LaSalle College Students Face Sudden Shift to Part-Time Status

Dozens of students at LaSalle College in Montreal have been notified that they are being moved from full-time to part-time status just weeks before the start of the fall semester. This abrupt change is part of the college’s efforts to comply with Quebec’s language reform laws, specifically the Charte de la langue française. The decision has left many students, including Alex Abraham, feeling frustrated and uncertain about their future.

Abraham, 33, who is set to enter the second year of his network management program, expressed his shock upon receiving the email announcing the change. “We all came here with lots of expectations and dreams,” he said. The new part-time status means students like Abraham will not be eligible for Canada’s post-graduation work permit and face restrictions on off-campus employment, complicating their ability to support themselves while studying.

In a statement, LaSalle College indicated that approximately 90 students are affected by this decision, which only pertains to the fall semester. Caroline Gervais, a spokesperson for the college, explained that the measures are necessary to ensure compliance with quotas imposed by the government on English-language vocational programs. The college faced significant penalties in the past; during the 2024-25 academic year, it exceeded enrollment quotas by 1,066 students, incurring fines totaling $21,113,864. This was in addition to a previous fine of $8.7 million, bringing the total financial obligations to nearly $30 million.

In the email to students, LaSalle College acknowledged that while it had the capacity to accommodate them as full-time students, the government cap prevented it from doing so. The college has initiated a civil suit in Quebec’s Superior Court to challenge these fines, arguing that the enrollment limits are overly restrictive and detrimental to its operations.

Abraham, who learned about LaSalle College through an agency while living in India, emphasized the commitment he and his peers have made to adapt to Quebec’s culture and language. “The standard of living is good here in Canada compared to India,” he noted, expressing disappointment over the college’s decision. “I am not the reason for the fine. They did the wrong thing, they violated the rule,” he added, highlighting the randomness of his situation.

Gervais pointed out that factors beyond the college’s control, such as student performance and scheduling challenges, influenced the decision to alter students’ enrollment statuses. She clarified that the changes do not indicate that LaSalle College has exceeded its overall quota for vocational programs.

As students navigate this unexpected shift, the college has arranged a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with representatives from Immigration Canada to discuss potential implications and next steps. Abraham hopes the meeting will provide clarity regarding his circumstances. “I have the right to know the reason,” he stated, emphasizing the need for transparency in this challenging situation.

The situation reflects broader tensions surrounding Quebec’s educational policies and their impact on international students, who make up a substantial portion of the student body in English-language programs. As LaSalle College works to resolve these issues, affected students are left grappling with the consequences of a sudden shift in their educational and career plans.