FAQs – International Student Policy Update
More than 400 employees attended the International Student Policy Update information session on March 6. Below are some of the questions that were submitted during the session. We consolidated multiple questions into one theme to be answered. If you asked a question that is not included below it is because we do not have the answer to that question at this time.
Employment and Staffing Levels
Will there be job losses as a result of the changes to Canada’s international student program?
We understand that employees are nervous, especially with the attention these changes have received and the number of negative stories out there.
It is important to recognize that there will be some impact on the college, but until we know what our study permit allocation is, we will not know precisely what that impact will be, and we will not speculate on what that might look like for the college.
If we need to make tough decisions about employment, we will do it in a way that aligns with our values, is fair and transparent, and is in keeping with our commitment to educating and supporting students.
Are we in a hiring freeze?
Mohawk College is not in a hiring freeze. We are taking a closer look at positions that are currently vacant and re-assessing the need to fill these positions. These discussions are already happening at the manager level. The college will continue to recruit for positions that are critical to our core operations or delivery of programs and services.
Will Mohawk College continue to care about diversity?
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are important to the college. This will not change. Our communities are more diverse today than ever before and we are committed to building a culture that embraces this commitment.
What is the plan to provide ongoing support to positions ending this fiscal that were pending investment requests/budget approval?
This will be addressed on a case-by-case basis at the department level. Managers should seek direction from their Vice President or Senior Leadership Team member if this scenario is a consideration.
Budget, Planning and Enrolment
Will the college extend the Fall 2024 planning deadline in Summit?
Currently, there are no changes to Summit deadlines. We know once the exact allocation that is received, some changes to fall schedules may be required. Areas that are impacted will work directly with the Registrar’s Office to understand the best path forward to make these changes.
What other revenue generation strategies is Mohawk College considering?
We are always looking at new opportunities to generate revenue beyond traditional sources such as tuition and grants. These include opportunities to offer short-duration, upskilling courses, or micro-credentials. We work with the Foundation to find ways to fund things like equipment purchase through donations or gifts in kind. Beyond this, our options are very limited when it comes to making up for any loss that would be equitable to international tuition.
Will this impact current or planned initiatives and projects?
There are several transformational projects underway in areas such as Information Technology that will continue to move forward, as they are important to the infrastructure of the college and our future success. Other initiatives or projects may be delayed, but we won’t know which ones will be affected until we have more clarity on our study permit caps and what these changes mean to enrolment.
What are some of the reasons for variances in the conversion rates for different countries?
Study permit approvals are supported by Immigration, Refugees and Citizen Canada (IRCC). Outside of academic requirements, there are a number of different factors that IRCC uses to decide whether to issue a study permit or not. Some of the factors include financial stability, plans after graduation, and background and security checks. There is a lot of inconsistency in this process with approvals varying country by country, and region by region. The college considers this in its enrolment planning, but it is not within the control of the college. Ultimately, the IRCC’s decision-making processes plays a big role in determining conversion rates.
Will certain programs be more impacted than others for enrolment?
We need to know how study permits will be allocated before we can determine the impact on enrolment.
Will certain programs be prioritized and others not, for enrollment?
Once we know what our study permit allocation is, the SEM committee will determine how those permits will be distributed at Mohawk.
Will study permit allocation be based on current international enrolments?
Ontario released its study permit allocations at the end of March. Ninety-six per cent of permit applications were allocated to publicly assisted colleges and universities. The remaining four per cent were allotted to Ontario’s language schools, private universities and other institutions. Career colleges did not receive any applications.
triOS College Partnership
What will happen to the Mississauga campus?
There are several programs still running at the Mississauga campus as well as new intakes that will start this spring. triOS will continue to deliver these programs through to their respective completion dates.
Will students in Mississauga students be given priority to study in Hamilton?
Students at the Mississauga campus have been given the option to study in Hamilton starting this fall if they choose. We have the capacity to support these students in Hamilton so there is no need to prioritize one group of students over another.
How is the revenue from the triOS College partnership invested at Mohawk College?
The legislation that created these partnerships specifies that the revenue generated from the partnerships must be used for strategic initiatives that support and improve the public college’s home campuses. For example, at Mohawk College, the revenue has been used to support lab improvements and academic equipment purchases. It has also been used to create global learning opportunities for students and faculty. The legislation does not allow revenue from the partnerships to be used to support core operations.
Advocacy and Outreach
What is the college doing to advocate on behalf of international students?
We are working with our associations at the provincial and national level to ensure both governments understand the impact of these changes on international students, as well as the employers and communities who rely on these students.
What is the college doing to advocate on behalf of the college in general?
We have been very active in working with our partners at Colleges Ontario and Colleges and Institutes Canada to advocate on behalf of the college and the sector. We have also been having conversations with local politicians to ensure they understand the impacts on the college.
Housing and Student Supports
What are the plans for housing international students?
We have just announced the opening of a new leased, residence building in downtown Hamilton. The nine-story dorm-style residence (Mohawk College Linden Hall, 55 Catharine Street S.) has 150 units and will accommodate as many as 300 students. Each unit has two double beds, two desks and two storage cabinets, a small refrigerator, and a bathroom with a bathtub/shower. The residence will be available starting Spring 2024.
Mohawk College announced a new partnership with Spaces Shared, an innovative online homesharing platform that matches students looking for safe and affordable housing with older adult hosts. This service will be available to Mohawk College students starting in May.
For students who want to find an apartment in the community, the International team also does a lot of work, pre-arrival to help students understand the rental market and how avoid falling victim to scams.
For more information on housing, visit the Student Housing page on the college’s website.
Will we be offering more scholarships to help offset increased costs?
This is something we will explore once we know how many study permits will be allocated to Mohawk College.
Will students be eligible to work more than 20 hrs off campus?
This was a pilot program introduced by the Canadian government. It is believed that this program is coming to an end, meaning students will not be eligible to work longer hours off campus.
What is the process for the attestation letters?
The Ontario College Application Services (OCAS) was tasked with developing the attestation letter process for Ontario colleges. Mohawk College’s Registrar, Krista Welsh, was part of the team that worked on developing the process which is now complete and ready for implementation once the allocations are shared with colleges.