This story originally ran on May 17. It is being republished in case you missed it.
OPSEU Local 685 (Algoma University Faculty Association), students, and community leaders are concerned about the announced enrolment pauses to five Liberal Arts and Social Sciences programs at Algoma University and the impact on the Sault Ste. Marie community.
The Algoma Board of Governors’ recent decision to pause registrations in five programs compromises the University’s ability to deliver its special mission. These programs - History, Geography, Music, Sociology, and Visual Arts – provide liberal arts and sciences education with a focus on northern Ontario and cultivate cross-cultural learning between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
The Board of Governors’ decision will negatively impact students’ options towards graduation, the union says.
Faculty are particularly concerned about how this decision was made. Professor George Townsend sat on the Senate committee that started reviewing these programs in December 2024. He was shocked “to find out that the Board of Governors had gone ahead and made a decision before we had even completed our exercise.”
He says, “the Board made this decision based on incomplete data.” In the Music department, for example, the number of enrolments has doubled this year, while salary costs have been reduced. This puts them into “a healthy surplus,” says Townsend, while the Board’s decision will put the department into a situation “it will never be able to recover from."
In fact, Algoma's 2025-26 operating budget predicts a $1 million surplus. There are serious concerns about whether due process was followed when making these decisions.
Sault Ste. Marie has deeply benefited from these programs, which if cut, will lead to a cultural deficit, the union said in a news release. Alumni have gone on to contribute greatly to the local community, including in arts projects, elementary and secondary schools, and vital organizations and businesses.
Case’s Music owner Jacob Rendell is a proud Algoma University Music graduate, and points to the economic benefits. “We teach hundreds of students each week, employ Algoma U music students and grads, and work closely with the community. None of that would have been possible without the education, support, and community-driven mindset I found at Algoma, which builds leadership, creativity, discipline, and connection.”
These programs also build bridges beyond Sault St. Marie. "One of our graduates is a leading conductor on Broadway,” says Dr. Edward Turgeon, Director of Music. In addition, the re-launch of the Great Lakes International Summer Music Experience in July 2025 will be a draw for new applicants. “It's such an exciting time for the Music Program, which is why my colleagues and I are at a total loss as to the reasons behind the Board's decision.”
Many local professionals attribute their career success to their education at Algoma University. The designer, Ocean Kiana is an excellent example. A graduate of Algoma University Visual Art, the Woodland Fashion Collective she founded hosted a runway event in Sault Ste. Marie this spring that was THE Indigenous fashion event of the year.
Jenilee Neveau is an alumnus of the Geography, Geology and Land Stewardship program and works in the lands department of the Batchewana First Nation.
Neveau’s studies paved the way for her career success in our local community.
“After my bachelor's degree in Geography at Algoma University, I had the opportunity to choose from many different paths. I secured a job shortly after in the field I studied, working as a Geographic Information Systems technician. Eventually, I transferred to the lands department within my First Nation community.”
“OPSEU Local 685 recognizes the value of these programs to the cultural and economic fabric of Sault Ste. Marie. We will be working to ensure registration in them resumes as soon as possible,” said Tony Fabiano, OPSEU Local 685 President.
“Our union is planning an event to celebrate these five programs on May 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sault Ste. Marie Museum and will be inviting the community and members of the Board to join us to learn more about their vital importance.”
Local OPSEU 685 and the Algoma University Faculty Association represent full and part-time faculty at Algoma University.
Algoma University issued the following statement in response to this news release:
"Algoma University recognizes the value of all its academic programs and their contributions to the cultural and economic fabric of Sault Ste. Marie, Brampton and Timmins, including those currently under the one-year admissions pause," a spokesperson said.
"That is precisely why the University is committed to ensuring they are financially sustainable over the long term. Algoma U’s significant budgetary constraints have created an urgent need to safeguard the university’s financial sustainability. Now more than ever we must all do our part to ensure that all our academic programs are sustainable to ensure Algoma University is here for future students for generations to come."