Macleay College Mysteriously Resumes Journalism Course, Students Say They’ve Been “Gaslighted”

A new communication from Macleay College to students has announced that the journalism degree was “never cancelled” despite students receiving an email from the college last week explaining that their degree was “no longer running”. 

In an FAQ document sent out to students this week, the college answered “no” to a question asking whether the journalism course was cancelled. “Due to low numbers, and the concern from students about their study experience, the commencement date of the course for new students was originally deferred. For existing students, studies are continuing as normal,” the email stated. 

The new communication to students, seen by Junkee, came with an announcement from the college of a partnership with Western Sydney University to facilitate transfers for students who no longer wished to remain at Macleay. The census cut off date for students studying at Macleay College has also been extended to the 1st of April, allowing students to withdraw without penalty. 

For students originally enrolled in the Bachelor of Journalism, which was scrapped last fortnight via an email sent at the end of business hours on Friday afternoon, the college has confirmed that classes will resume for first-year students on Thursday, March 24. 

First-year student Ezra Bell told Junkee that he feels “conflicted” about the recent news. “On one hand we’ve essentially gotten what we’ve been fighting for but at the same time they’re now gaslighting students so I have zero trust in them,” Bell told Junkee 

While Bell stated that he’ll likely resume his study at the college until he can secure a transfer to Western Sydney University,  that it’s now “too late” for the college to make a meaningful apology. “They should have apologised in yesterday’s email instead of lying to us saying the course was never cancelled.”

Junkee has reached out to Macleay College for comment.