At least 4 instructors were let go by Keyano College on 15 minutes notice today.
One of the affected instructors says 4 Visual and Performing Arts instructors’ positions were eliminated, and up to 10 across the college have been let go today.
They include the head of the Drama program, a digital media instructor who has worked for Keyano for 22 years, a Musical Instrument Repair instructor, and the chair of the entire VPA department, who had also worked there for more than 2 decades.
They were given 15 minutes to collect their belongings and leave the College, after being told their positions had been abolished due to “program realignment.”
“The community is far poorer today,” said one of the affected instructors, who preferred to remain anonymous. “The budget hasn’t even yet passed, and yet the College has deemed it necessary to let all of these people go today.”
Keyano’s Director of Marketing & Communications Russell Thomas says the College cannot comment on personnel matters, nor on the potential status of Arts programs until the budget is approved by the Board of Directors on May 25th.
The College’s Facebook page has been littered with complaints from students.
“Shame on you Keyano,” read a post from Eryn Rickard. “The arts are NEEDED in Fort McMurray.”
“I’m not even in the arts programs or anything like that and I’m furious that your [sic] doing this to the programs,” read another from José Vivanco. “It’s shameful.”
“I believe the college is making a grave mistake in letting these instructors go,” added Binh Nhi Hua. “Please re-evaluate this decision and strongly consider the feelings of the students. We are devastated.”
It’s been almost a year since Keyano controversially suspended its Music and Musical Instrument Repair programs.
Published May 4, 2012
