LaSalle College Faces Backlash as Students Shifted to Part-Time

Dozens of students at LaSalle College in Montreal have been unexpectedly transitioned from full-time to part-time status just weeks before the start of the fall semester. This change is a direct response to Quebec’s new language regulations, which have imposed strict quotas on English-language vocational programs. Among those affected is Alex Abraham, a 33-year-old student who was poised to enter his final year in network management.

Abraham expressed his shock and disappointment upon receiving an email from the college informing him of the change. “We all came here with lots of expectations and dreams,” he stated. The shift to part-time status comes with significant repercussions, including ineligibility for Canada’s post-graduation work permit and restrictions on off-campus work. Abraham now faces the prospect of abandoning a factory job that he relied upon to support himself while studying.

LaSalle College reported that approximately 90 students are impacted by this decision, which the institution claims is a temporary measure limited to the fall semester. According to college spokesperson Caroline Gervais, the adjustments are necessary to ensure compliance with the Charte de la langue française and government-imposed quotas on English-language AEC programs, which are vocational diplomas.

During the 2024-25 academic year, LaSalle College exceeded its enrollment quota in English-language programs by 1,066 students, resulting in a hefty fine of $21,113,864 from the Quebec government. This fine added to an earlier penalty of $8.7 million, bringing the total financial repercussions to nearly $30 million. The college is currently challenging these fines in a civil suit in Quebec’s Superior Court.

Abraham, who learned about LaSalle through an agency while living in India, noted that he chose Quebec for its quality of life and cultural richness. “We are all putting the effort to learn the [French] language and also we are trying to build a career here,” he said. He understood the college’s financial challenges but did not anticipate that his full-time status would be altered without prior notice.

The email from LaSalle indicated that while the college had the capacity to accommodate students as full-time learners, government caps limited their ability to do so. Gervais acknowledged that factors beyond the school’s direct control, such as student academic performance and class scheduling, contributed to the need for these changes.

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

Officials from the office of Quebec’s Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry declined to comment on the matter, citing ongoing legal proceedings. Gervais added that many of the students affected had experienced academic difficulties, but stated that this was not the case for Abraham. He feels that being grouped with those students seems arbitrary and unfair.

In response to the upheaval, LaSalle College has arranged a meeting for the affected students with representatives from Immigration Canada. Abraham hopes this meeting will provide clarity regarding his situation. “I have the right to know the reason,” he asserted, emphasizing that he should not be penalized for the college’s administrative challenges. “I am not the reason for the fine. They did the wrong thing; they violated the rule,” he concluded.

As the situation unfolds, the impact of these educational policies on students’ lives and futures remains a pressing concern for many within the LaSalle community. The college must navigate these regulatory waters carefully to avoid further penalties while ensuring that students’ educational and career aspirations are not compromised.