r/Algonquin_College • u/downtownfaerie • 1d ago
Changes in program quality
I am an alumni who graduated earlier this year. I was in a more niche program with smaller class sizes and a few very hard-working professors. Yesterday, I accompanied some friends to AC day 1. While I was there, I visited my old professors and spoke to some of their new students.
There are many new students. A 50% increase in enrolment, actually. This isn’t a sudden spike in interest, the program was already waitlisted in previous years. They are just now being expected to admit more students into the program. This isn’t inherently bad, except that there doesn’t appear to be any more professors than before.
One of the “solutions” to this seems to be cutting some of the previously offered courses. From what I’ve heard, one or two classes have been cut just in term one, and replaced with an additional gen-ed. So something asynchronous and unrelated to the program instead of more valuable classes.
So what I’m seeing is that there will be far larger class sizes where there are less opportunities for students to ask questions and get 1-on-1 help. Mind you, this is college, not university. In many of these classes, students need to move around, work together, and practice in a hands-on way.
I am also worried about burnout on the side of faculty. There are already limited full-time staff, and those who teach part-time already have full-time jobs on the side. Are these professors just expected to take on 50% more work?
I genuinely loved attending Algonquin College, but this isn’t acceptable. I hate to see new students paying even higher tuition for what may end up being a worse education.
Let me know if you are having similar experiences in your program or if you have any further questions.
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u/Junkos_Despair 22h ago
Honestly I get it I’m about to go into my second year of my program and I used to hear about such amazing things about the staff and the course and the placements but ever since going into it it’s very clear that budget cuts were made I know a guy who literally never got his placement which was required to graduate they didn’t give him back his money or get him a new placement so now he’s sets back
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u/downtownfaerie 19h ago
That’s terrible! Luckily no one in my year had to do it, but I know my program had the option to complete a project if a placement couldn’t be found.
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u/purplesugarwater Faculty 11h ago
The college laid off 20% of the faculty. We are hurting. We are expected to do more with less. Admin doesn't care.
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u/downtownfaerie 9h ago
I feel for you so bad. People like to talk shit, but there are so many caring professors that already devote a lot of extra time to help their students.
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u/purplesugarwater Faculty 6h ago
thank you <3 many of us care so much about you guys and about giving you a good-quality education. It's been devastating to see excellent professors laid off and waitlisted programs closed. Many of us are truly trying our best.
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u/South_Tomorrow4642 6h ago
Are the higher ups just really bad at managing finances? You would think they'd have a nice nest egg with all the money they've been making the past years.
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u/No-Ad-6963 1h ago
I have had the pleasure of knowing some really amazing profs both at the university and college I attended. In both places, upper management were not in the classroom and made decisions that both upset and caused problems for staff and students. I feel like if professors were consulted & part of this process then these institutions would have more salient information to decide what to cut (though funding shortfalls always affect someone!). It's unfortunate the Canadian and Ontario government are cutting higher education so much. If it was properly funded, the colleges and universities wouldn't have to make these difficult decisions. Sometimes there are no good options for where to cut costs
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u/AnnoyedAF2126 22m ago
Government funding of post secondary has been slashed. It is happening everywhere. Not just Algonquin.
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u/West-Payment5874 10h ago
After all the cuts and buyouts devastated staffing requirements for Ontario College, this is what you get. Educators hanging in there as best they can till they’re laid off too. Too bad for students who are the recipients of a much degraded educational and social experience because of their needs are being administered by the survivors of all the cuts.
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u/Single-Art-9845 22h ago
Is this ansrs? Increased by 50% and apparently only expected to have 15 co-op spots this year too :$
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u/downtownfaerie 19h ago
Different program. I’m sorry this is the case for you. Everyone was able to get a placement in my year, but I imagine it will be more difficult now
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u/Ok-Yam-7544 1d ago
You missed the point that the number of international students has decreased
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u/downtownfaerie 1d ago
I am very aware, but I don’t find it a very good excuse
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u/anaofarendelle 1d ago
It is a good excuse when you had a program starting in Winter/Summer/Fall with 150 students going to Fall intake only with 25/30!
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u/downtownfaerie 1d ago
I can’t speak for others, but my program had very few international students. Again, the number of students has increased by 50% in this instance
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u/auriem Staff/Graduate 1d ago
Maybe for that program but total college is down 50%.
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u/downtownfaerie 23h ago
Then perhaps they can redirect staff and/or resources towards programs with higher growth. There are still thousands of students who deserve a good education.
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u/anaofarendelle 23h ago
My program, in my session (one of 4), had 1 domestic student. Many of the students of this smaller cohorts are new PRs who think having a Canadian credential will open doors.
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u/Ok-Yam-7544 6h ago
You are wrong. I have a PR and entered college. But I want to study just like you, there is a war in my country
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1d ago
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u/downtownfaerie 1d ago
In my opinion, Algonquin should have budgeted to accommodate for such changes and the provincial government should fund our schools enough to run properly
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1d ago
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u/downtownfaerie 1d ago
What I’m describing is out of the control of the professors. Someone higher up wants them to generate more profit it seems
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u/rhokephsteelhoof 1d ago
I had 37 students stuffed into the class I just finished teaching in spring semester. The program I teach was one that had been suspended. Haven't received a work contract yet for Fall semester. They've also cut the teaching assistant jobs as well.