While enrollment numbers are not yet known, Sault College and Algoma University will both certainly have fewer international students (a hot, revenue-generating commodity for both institutions) this fall.
Travel restrictions have led to many international students not being able to attend either institution, with those granted travel exceptions having to quarantine themselves for 14 days upon arrival in Canada.
“(Due to that) we will have a reduction in our enrollment, both domestic and international, like most postsecondary institutions this year,” said Rick Webb, Sault College human resources and communications director, speaking to SooToday.
“It will (have an impact). It will for sure. There’ll be less international students this year for sure. There’s a lot of uncertainty with COVID and some people have made alternate decisions. We’re also going to be having some students study remotely from their home countries. The government allowed us to set up some international students remotely, but there’s still an impact on enrollment. The COVID impacts will be felt this year for sure. Student enrollment will be down, there’s no doubt about it.”
“We anticipate anywhere between 800 and 1,000 students on campus (this fall).”
Normally, the college would have 3,000 full-time students at this time of year, Webb said.
But the college won’t look like a complete ghost town.
“There are a number of programs that require hands-on learning (such as mechanical, electrical, automotive and hairstyling as examples) and we’ve put safety protocols in place to manage that, such as so many students in a classroom, social distancing, masks are going to be worn in common areas, and when they come in they'll swipe in with their student cards,” Webb said.
Sault College is offering a hybrid approach to education, with an in-person, hands-on approach for those students who can do so, with a remote approach for students enrolled in business programs, for example.
“Although some (travel) restrictions (for international students) have been eased by the federal government, things are certainly not back to ‘normal,’” stated Brian Leahy, Algoma University communications director, in an email to SooToday.
The university decided in the spring to not offer face-to-face academic programming to allow its students a chance to prepare for remote learning this term.
Leahy, however, stated some students who are approved to travel could in theory choose to come to the Sault.
“If they choose to do so, they would be required to follow any related regulations/protocols,” Leahy wrote.
“The requirement for international students to quarantine is a federal requirement under the Quarantine Act for all international travellers (not just students). Algoma has provided options for students to quarantine at a local hotel or in residence should they not have a suitable place to quarantine as per requirements in the Act. If students choose to use one of these quarantine options, they are charged back all associated costs,” Leahy said.
A full update on Algoma’s enrolment numbers regarding domestic and international students will be given at the next Algoma University board of governors meeting, scheduled for Sept. 24.
The week of Sept. 7 saw a back to school experience like none other, with elementary and secondary school students in the Sault and Algoma district returning to classes wearing masks and practicing social distancing, as reported earlier
