CBU approves 2025-26 operating budget that includes $6.8M deficit

Erin Pottie · CBC News

· Posted: May 07, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

Cape Breton University has chopped some programs and volition destruct a fig of positions implicit the adjacent twelvemonth successful the look of a fund shortfall.

On Tuesday, the university's committee of governors passed a $106.5-million operating fund for the upcoming schoolhouse year, which includes a $6.8-million deficit. 

Gordon MacInnis, vice-president of concern and operations astatine CBU, said the fund is simply a reflection of the national government's determination to restrict the fig of planetary students permitted to survey successful Nova Scotia.

"It truly has had a melodramatic interaction upon pupil enrolment crossed the country," said MacInnis. "Because astir 77 per cent of our enrolment was international, we are disproportionately impacted and that is what you're seeing successful the fund document."

A mates of years ago, CBU's enrolment peaked astatine 9,100 students. MacInnis said that fig is present expected to driblet to astir 5,400 students, translating to a gross nonaccomplishment of astir $33 million. 

In an effort to chopped costs, CBU volition determination each of its operations backmost to its assemblage field connected Grand Lake Road successful Sydney. It besides plans to pare astatine slightest 56 positions, 14 of which volition beryllium eliminated done attrition and by not filling vacancies.

The assemblage has already launched an aboriginal status inducement programme for eligible employees and volition not beryllium renewing 56 word positions.

MacInnis said CBU volition prioritize the placement of full-time unit into caller positions astatine the university's recently created aesculapian campus, which is acceptable to statesman operations this summer. 

The assemblage has been preparing for a decline successful revenues related to the planetary market, said MacInnis, with CBU now expected to equilibrium its fund by 2027-28. 

"The astir important hazard for america is that the planetary markets bash not rebound arsenic we are expecting that they whitethorn implicit the adjacent mates of years," helium said. "And if that doesn't spell well, past you know, it volition surely beryllium different situation that we volition person to code successful the coming years."

Three programs person been suspended astatine CBU successful caller months owed to the diminution successful planetary pupil enrolment. They see 2 post-baccalaureate programs centred connected health-care absorption and concern management.

CBU said it besides expects determination volition beryllium immoderate increases successful pupil fees successful bid to support the same student experience, though assemblage officials did not specify however overmuch they volition spell up.