Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan. (Submitted photo)
One student is too many according to Loyalist College President Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan.
The college held their Board of Governors meeting on Thursday evening and the topic of the number of students not returning to the college following the five week strike was brought up.
It was made public earlier this week Loyalist had 316 students decide not to return to classes after back to work legislation was put in place.
Vaughan says those numbers don’t tell the whole story.
She says she is pleased to see almost 90 per cent of students stayed with their programs following the strike and schedule changes.
Vaughan told those in the meeting the average in Ontario was a 10 per cent average of enrolment lost and at Loyalist they say a decline of 11.26 per cent.
She says some of the more intensive programs such as nursing, electrical, digital animation and paralegal studies saw a more significant decline than other programs.
She also mentioned there were ten international students who decided to not return to class.
Vaughan says they are going to track those students who withdrew from their programs.
Vaughan said last year there were 330 students who dropped out of their program at the college so they are on par with the number of students they would expect to lose.
Loyalist will see a financial hit in the amount of approximately $500,000 according to Vaughan, who also said the college is committed to providing students the $500 rebate they are entitled to and are working on getting that going.
The second semester will begin on January 29th and for the first time, Loyalist is offering a May start as well.
