{"id":1656553,"date":"2026-07-30T09:00:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T13:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/?p=1656553"},"modified":"2026-07-30T09:00:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T13:00:31","slug":"a-message-from-president-kennedy-mid-summer-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/07\/30\/a-message-from-president-kennedy-mid-summer-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"A message from President Kennedy: Mid-summer updates"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we reach the mid-point of summer, and with our Fall term just weeks away, I am writing to provide updates on important work that has been taking place throughout the Spring term.<\/p>\n

In my last message<\/a> regarding the 2026-2027 Business Plan and Budget<\/a>, I indicated that aligning our workforce with enrolments is a key strategy in our efforts to adapt to significant shifts in the postsecondary landscape.\u00a0Layoff processes have now concluded and 22 employees have been laid off from the administrative, full-time and part-time support staff, and faculty groups. While this number is lower than the layoffs seen at other colleges – due in large part to steps we took to mitigate the impact on individual employees – I know that this is a very difficult time for employees who are leaving NC, and for teams who are losing valued colleagues. As we move forward, I want to acknowledge the dedication and contributions of the employees who are leaving us.<\/p>\n

Alongside these changes, we remain focused on the priorities that will position NC for long-term success, including revenue growth.<\/p>\n

In early July, NC completed its submission for the provincial government’s Priority Growth Fund<\/a> – a key part of the province’s new funding model announced in early 2026. The Priority Growth Fund provides $1.7 billion across the college and university sectors and is designed to create additional seats in high-demand sectors such as health care, skilled trades, STEM and education. NC’s proposal for the Priority Growth Fund highlights our areas of strength, our track record of excellence in applied and work-integrated learning, our strong connection to community and the labour needs in Niagara, and our key role in powering economic growth in Niagara. The Priority Growth Fund is a competitive process, and we expect funding to be awarded in September.<\/p>\n

As Vice-President, Partnerships and Enterprises Sean Coote recently shared<\/a>, we have reached an agreement to extend our work in Saudi Arabia, where for years we have provided Saudi learners with the career-focused education and training that they need to succeed in the country’s evolving economy. Once finalized, this extended agreement will generate new annual revenue to support programs and services at our Niagara-based campuses.<\/p>\n

While neither the Priority Growth funding nor the extended agreement in Saudi Arabia alone will bridge the revenue gap created by dramatic decreases in international enrolments, when combined with new academic programs, continued enrolment growth and new entrepreneurial revenue streams, they contribute to significant momentum that will propel us toward a new period of recovery and growth.<\/p>\n

Throughout the summer I have also made progress toward my goal of meeting with all members of Team NC, through divisional, departmental and school meetings, and I will continue meeting with employees throughout the Fall term. In these meetings to date, I’ve been pleased with the levels of engagement, thoughtful questions and suggestions that I’ve received, all of which serves as an important reminder of our shared commitment to NC and our students, even through challenging times.<\/p>\n

I hope you are finding time this summer to rest and recharge as we look ahead to the challenges, opportunities, and possibilities of the new academic year.<\/p>\n

\"Sean<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we reach the mid-point of summer, and with our Fall term just weeks away, I am writing to provide updates on important work that has been taking place throughout the Spring term. In my last message regarding the 2026-2027 Business Plan and Budget, I indicated that aligning our workforce with enrolments is a key […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":1320536,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,197],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1656553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-message-from-sean"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA message from President Kennedy: Mid-summer updates | InsideNC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/07\/30\/a-message-from-president-kennedy-mid-summer-updates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A message from President Kennedy: Mid-summer updates | InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As we reach the mid-point of summer, and with our Fall term just weeks away, I am writing to provide updates on important work that has been taking place throughout the Spring term. 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