North Island College’s Board of Governors will soon decide whether 15 programs will continue in the fall.
The board will meet on Feb. 5 to consider whether to continue the following programs and courses:
- Adventure Guiding Certificate
- Hospital Unit Clerk Certificate
- Bachelor of Business Administration – Marketing
- Global Business Management Post-Graduate Diploma
- Digital Design and Development Post Graduate Certificate
- Digital Design and Development Post Graduate Diploma
- Web and Mobile Application Development Diploma
- Web Design Fundamentals Certificate
- Advanced Digital Design and Development Diploma
- Android Application Development Certificate
- Fine Arts Diploma
- Coastal Forestry Diploma
- Costal Forestry Certificate
- Furniture Design and Joinery Certificate
- Human Services Diploma
President of the North Island College Faculty Association Jen Wyre said the association disagrees with plans to suspend the programs and wants the community to be aware of potential changes and their impacts.
“Education drives social and economic growth and is core infrastructure and our main concern is people living in the mid-island region would have viewer avenues to achieve their dreams to meet their goals.”
Wyre said she believes the changes are being considered because of a longstanding funding shortfall for post-secondary institutions.
Affected programs would no longer accept students for the fall 2026 semester, although students already enrolled would have the chance to complete their studies.
She said the current funding model, which was supplemented by revenue from international students, has decreased due to changes in immigration rules and led to fewer enrolments.
“The Faculty Association just wants to ensure the public and the community are well aware of what the college is proposing to do, and we think this is an institution that exists to serve the community,” Wyre said.
Although the programs could be suspended for the fall 2026 semester, it is not known whether they would be offered beyond then.
Wyre said the affected programs have strong student demand and meet local labour market needs, and she hopes to see an infusion of emergency provincial funding to help sustain them.
She encourages affected community members to contact North Island College’s Board of Governors and advise against the suspension of the programs.
