Fanshawe College has begun suspending multiple program intakes, with new student enrollment set to stop as early as the upcoming winter semester.

While the College has not yet publicly announced which programs are facing suspension, the Interrobang has learned of 15 level one programs in the School of Tourism, Hospitality & Culinary Arts (THCA) at Fanshawe’s downtown campus which are set to be phased out by Winter 2026. For the upcoming Winter 2025 semester, the College has suspended level one intake for Event Planning, as well as Baking & Pastry Management, with more suspensions to come in the future.

THCA level one program suspensions for Spring 2025 include:

• Baking & Pastry Management
• Culinary Skills
• Culinary Management
• Food & Beverage Management
• Food Processing — Operations
• Food Processing — Product Development
• Hospitality — Hotel & Resort Services
• Hospitality and Tourism Operations
• Tourism — Travel Studies

THCA level one program suspensions for Fall 2025 include:

• Food & Beverage Management
• Food Processing — Operation
• Food Processing — Product Development
• Hospitality — Hotel & Resort Services
• Hospitality and Tourism Operations

THCA level one program suspensions for Winter 2026 include:

• Baking & Pastry Management
• Culinary Skills
• Culinary Management
• Food & Beverage Management
• Food Processing — Operations
• Food Processing — Product Development
• Hospitality — Hotel & Resort Services
• Hospitality and Tourism Operations
• Event Planning
• Tourism — Travel

Students currently enrolled in any of the suspended programs will still be able to complete their schooling and graduate as usual, but no new level one enrollment options will be offered.

The federal government outlined new field of study requirements for Post-Graduate Work Permits (PGWP) on Nov. 1, limiting approved programs to those focused on agriculture, healthcare, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and the trades. Food Processing — Product Development, Golf & Club Management, and Food Processing — Operations no longer meet the eligibility requirements for a PGWP while Nutrition & Food Services and Professional Butchery Techniques are approved.

The decisions on which level one programs to suspend in the School of THCA were reportedly based on whether or not the program had a large international enrollment, as well as if the students enrolled were eligible for PGWP. Domestic enrollment trends over the last five years were also reviewed.

Following recent changes announced by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regarding international student study permits and reduced eligibility for Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), Peter Devlin told staff on Nov. 14 that Fanshawe had suspended several program intakes for the upcoming winter semester and the subsequent semesters are under review.

“I recognize these changes will directly affect faculty and staff members supporting these programs, and in particular non-full-time employees,” Devlin said in an email. “We are being deliberate and careful to ensure a thorough review.”

At the time of writing this article, an official announcement regarding which programs are being suspended has yet to be made, although Interrobang has learned that some programs in the School of Design could also be up for suspension.

The College declined to comment on the exact extent of the suspensions or the potential impacts on its campuses.

“The true impact to Fanshawe will not be known for several months and the landscape is continuing to shift,” said Matt Quin, a representative for Fanshawe College. “What we can say is that when we have a clear picture of the impacts we will be clearly and quickly communicating to our Fanshawe community.”