Lethbridge College forced to cut jobs and programs

Donna Barnhardt says changes to the fashion design program at the Lethbridge College are devastating.” I have been crying since yesterday so haven’t really stopped,” says Barnhardt. “I’m pretty upset.” The 18 year old has wanted to be in the fashion industry since a young child and chose Lethbridge to go to school because it’s close to home. But Donna will not be able to attend her second year at the college because the program will no longer be offered. “You look at the programs with low enrollment and we have a number of programs with historically low enrollment and then you look at what is available province wide and delivery of the program,” says Marty Thomsen the Dean of Health Justice and Human services.

The fashion design diploma and the office administration diploma program will be cut to one year certificate programs. The early childhood education diploma and the education assistant program will be offered online. As a result 12 full time staff member have lost their jobs. “The programs that were cut the intake was suspended we are simply suspending the intake for the upcoming semester and that gives us time to do a further analysis,” says Marty Thomsen the Dean of Health and Justice.

Deanna Rowley is one of the staff members who no longer has a job. She was one of Donna’s teachers and a mentor. Deanna says the hardest part will be leaving the students. “I was able to share what I’m passionate about and I told students every semester that I love fashion and I love teaching. It’s going to be hard to see the kids have to leave,” adds Rowley.