LaSalle College Students Face Uncertainty as Status Changes Loom

Students at LaSalle College in Montreal are grappling with sudden changes to their academic status, just weeks before classes begin. Approximately 90 students, including Alex Abraham, 33, have been switched from full-time to part-time enrollment as the college attempts to comply with Quebec’s new language regulations. This abrupt shift has left many students, like Abraham, concerned about their future in Canada.

Abraham, who was set to enter the second year of his network management program, expressed his frustration on receiving the notification via email last week. “I was shocked,” he stated, emphasizing that students come to Canada with high hopes and aspirations. The change to part-time status not only alters his academic trajectory but also jeopardizes his ability to work off-campus. Under Canadian regulations, part-time students are ineligible for the post-graduation work permit and face restrictions on off-campus employment unless they fulfill specific conditions.

The college’s spokesperson, Caroline Gervais, reiterated that the adjustments are necessary to align with the Charte de la langue française and the government-imposed quotas for English-language vocational programs. The email sent to students indicated that the college has the capacity for full-time enrollment but cannot accommodate it due to the government’s limits.

During the 2024-25 academic year, LaSalle College exceeded its quota for students in English-language programs by over 1,000, resulting in fines totaling nearly $30 million. This figure includes a previous fine of $8.7 million for similar infractions. The college is currently contesting these fines in a civil lawsuit filed with Quebec’s Superior Court.

Abraham, originally from India, learned about LaSalle College through an agency and was attracted by the quality of life in Canada compared to his home country. “We are all putting in the effort to learn French and trying to build a career here,” he said. Despite being aware of the college’s financial struggles, he did not anticipate that his enrollment status would be impacted so drastically.

Gervais acknowledged that various factors, including student performance and changes to academic pathways, influenced the decision to alter students’ enrollment. She clarified that the college’s actions do not reflect an overall breach of the AEC quota but are the result of scheduling constraints.

While the college has arranged a meeting for affected students with representatives from Immigration Canada, Abraham is hopeful that the meeting will clarify his situation. “I have the right to know the reason,” he stated, voicing his dissatisfaction with the notion that the college is merely attempting to sidestep penalties. “I am not the reason for the fine. They did the wrong thing; they violated the rule,” he concluded.

As the start of the semester approaches, students are left in limbo, navigating these unexpected changes that could significantly affect their academic and professional paths in Quebec.