Three full-time and nine part-time support staff positions have been eliminated at Lambton College.
Senior Director of Communications Cindy Buchanan said layoff notices were issued Wednesday.
"Our people and organizational development [department] and [OPSEU] Local 124 are working together to apply the job security provisions of those full-time and part-time collective agreements, and as a result, there will likely be some reassignments and bumping that occurs across the college," said Buchanan.
She said the layoffs were widespread and necessary to ensure the college's financial stability during the pandemic.
"We've done our very best to keep the number of impacted employees to a minimum and have further mitigated layoffs, by not backfilling some vacancies, as well as restructuring and offering some exit incentives."
Buchanan would not disclose the number of staff that have accepted retirement or exit packages.
"I can't tell you what the final number is because they're still going through the application process," she said.
Eight programs have been deferred to January, and 11 have been postponed to September 2021 for first-year students only.
"COVID-19 has impacted both our domestic and international enrollment, across the Ontario system, and domestic confirmations are currently declining year-over-year at 23 of 24 colleges. However, many of our programs are tracking well to our budget projections and have a solid cohort of first-year students this fall."
Lambton College first-year programs that have been deferred to January 2021 include Pharmacy Technician (PHRM), Business Management – Human Resources (BMHR), Cyber Infrastructure Specialist (CISC), E-Learning Design & Training Development (ETIS), Financial Planning & Wealth Management (FPWS), Hospitality Management (HMAN), Project Management (PMLS) and Quality Engineering Management (QEMS).
The first-year programs postponed to September 2021 include Culinary Management (CULN), Massage Therapy (MSTC), Renovation Construction Technician (RENT), Construction Carpentry Techniques (CACT), Developmental Service Worker (DSWP), Chemical Laboratory Technician (CLAB), Chemical Laboratory Technology (CTEC), Pre-Community Services (PCOM), Advanced Healthcare Leadership (AHCS), Applied Process Piping Design (APPD) and Tourism – Operations Management (TMAN).
Lambton College suspended in-person classes on March 16, forcing many students to finish their winter term online.
The campus is taking a "hybrid learning" approach this fall to ensure students feel safe.