Student support services hit hard by staff layoffs

By GUILHERME MÜLLER

Editor’s note: This story, originally published Feb. 25, has been updated to include additional excerpts from Langara College’s statement for fairness and clarity.

Langara College made more cuts to student support services across multiple departments this semester, in response to the drastic decline in international enrolment.

Service reductions are affecting library services, mental health programs and other academic resources.

The cuts form part of a broader reduction strategy that faculty representatives say have not been evenly distributed across the college. Pauline Greaves-Aylward, president of the Langara Faculty Association, said departments were directed to reduce their budgets by 25 per cent.

“While the college eliminated 31 administrative positions, more than 230 faculty members have received layoff notices, with about 70 expected to leave at the end of April,” she said.

Reduced library service hours

Last month, the library announced new hours for Spring 2026. Following the faculty cuts, library services are experiencing shorter hours of operation, including full closure on Sundays.

“And it will continue to lose additional services,” Greaves-Aylward said.

Marking assistants laid off

Lab assistants and marker positions have also been cut.

“Without markers, faculty must now grade assignments and exams themselves,” Greaves-Aylward said, raising concerns about thorough and timely feedback to students.

The college did not respond directly to questions about why certain programs were prioritized for cuts.

Mental Health Ambassadorship program shut down

Another student service that has been discontinued is the Mental Health Ambassadorship program, which served more than 6,000 students annually over three and a half years.

Former program co-ordinator Amanda Burkholder said the initiative trained about 80 paid and volunteer student ambassadors, providing many with their first work experience.

Unlike formal counselling, the peer-led model acted as a critical entry point to professional services, connecting students in distress to counsellors they might never have approached on their own.

Burkholder said the program was precisely what led students to those services. “Maybe that student would have never gone to counselling, but because they have that rapport with their peer, they go,” Burkholder said. “Those people just now won’t have that.”

An emailed statement to the Voice from the college’s communication department said that students’ mental health and wellbeing remain a priority for Langara.

“We recognize that many in our community are concerned about the impact of recent changes,” the statement said. “Like institutions across the province, Langara is responding to enrolment-related revenue loss following recent federal policy changes that have reduced international student enrolment.”

The statement described the Mental Health Ambassador program as a peer-based awareness and referral initiative rather than a clinical service. However, it said students still have access to free 24/7 supports, like Empower Me, a counselling service under the Langara Students’ Union health plan, and Here2Talk, a confidential counselling service funded by the B.C. government and available by app, phone, or online chat.