More than 80 LFA members and supporters gathered on campus on August 27 to show their concern about ongoing job loss at Langara, as another 69 faculty members received notice that week.
“We have lost at least 219 faculty members at this point, since September 2023,” says LFA president Pauline Greaves-Aylward. “The numbers are hard to pin down because some people are on multiple contract types and different teaching terms – but the overall picture is one of significant job reductions, around one-quarter of our membership. To protect the quality of education for our students, we need to stabilize our programs and funding now.”
Faculty members made posters, shared stories, and broke into spontaneous chanting (“Show us the data!”) when members of Langara’s executive leadership showed up at the event. The strong showing made it clear that we want clarity about the future of programs and people, and don’t feel there has been sufficient coordination or transparency in the way job reductions have been made.
As an example, the English department reports that it has had a 96% average fill rate for sections offered between Fall 2022 and Summer 2025, with a consistent 76% domestic students, and long waitlists. While the loss of international students is expected to cause some reduction in sections (projected 110 sections in spring 2026, compared with 120-130 during spring term over the past three years), members of the department question why five continuing-contract instructors have been laid off, with nearly 20 RiT-contract faculty below them in seniority – a total reduction in faculty estimated at about 45%.
“This situation has caused extreme distress,” says one instructor. “The cuts seem to go far beyond what we feel is reasonable based on our enrolment data.” Similarly, several programs have been cut or not renewed in the School of Management (including the BBA), with the loss of more than three-quarters of the faculty, but little clarity about plans for business education going forward.
“The LFA is committed to working with the College administration to protect the long-term viability of Langara, to serve our students with access to affordable, high quality education,” says Greaves-Aylward. “Being provided with clear data about how and why decisions are being made is fundamental to that work.”
“Meanwhile, the College has approximately $120 million in savings that was amassed during the boom years of international student enrolment,” she continues. “That money should be used to bridge the gap now, so we can preserve institutional knowledge and protect some jobs while we transition through this period.”
