More layoffs expected Tuesday at Hamilton's Mohawk College as part of plan to cut hundreds of jobs

Layoffs are expected to continue at Mohawk College on Tuesday, according to a new internal memo sent to staff — this time of support staff. 

"The next few weeks will be difficult for everyone," said college president Paul Armstrong, in the memo.

He said in the email on Monday that notifications were expected to go out Tuesday afternoon to support staff who would be impacted. The college was closing most service areas at 3 p.m. Tuesday to allow staff to "be off campus," with services expected to resume Wednesday.

The layoffs for some staff will be effective immediately, while others may be asked to remain in their role for a period to "support the transition."

Local 241 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents the college's support staff, including student employees, updated its website Monday to include information for workers who receive a layoff notice. 

The process for notifying faculty who may be laid off will be "confirmed and communicated in the near future," the college email said. 

"I recognize that this is a challenging time for everyone. These are significant changes," said Armstrong.

"It will take time to work through the process before we fully understand the impact of the changes on our teams."

College cut 20 per cent of administrative jobs

In an email to CBC Hamilton on Monday, the college said it doesn't yet have the final number of jobs being cut this week.

Support staff "fill a variety of roles at the college," in areas such as "financial aid, registration, facilities, athletics, tech support," wrote Sean Coffey, the college's director of communications. 

Layoffs at Mohawk College started in early December when jobs like the directors of equity, diversity and inclusion, and public affairs, and the dean of students, were cut.

The college also cut 20 per cent of administrative staff and suspended 16 programs in December as well as services like City School, which offered free courses to help community members continue their education or prepare for jobs.

The layoffs come after the college projected a $50-million budget deficit in the 2025-2026 fiscal year in November due to a drop in international students. The college said in late November that it plans to cut 200 to 400 jobs.

Coffey said in his email Monday that the layoffs impacting faculty will be "the last of the planned layoffs that were announced last year."

The federal government has been reducing the number of international students entering the country. In January 2024, it announced a 35-per-cent cut to study permits issued and new restrictions for international students. Another 10-per-cent cut came in September.

Mohawk College is not the only one feeling the impact. Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto said in October it would temporarily close one of its campuses, citing the drop in international students.

Sheridan College, another Toronto post-secondary institution, also blamed government policy changes for its planned cuts and layoffs.