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First-year students in the Veterinary Technology program at Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) Fairview campus got an eleventh-hour reprieve in time for Christmas.
“With the benefit of time and further discussion with local partners” NWP has developed another option for its first-year vet tech students who, like the rest of the campus and faculty, were shocked to learn on Oct. 29 NWP intended to close the Fairview campus at the end of this school year. It put in jeopardy the ability for first-year vet tech students to finish the program.
In a Dec. 11 letter to vet tech students from NWP Vice-President Jodi Peebles, students can choose an accelerated delivery option to facilitate credential completion. They must make their decision before Jan. 5.
According to Peebles, this new option offers a second year, beginning on May 1 to run until July 31, 2026. It will continue in September 2026 and be delivered mostly remotely with some in-person labs at NWP Grande Prairie. Classes will finish November 2026.
The letter states that students with on-site housing will be able to stay in Fairview for the duration of the program.
Clinical placements will run from the end of November 2026 to mid-January 2027 via local veterinary clinics, said NWP.
On Nov. 4, NWP told about 28 first-year vet tech students they had until Dec. 19 to decide between three options: Complete this year and transfer to Olds, NAIT or Lakeland and should expect an additional term to meet diploma requirements; withdraw with a full refund of tuition and a $500 credit to offset books purchased; transfer to another NWP program in Grande Prairie.
Students who have withdrawn may rejoin and “be brought up to date” according to Peebles’ letter, but there were no details as to how that might happen.
NWP did not respond to the News request for an interview by press time so we are unable to confirm how many vet tech students had already dropped out before the Dec. 11 letter.
The news of a second year that will commence May 1 and be delivered remotely landed differently for students.
For Brie Hoover, a 19-year-old first year student from Slave Lake, the fourth option is the best of a bad lot.
She said has already been accepted to Olds College for the second year, but now that this option is on the table in Fairview “it makes sense to ride it out.”
“It does suck I will have to go to Grande Prairie for labs and that some of the courses will be online,” said Hoover. “But I have teachers here I trust and respect so I know they can help me.
“I’ve put so much work into this program and it’s home.”
She said a lot of her peers came to Fairview for the smaller campus experience and its stellar reputation. The remote aspect of the last half of the second year isn’t ideal, she said.
In addition, she said some students who rely on summer jobs between the first and second years of school may be facing financial barriers, as this new option has the second year starting just a few days after the end of the first.
“A lot have to work over summer to pay for their second year so now they could be forced into (student) loans,” said Hoover.
Still, she said most of her peers are “are as happy as we can be” about the new option.
“It’s not exactly ideal, but at least we’re going to finish for the most part at our school of the preference.”
Hoover thinks nine vet tech students have withdrawn from the program, though NWP did not respond to our request for information as of press time.
Hoover is curious how NWP intends to make up for the loss of the large animal lab that is a keystone of the program in Fairview.
“From what I understand (GP) doesn’t have space for large animals so I am curious about that part of the second year they are offering,” she said. The News was unable to confirm details with NWP of the lab amenities planned for Grande Prairie. The News also asked NWP if it could speak to teaching layoffs in the program, and whether any would be reversed now that the program is continuing for a few months. NWP did not respond as of press time.
NWP said in its Oct. 29 announcement it was transitioning to single campus after an “extensive review of operations and finances shows the Fairview campus is not financially sustainable and no longer meets the needs of students or industry.”
With a projected operating deficit of $4.1 million for the Fairview campus, there is “no scenario in which the Fairview campus is sustainable,” said NWP Board of Governors Chair Shawna Miller. According to NWP, the deficit is expected to increase to $5.4M in 2026-2027 and $6.1M by 2027-2028.
Declining tuition revenue, stagnant/uncertain government grants and building usage inefficiencies were factored into what NWP called a “difficult decision.”
Last week a second town hall in Fairview drew at least 200 people, who learned that local leaders and municipalities have struck the Fairview Regional College Transition Committee (FRCTC). It was formed Nov. 28 to develop a “strong proposal for long-term, community-aligned post-secondary education in our region” according to a media release.
The committee is calling on the province to pause all closure-related actions until a full community-led feasibility study is completed and is working to complete a preliminary proposal at the request of Minister of Advanced Education Myles McDougall to be on his desk Dec. 19.
Last week, Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr tabled a petition from Fairview with 4,187 signatures that urges the province to a) impose a moratorium on the removal, relocation and reduction of assets/programs/staff of NWP Fairview; b) undertake a full and public review before making decisions that will result to permanent changes to the campus and its assets; c)affirm its commitment to the long-term stability and development of access to post-secondary in rural northern Alberta.
Back in Fairview, Hoover is busy with final exams and holiday plans.
“I’m still going home for Christmas but I get to come back,” she said.
“That’s all I asked for.”
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