After changes to international enrollment at Canadian post-secondary institutions, a college campus will be forced to temporarily close its doors by the end of the year.
Seneca Polytechnic has announced a temporary closure of its Markham campus location for the end of the 2024 fall semester, citing the federal government’s recent cuts to the number of international student permits as the reason for the decision.
“Due to recent decisions by the federal government related to international students, we are expecting enrolment at Markham Campus to decline,” a spokesperson for Seneca Polytechnic told Now Toronto. “This will mean a smaller student population studying out of this campus. As a result, we are temporarily closing the Markham Campus at the end of the Fall 2024 Term.”
In January, the federal government announced a two-year limit to international student permits in response to the lack of housing options across the country.
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The cap meant a 35-per cent reduction in government-approved undergraduate study permits from 2023 to 2024, resulting in much fewer students being approved to attend Canadian educational institutions, including Seneca College.
In the new year, Seneca programs which were planned to take place at the Markham campus, will relocate to the school’s Newnham and York facilities.
Seneca says the change in location will have no impact on delivery of programs for students.
“Both Newnham Campus and SenecaYork provide exceptional learning and study spaces, a diverse student population, and a broad range of services and activities to support and engage students through their time with us,” the spokesperson said.
The York campus is approximately a 20-drive down the road from the Markham campus, while the school’s Newnham location is just a nine-minute drive away.
It is unknown when the Markham campus will reopen.
