How post-secondary schools in Lethbridge took on 2025

This past year has been full of ups and downs for Lethbridge's two post-secondary institutions. We look at 2025 and what's in store for 2026.

This past year has been full of ups and downs for Lethbridge’s post-secondary institutions.

It’s been a year of learning for Lethbridge Polytechnic.

“The past year has been, I think, best characterized as a transition year,” said Brad Donaldson, Lethbridge Polytechnic president and CEO.

“We were dealing with the second year of the reduction of international students due to federal government changes, which forced us to have to make some changes here.

“(That) also forced us to have to look at what our future really looks like, and we’re responsible for that future.”

In April, the polytechnic announced the layoffs of 72 staff, along with the closure of several programs, as it faced an $8-million budget shortfall from the reduction of international student visas.

“I feel good about the way we handled the changes that were forced upon us,” said Donaldson.

“We live to our values—we are a caring, responsive institution, and we made the decisions that needed to be made, but we treated people very, very kindly and fairly in terms of what the changes meant to them.”

In September, the polytechnic reported a 40 per cent drop in international students, but domestic and apprenticeship numbers increased.

And three new programs began.

“We’re seeing significant growth in the number of apprentices that are looking to come here,” said Donaldson.

“We’ve introduced powerline technician this year as well. … (The) health industry is continuing to grow, and we’re looking at programming that will meet those needs going forward.”

In early December, the polytechnic ranked ninth among the top 50 research colleges in Canada in 2025.

Heading into a new year, the school is planning to open up the Southern Alberta Collegiate Institute—a partnership with the regional school boards aimed at attracting future students.

“The other one that we’ll be announcing later, in early spring, is a relationship between Red Crow Community College, Lethbridge Polytechnic, University of Lethbridge, Medicine Hat College … servicing the region, working to collaborate on mobility for students, pathways and research.”

Across the river, a new strategic plan and brand were launched this year to help guide the University of Lethbridge going forward.

And the first cohort of students for the new Southern Alberta Medical Program was announced.

“They would be trained for their full medical program in that place, and then the residency would be done also within southern Alberta,” said Digvir Jayas, University of Lethbridge president and vice-chancellor.

“They would be trained to work in the rural setting and the community setting, (and) they would be inclined to continue and practice in this region.”

In the new year, the university says it plans to continue development on its south campus, after receiving approval from the City of Lethbridge, and attract new programs to the school.

“We are also exploring the possibility of starting an engineering program if we receive the approval from the Campus Alberta Quality Council as well as the provincial government,” said Jayas.

For now, the U of L will focus on implementing its new plan in 2026.

“I certainly see a lot of possibilities to grow the university, even in the difficult times,” said Jayas.