and education possible.” 

They ask that if any students have any concerns they email the SGA directly.