Mohawk College Then vs Now

When Mohawk College was established in 1966, it started with around 1,900 students and offered 19 programs. Today, it has 30,000 students, with 160 programs ranging from arts, health, technology, and business. However, with the recent changes to Mohawk, including the international caps and program suspensions, the future may look different to the students and faculty. 

On Dec. 6, 2024, a college-wide memo was released explaining the suspensions and how they will take place in 2025. 

Some of these programs include Office Administration, Public Relations, Canadian Health Care and Radio Broadcasting.

Another affected program was Broadcasting Television and Media, Aleister Humes, who is currently enrolled in the course, shared how he feels the change will affect those close to him and how it could impact the future of the college. “As someone who’s known my professors and faculty for several years, I am extremely upset to think of how things will move forward for them,” Humes said. “It feels like [Mohawk College] is grasping for a short-term solution, but it does damage the livelihoods of people I consider close friends.”

He also explained how the program treated him throughout the years and what he gained. “My experience has been largely pretty good,” Humes said. “I got to explore who I wanted to be and met a lot of like-minded individuals that I now consider to be dear friends.” 

But it's not only current students who have thoughts on the new changes. Andrew Hornby is a Mohawk College alumni who graduated in 2007 from the Broadcasting program as well. 

He shared his thoughts on the changes, especially on the media departments. “I know Mohawk isn’t the only college facing the closure of their media programs, but I understand on the flip side of having worked in the broadcast industry, how there is more and more consolidation and job loss,” Hornby said. “It’s not fair to have students pay for an education where their job prospects are limited.” 

Program suspension wasn't the only change that broke out in 2024. The Canadian Government announced an intake cap on international student permit applications through 2026. 

This is affecting not just Mohawk College, but other post-secondary schools all across Ontario. Many schools relied heavily on international students for funding, and as a result, schools like Mohawk College had to suspend programs and layoff their faculty. 

Christopher Ardnt, who was affected by the school's layoffs and program suspensions, shares his predictions for the college's future. “I think the whole college system has some very challenging years ahead,” Ardnt said. “I feel like economic pressures, and a glaring lack of government support for education are pushing the colleges further and further away from being places of learning and further into the clutches of being businesses striving to maintain profit growth.”

As Mohawk College continues to navigate all the current changes, many students, faculty and alumni are left questioning what their future and the school’s future may hold.