President Trotter recaps the April 24 town hall, answers questions, and announces the Camosun’s Future hub.
Note: This message is presented as it was originally shared with the college community and may no longer reflect the most current information. For the latest updates and details, please visit Camosun’s Future.
Special CamNews
Thank you to everyone who joined our April 24 town hall and to those who submitted questions in advance. We answered six pre-submitted and 11 live questions during the session. If you missed it, .
The college continues to face a fiscal emergency following a sharp decline in international student enrolment. This significant loss of revenue has required major adjustments, including a government-mandated, Board-approved balanced budget and a deficit mitigation strategy. The college has engaged with the provincial government for additional support; however, Premier Eby has been clear that there is no additional provincial funding and that .
We recognize the significant stress and anxiety felt across the college and have been moved by the compassion and support you’ve shown each other. As we navigate this time together, we remain committed to listening, learning, and improving. I encourage you to invite leaders to your team meetings so we can continue to engage in open dialogue and build shared understanding together.
In times of significant change, uncertainty and questions are natural. We will maintain open, timely communication and keep you informed through CamNews, departmental meetings, town halls, and other channels. To support this, we are developing a dedicated webpage, Stewarding Camosun’s Future, that will include FAQs, data, and other resources. We’ll share the link once it’s live.
Looking ahead, our focus will be on healing, rebuilding, and supporting one another and our students. The road ahead will require care, determination, and thoughtful decision-making to protect the long-term health and sustainability of the college, which is a critical part of Greater Victoria, southern Vancouver Island and the province.
Thank you for your continued dedication to one another and to the future of the college.
Summary of town hall Q&A
During the town hall, we addressed the college’s financial situation, workforce adjustments, school restructuring, and our ongoing commitment to reconciliation and student success. We recognize these are challenging issues and are grateful for your questions and candor. Here are some of the questions we received:
Q. How many positions will be affected by workforce reductions?
Approximately 90 positions across the college will be affected. This is a reduction in positions, not 90 individual layoffs.
This number includes unfilled vacancies, early retirements, voluntary severance, successful canvassing, reduced term contracts, and where necessary, layoffs.
Q. What is the timeline for the remaining workforce adjustments?
Workforce adjustments are scheduled to conclude by the end of August 2025.
Q. How are vacant positions being handled?
Most vacant positions identified through this process have been eliminated from budgets on a permanent basis.
Some vacancies were retained strategically to provide potential placement options for employees affected by other changes, helping minimize layoffs.
Q. Why were some canvassing proposals not accepted?
Canvassing was used to explore alternatives to layoffs, and all proposals are being carefully reviewed.
To be accepted, a proposal has to meet the required salary savings and fit within the timelines. Several proposals that met the criteria have already been accepted and others are in progress.
Q. How much money will workforce reductions save?
79% of our expenses are tied to salaries and benefits, making workforce adjustments necessary to balance the budget.
The projected savings from the planned workforce adjustments total $11.1 million, the majority of which comes from position reductions.
Q. How is international student enrolment trending?
We project around 1,200 international students in September 2025, down from 2,200 in September 2024.
We continue to track these numbers weekly and adjust our budget forecasts accordingly.
Q. What impact has the international enrolment decline had on the college’s budget?
The sharp decline in international enrolment has led to a significant revenue loss.
Initially, we forecasted an $11 million shortfall. With updated projections for the 2025 spring and summer terms, the total expected shortfall has increased to approximately $13.6 million.
Q. Will exempt staff forego performance-based increases to support recovery?
All exempt salaries, including those of the executive team, are governed by the Post-Secondary Employers' Association (PSEA) under provincial oversight.
Any increases must align with provincial compensation frameworks and are subject to government approval.
Q. What revenue strategies beyond international tuition are underway?
Although still a few years away from completion, based on the financial model submitted with our business case, the student housing project is expected to generate $4 to $4.5 million in gross revenue annually. After expenses, the college anticipates about $1 million a year in net revenue.
We are looking at ways to continue growing opportunities around continuing education (ProSIT), industry partnerships, and increasing parking and EV charging rates for the first time since 2015.
We are also exploring ways to generate revenue through partnerships that make use of campus assets, including expanding community rentals.
Q. Why can’t we just run a deficit?
Under Section 31 of the B.C. College and Institute Act, public post-secondary institutions are not permitted to run deficits without explicit approval from both the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and the Minister of Finance.
Camosun received permission from the provincial government to run a deficit for 2024/25 and for 2025/26, provided we continue to implement the reductions identified in our deficit mitigation plan.
Camosun has limited reserves and must move quickly to reduce the deficit and return to a more stable financial position that allows us to keep moving forward and invest in future priorities.
Related news
CHEK News | April 17, 2025
In a recent interview with CHEK News, Premier David Eby emphasized that post-secondary institutions in British Columbia must restructure to adapt to reduced international student numbers. He stated, "They are going to have to restructure. There aren’t provincial resources to make them whole."
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News (Black Press Media) | April 25, 2025
In an interview with Black Press Media, Premier Eby reiterated that the province cannot replace the lost revenue from international students. He confirmed that while the government will work with institutions to mitigate impacts, financial relief is not feasible at the scale required.
CTV News | April 26, 2025
Faculty, staff, and students from Vancouver Community College held a rally to protest federal international student permit limits and the resulting institutional cuts. Frank Cosco, president of the VCC Faculty Association, said at the rally, “The actual institutions have no alternative. The only thing they can do is cut people, and that’s what they’re doing.”
Camosun's Future
Find out how Camosun is protecting programs and keeping student supports strong while responsibly managing its budget.
Contact information
Rodney Porter
Executive Director, Communications and Marketing