Students say Algonquin college ‘quietly’ moves forward with vote on program suspensions

Algonquin College in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Posted Feb 28, 2026 12:35:39 PM.

Last Updated Feb 28, 2026 01:05:32 PM.

After announcing a delay to its decision on cutting programs following an Ontario funding announcement for colleges and universities, students at Algonquin College say the board of governors is now pushing the decision to cut 30 programs as quietly as possible.

On Jan. 22, students and staff at the college received a memo from Julie Beauchamp, the senior vice-president of academic. The memo stated that a recommendation to suspend 30 programs beginning fall 2026 would be brought forward at the Board of Governors meeting on Feb. 23.

“These recommendations reflect several factors, including shifts in learner demand, changes in federal policy and provincial funding, and our focus on programs that support strong career pathways,” Beauchamp said.

On Feb. 12, the Government of Ontario announced $6.4 billion in additional funding for colleges and universities and lifted the tuition freeze. Following this announcement, Algonquin College said it was delaying its decision on cutting programs.

“Word around campus was that it was going to be like a couple months they were delaying,” Avery Clark, a horticulture student at Algonquin College told CityNews. Instead, she said the decision is set to happen Monday.

She said her cohort heard the news from one of their instructors on Thursday, but have not received any officials communications from the school.

The meeting is to be held online.

Monday also marks to beginning of the mid-term break week, meaning there are no classes happening. Clark said she feels the rush to hold the decision Monday on such short notice was to avoid pushback. She is asking students, alumni, staff and the community to make as much noise as possible.

The horticulture program at Algonquin College is the only one in eastern Ontario and one of approximately 20 offered across the country.

“Our program is obviously very important for the environment and climate change,” Clark said. “And there’s just — there’s not a lot like it around anywhere, and if it gets cut, we’re screwed.”

“If the program gets cut, there is no room for error. We cannot fail because we cannot retake courses if they cut the program. If something goes wrong, personally or academically, and we can’t keep up, we don’t graduate.”

Clark and other students in the horticulture program had started a campaign when they first found out that their program was on the list of those threatened to be cut.

Posters have been put up across around the campus and community and students have been getting information out through word of mouth.

Clark herself created a survey for staff, alum and faculty to talk about their experiences with the program.

“We aren’t statistics, or numbers on a spreadsheet. These are our lives they’re playing with,” Clark said. “At this point, we aren’t waiting to see if programs will be cut, it’s which programs will be cut. It feels like Russian roulette, and everybody is praying for an empty chamber.”

CityNews has reached out to Algonquin College to confirm the date of the meeting and if any formal communication was provided to students.

Students have put up posters around the campus and community. (Photo provided)

Programs at risk of suspension

The following programs are at risk of being suspended by Algonquin College.

Pembroke Campus

Business (Program still offered at the Ottawa Campus and AC Online)
Business Fundamentals (Program still offered at the Ottawa Campus and AC Online)
Computer Programming (Program still offered at the Ottawa Campus and AC Online)
Environmental Management and Assessment (Program still offered at the Ottawa Campus)

School of Advanced Technology