[In a previous version of this story, we mistakenly said that Camosun’s entire ESL program looks to be on the chopping block, where in fact it is the ESL funding for domestic students which is in jeopardy.]
Camosun College’s entire English as a Second Language (ESL) program funding for domestic students looks to be on the chopping block as of April due to a recent $2.5 million dollar budget cut. The announcement, which came down from the federal government in early December, was a shock to the college, according to Joan Yates, Camosun’s vice-president communications.
Yates says the college knew that changes were afoot, but had no idea the cuts would be of this magnitude, predicting the cost of running the ESL program at $1.3 million.
“The mood within college administration has gone from shock to incredible disappointment,” says Yates. “ESL programs are a fundamental for Camosun College. We put incredible importance in helping ESL students get into the economy and the job market, and this really hit us in the solar plexuses.”
Since the announcement, the college has met with every level of its community, from senior admins to ESL students themselves, and has been working hard imploring to government the seriousness of the funding cuts.
“Since we heard the news we’ve been going flat out, trying to look at what we need to do, including actively advocating and make everyone at the government level understand what this decision means,” says Yates.
Meanwhile, college staff and students have been assured that ESL programs will continue to run through the winter semester. Currently, it’s unclear what will happen to the programs and its students after April, but “no more ESL funding means we have to extrapolate, no more ESL,” says Yates.
Camosun faculty and staff were informed of the cuts on December 5 via an “urgent communication” from college president Kathryn Laurin. In the statement, Laurin asked the college community to “please extend patience to your colleagues who are most directly impacted and know that we are all reeling from this announcement.” Laurin asked anyone with questions or concerns to direct them to vice-president academic John Boraas.
Meanwhile, Camosun’s union reps at CUPE Local 2081 say the negative message the federal government is sending with ESL cuts is two-fold.
“The message it sends is disturbing,” says union president Jerry Oetting. “To deny domestic ESL training to our resident immigrants is an appalling move considering this province was built on the backs of immigrant labour. I believe this government intends to move to a model where this training is provided by private schools. While they claim it’s a financial decision, it’s really about offloading the work onto the private sector so their pals in big business can make a profit.”
The Camosun College Student Society is planning outreach work during January to create more awareness around the issue, says external executive Simka Marshall.
“This funding slash targets an already marginalized group who deserve quality ESL training that equips them to go on to postsecondary education or to enter the workforce,” says Marshall. “ESL is important, as a majority of our domestic ESL students go right into other college programming. It’s also crucial for new Canadians and immigrants as it’s a way to get them comfortable in a college setting.”
Oetting says the effects of the ESL cuts will be far-reaching, including a reduction in student services as a result of any job loss for support staff.
“The impact on Camosun College will be felt in every school and in the end all students will suffer as programs and options are cut and the true overall financial cost to the institution becomes apparent,” he says. “Ultimately, CUPE members’ jobs will be lost… for every position cut, there is a direct impact on student services.”
Yates says the college is spending most of December before the holidays consulting with different levels of the college community, including its board of directors, and will decide what to do next when they receive a transition plan from the government sometime in January.
“I do have to say that when we met with the faculty most of their concerns were about issues pertaining to students, not of themselves,” says Yates, “which I found to be highly commendable.”