OLDS COLLEGE
Olds College Announces Program Intake Suspensions

Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, like many post-secondary institutions in the country, is facing challenges due to recent changes by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that significantly reduces international student enrolment and due to a decline of operational grant funding from the provincial government in the last several years. The College projects an approximate $5.1M loss of student tuition revenue for the College's 2025-26 budget.

To mitigate losses and ensure a strong position for the College's future, intake into three program areas will be suspended for the Fall term. These are:

• Hospitality & Tourism Management (Certificate, Diploma, Post-Diploma Certificate)
• Craft Beverage & Brewery Operations (Diploma)
• Agriculture Technology Integration (Post-Diploma Certificate)

In addition, intake into the Business Management Diploma three-day cohort on campus and the Business Management Diploma at Concordia University College (Edmonton) are also suspended. 

This decision was made after careful consideration of Olds College's long-term sustainability after analyzing enrolment projections for the coming academic year, historical enrolment trends, workforce needs and other relevant factors. 

"Olds College remains committed to providing high-quality education, experiences and support to our students," says Debbie Thompson, Interim President, Olds College. "In order to navigate the growing demands and complex issues in the post-secondary system, we've been reviewing our program mix to ensure we align with industry needs, student demand and institutional priorities to ensure long-term stability for Olds College. The educational journey and success of our students remain our top priority."

The impacted programs are not immediately discontinued. Intake suspension means that new students will not be admitted to these programs in upcoming intakes, but Olds College will be "teaching out" the programs by offering second-year courses to current students as they complete their studies and graduate.

These program intake suspensions represent a first step in addressing the financial challenges facing Olds College. The budget development process will continue throughout March and April, and that will include a comprehensive review of College operations, programs and services.