LaSalle College Students Face Sudden Shift to Part-Time Status

Dozens of students at LaSalle College in Montreal are facing unexpected changes to their academic status just weeks before the start of the fall semester. The institution has shifted approximately 90 students from full-time to part-time status as it attempts to comply with new government regulations under the Charte de la langue française. This decision has left many, including Alex Abraham, a 33-year-old student in the network management program, feeling uncertain about their futures.

Abraham expressed his dismay after receiving an email notifying him of the change. “I was shocked,” he said. “We all came here with lots of expectations and dreams.” The shift to part-time status not only impacts his academic journey but also jeopardizes his eligibility for Canada’s post-graduation work permit, which is crucial for his career plans in Quebec. Under these new conditions, he may have to leave his factory job, which he relies on to support himself.

LaSalle College spokesperson Caroline Gervais clarified that the adjustments only affect the fall semester. She stated that the college is taking these steps to ensure compliance with government-imposed quotas on English-language AEC programs. Gervais pointed out that during the 2024-25 academic year, the college exceeded its enrollment cap by 1,066 students, resulting in a hefty fine of $21,113,864 from the Quebec government, in addition to a previous penalty of $8.7 million. This brings the total fines to nearly $30 million.

The situation has created chaos and frustration among students, particularly international students like Abraham, who make up about 70 percent of those enrolled in the college’s English-language AEC programs. Abraham, who moved from India to pursue his education, had high hopes for his future in Quebec. “The standard of living is good here in Canada compared to India,” he noted. “We are all putting in the effort to learn French and build a career here.”

Despite being aware of the fines, Abraham did not anticipate that his enrollment status would be impacted. He had assumed the college would find a solution to their compliance issues without affecting students. In the email he received, LaSalle College indicated that while they had the resources to accommodate him as a full-time student, they could not do so due to the government cap.

“This does not mean that LaSalle College exceeded its overall AEC quota,” Gervais explained. “Instead, it reflects the constraints of the respective capacity of AEC and DEC programs within those quotas, combined with scheduling realities.”

The college has arranged a meeting for affected students with representatives from Immigration Canada to provide more clarity on the changes. Abraham hopes this meeting will shed light on his situation and the reasons behind the abrupt transition. “I have the right to know the reason,” he asserted, emphasizing that he should not be held responsible for the college’s regulatory issues.

While LaSalle College maintains that factors beyond their control, such as student performance and academic pathways, influenced the decision, Abraham feels that the handling of his case is arbitrary. “I am not the reason for the fine,” he said. “They did the wrong thing; they violated the rule.”

As students prepare for the upcoming semester, the impact of these changes continues to resonate throughout the college community. Many are left wondering about their educational paths and potential career opportunities in Quebec, a province known for its unique culture and language. The situation remains fluid, with LaSalle College challenging the fines in a civil suit in Quebec’s Superior Court. The outcome of this legal battle may ultimately determine the college’s future and the stability of its students’ academic pursuits.