Closure of the Pilon School of Business at Sheridan College

 Board of Governors

Sheridan College

6 December 2024

RE: OPEN LETTER - Closure of the Pilon School of Business at Sheridan College

Dear Members of the Board,

As a group of faculty members of the Pilon School of Business (PSB), we want to express our deep concern over the announced program cuts, which effectively will close the Pilon School of Business. The cuts are essentially a death sentence for PSB. 

Impact of Program Cuts on PSB

The proposed reductions target the core of our offerings, including our BBA degrees, diplomas and graduate certificates, across diverse business disciplines. This will affect the vast majority of our students and faculty. This will result in the elimination of essential areas such as accounting and finance, leaving behind only a limited selection of programs in areas such as marketing and advertising. Such cuts would strip PSB of its identity as a business school, leaving insufficient scope to justify the continued existence of a dedicated Faculty.

Most of our faculty members and students will disappear as the cancelled programs are wound down. The diminished portfolio of remaining programs will likely deter prospective students, who may seek out full-fledged business schools at competing institutions.  The HMC campus in Mississauga, which currently has more than 10,400 students, will be a ghost town and will no longer be a viable campus for Sheridan. 

Our Importance to Students and the Community

PSB serves a vital role in fostering economic mobility and success for our students, many of whom come from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds. Our programs provide opportunities for recent immigrants, children of immigrants, and those facing financial or educational challenges. Through innovative teaching and dedicated support, PSB has empowered countless students to achieve their aspirations and contribute meaningfully to the community.

PSB provides students with the essential applied business skills they need to succeed in the Canadian economy. Our professors bring their real world business expertise into the classroom everyday.  Our alumni have a track record of personal success and contribution to the greater community.  The PSB Business Hall of Fame includes Frank Prosia, the founder of TransPro Freight Systems with $49 million in sales and Ryan Knight who went on to form the Afro-Caribbean Business Network, a Black entrepreneurial network of 3,000 members. Those alumni recognize how fundamental PSB was to their success. 

Economic Contributions and Legacy

PSB is one of the largest faculties at Sheridan, with over 7000 students in 30 programs that have significantly contributed to the College’s financial sustainability. Our HMC campus in the core Mississauga will be hollowed out and will no longer contribute economically to the surrounding area.

The vibrant community we have built reflects the commitment and passion of generations of faculty and students. That legacy is in danger under the announced cuts.

A Call for Sustainable Solutions

We acknowledge the need for budgetary reductions to ensure Sheridan’s long-term viability. However, we urge the Board to explore alternatives that allow for the survival and future growth of PSB. Eliminating an entire Faculty risks long-term harm to Sheridan’s reputation and its ability to serve its diverse student population effectively.

Many of us at PSB are eager to engage with the Board and College leadership to discuss viable solutions that preserve PSB while achieving necessary financial goals.

Yours sincerely,

Faculty for Saving PSB