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By rdnewsNOW Staff

ACADEMIC UPGRADING ALSO REDUCED

Red Deer Polytechnic suspending five programs to address $10 million projected deficit

Feb 14, 2025 | 12:53 PM

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) has completed its program review and is opting to suspend five programs, a decision made on the heels of a projected $10 million deficit announced last week.

The following programs will be suspended:

• Administrative Professional Certificate
• Executive Assistant Diploma
• Human Resources Management Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
• Pre-Health Sciences Certificate
• University Transfer Bachelor of Education Secondary (note: RDP will continue to offer its Bachelor of Education, including a secondary stream).

The institution will also be reducing its academic upgrading offerings.

The school assures that students currently enrolled in suspended programs will not be impacted and will be given the opportunity to finish their program at RDP.

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Approximately 60 students admitted into the fall 2025 intake of a suspended program will be offered admission into a different program, provided they meet admission requirements, or receive a refund for their application fee, officials say.

“RDP is committed to ensuring all changes continue to provide our students with an excellent learning environment, and that we will continue to work toward achieving our 2030 Strategic Plan: Productivity and Social Impact,” says a representative of RDP.

The school is predicting a $10 million deficit for the 2025-26 budget due to changes to international student enrollment, rising inflation and an anticipated zero per cent increase to its base grant funding from the Government of Alberta.

Alberta’s government is expected to release the 2025 budget on Feb. 27.

Read more: Red Deer Polytechnic predicts $10 million deficit for 2025-26 budget

Meanwhile, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) said in a statement on Friday over 100 workers will lose their jobs at RDP because of the lack of investment and funding.

The union says of the 100 workers 35-45 are AUPE members. However, those numbers could be changing depending on the Alberta government approving the institution’s proposed deficit budget. If it’s not approved the numbers could double, say union officials.

An additional statement from RDP, however, says as part of the Polytechnic’s current operational review in anticipation of an estimated $10 million deficit they’re facing for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, a reduction in staff and faculty positions will occur.

“Red Deer Polytechnic is currently planning for a reduction of approximately 35 to 40 positions total from all employee groups (AUPE, Faculty Association and Exempt Managers),” reads the statement.

AUPE Vice-President Curtis Jackson says in a media releases that losing these jobs would be a blow to Red Deer’s economy.

“It’s a blow to the workers, their families, and the community. Cuts like this could be coming across the province if the government does not give hard-working Albertans some good news in this year’s provincial budget.”

Later this month, Jackson says AUPE members at RDP will meet to discuss what will happen if the Polytechnic goes through with the job cuts. He explained, it’s up to the members to decide how to respond to the situation.

“If nothing changes, Alberta is in a lose-lose situation,” he said. “Not only are we losing jobs at post-secondary institutions, but we are also negatively impacting our ability to educate the new workers Alberta needs to strengthen the critical services Albertans depend on, like health care, education, trades, and government services.

“We know this is just the start. We know other post-secondary institutions in Alberta are struggling with the same issues. If we don’t stand up for our jobs, our communities, and well-funded post-secondary education, who will?”

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