There has been a staffing shakeup at Conestoga College. On Wednesday, CTV News Kitchener obtained an email shared with school staff outlining the changes. The message said the following people were no longer with the school: Shawn Brake, Executive Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies Keith Muller, Executive Dean of the School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts Gary Hallam, Senior Vice President Academic and Students Dean Bulloch, Senior Vice President & Secretary General to the Board of Governors The email did not explain why the college parted ways with the staff members, however they all appeared on the 2024 Sunshine List, which names public sector employees with salaries surpassing $100,000. Brake made $254,075, Muller made $240,602, Hallam made $370,530 and Bulloch made $338,541. The news comes as many unionized Conestoga College staff are facing uncertain futures amid ongoing cuts as the school expects a significant drop in international student enrolment. In December, CTV News learned Conestoga College was looking to cut costs by offering 160 of its employees an early retirement package. The school confirmed the “voluntary early retirement incentive program” would be available to full-time employees who met their eligibility criteria, but did not specify what that criteria included. In 2024, Conestoga College faced criticism after it reported a surplus of $251,646,838 – more than double the 2023 surplus of $106,220,863.
