Domestic enrolment rising for Lethbridge post-secondary institutions
As a new semester is underway, Lethbridge Polytechnic and the University of Lethbridge say the number of students on campus is on the rise.
“We're about two and three per cent overall mostly coming from our health and wellness centre,” said Marko Hilgersom, Lethbridge Polytechnic registrar.
“We're getting strong growth with (an) increase in seats for some nursing programs as well as health care aids.”
The polytechnic has about 5,500 students enrolled this semester, while the university has close to 8,500.
“We're seeing a slight increase this year, which we're really happy about,” added Kathleen Massey, vice-provost of students at the university.
“Enrolment is up about 1.6 per cent overall.”
With the fall semester now three weeks in, Massey says the increase has a positive impact on both the institution and its students.
“It means (a) more engaging classroom, actually, for the students themselves as they meet new friends and get to know what it is that they'd like to study,” she said. “It just creates a more vibrant community.”
But while the number of domestic students is on the rise, this year's international student enrolment has seen a drop.
Post-secondary's say the federal government's cap on international students is causing the decrease.
“It was a little, not as smooth of a ride for bringing international students this year,” said Hilgersom, adding the polytechnic has seen few international students enrolled this year.
Institutions across Canada have seen a 45 per cent drop in international students as a result of the federal cap on students, citing pressure on housing, health care and other services.
“The changes in practice and policy this year, things were a little delayed,” explained Massey.
“Things were a little confusing because they had changed. I do think that has had an effect. Not only on the University of Lethbridge’s new student enrolment but also across the country.”
Both Massey and Hilgersom say they hope to bring in more international students during the winter and spring semesters.
The new academic year is also the first one for Lethbridge Polytechnic under its new identity – allowing more programs and courses to be offered. Hilgersom hopes to capitalize on the name change.
“A lot of what we see SAIT and NAIT do, we also do right here in southern Alberta,” he said. “So, we're looking forward to kind of benefitting from that name change.”
New admissions for 2025 start Oct. 1.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
3 injured after man with knife enters Montreal-area mosque
Three men were injured after trying to subdue a man armed with a knife during afternoon prayers at a Montreal-area mosque Friday afternoon.
Police arrest 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole Porsche and ran over its owner
Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in an incident that was captured on video.
Woman nearly shut out of mother's estate sues brother in B.C. Supreme Court – and wins
Since she was a young girl growing up in Vancouver, Ginny Lam says her mom Yat Hei Law made it very clear she favoured her son William, because he was her male heir.
Teen arrested in New Brunswick after emergency alert; 5 people in custody
A 15-year-old boy who was the subject of an emergency alert in New Brunswick has been arrested.
Kamala Harris tells Oprah any intruder to her home is 'getting shot'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday issued a warning to any potential home intruder: 'If somebody breaks in my house, they're getting shot.'
'We're still pushing hard': Search for missing Manitoba boy continues, RCMP find tracks
The search for a missing six-year-old boy in Shamattawa is continuing Friday as RCMP hope recent tips can help lead to a happy conclusion.
On the trail of the mystery woman whose company licensed exploding pagers
What Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, 49, the Italian-Hungarian CEO and owner of Hungary-based BAC Consulting, says she hasn't done is make the exploding pagers that killed 12 people and wounded more than 2,000 in Lebanon this week.
Woman shot by B.C. police was Colombian refugee with young daughter, advocate says
Advocates have identified the woman who died this week after being shot by police in Surrey, B.C., as a South American refugee who was raising a young daughter.
Video released of person of interest after cat is allegedly set on fire in Orillia, Ont.
Provincial police investigating the death of a cat that was allegedly set on fire in Orillia earlier this week released surveillance video of a person of interest in the case.