SAIT Announces 65 Job Cuts Amid Enrollment Decline and Funding Shortfall
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) has initiated another significant round of workforce reductions, impacting 65 positions across the institution. This marks the second major staffing cut at the Calgary-based college within the past year, with officials attributing the difficult decision to declining student registration and a substantial funding gap.
Details of the Workforce Reduction
According to Sandra Azocar, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), the affected positions include 12 temporary roles, comprising one casual and one temporary position. The job cuts have spread across 17 different departments within the institution, indicating widespread organizational impact.
"It is heartbreaking," said Rose Reid, a staff member who volunteered to resign in exchange for severance after 23 years of service at SAIT. Reid, who was just two years away from retirement, made the difficult choice to safeguard positions for younger colleagues. "I thought, 'Could I swing it so that I could retire two years earlier to help somebody else save their job?' I mean, that was a huge factor for me."
Root Causes: International Student Policy Changes
Chris Gerritsen, SAIT spokesperson, explained in an emailed statement that the institution has been significantly impacted by recent changes to federal international student policies. "Like post-secondary institutions across Canada, SAIT has been impacted by recent changes to federal international student policies," Gerritsen wrote.
These policy adjustments have resulted in a noticeable decline in international student enrollment, forcing SAIT to implement what Gerritsen described as "difficult but necessary budget adjustments." The institution is currently working through what it terms "organizational and workforce adjustments" to address the financial challenges.
A Troubling Pattern Emerges
This latest round of terminations follows a similar workforce reduction approximately one year ago, when SAIT eliminated nearly 30 positions. Bonnie Gostola, vice-president of AUPE, described the previous terminations as lacking dignity, noting that affected employees "were not allowed to return to their workstations to get their personal belongings. They weren't allowed to say goodbye to their friends and colleagues. They were escorted from the premises."
Azocar highlighted that the current situation represents part of a broader trend affecting Alberta's post-secondary education sector. "Since about 2019, we have seen a significant decrease in the funding for the sector," she explained. "Then, of course, you add the fact that most of these institutions have lost funding through international students revenue... unfortunately, it has become a bit of a pattern."
Broader Context and Institutional Impact
The staffing reductions at SAIT reflect challenges facing post-secondary institutions across Alberta and Canada. Similar workforce adjustments have occurred at other institutions, including Bow Valley College, which recently laid off 103 employees amid a $15.6 million budget shortfall, and Olds College, which has closed programs following immigration policy changes.
For affected employees like Reid, the personal impact extends beyond financial considerations. "They're not only your co-workers, but they're your friends as well, you know," she reflected, acknowledging that even with advance knowledge of the cuts, the experience remained emotionally challenging.
As SAIT continues its organizational adjustments, the institution faces the dual challenge of maintaining educational quality while addressing financial realities in an evolving post-secondary landscape.
