Lasalle College of the Arts is a private, non-profit arts college located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is an English-language college that was founded in 1959 and offers a range of arts-focused programs including fashion design, interior design, video game 3D modeling, graphic design, animation, music production and more. Lasalle College operates as a private educational institution and is not part of any public college or university system.
Background on Lasalle College of the Arts
Lasalle College was founded in 1959 by two brothers, Jean-Paul and Claude Tessier. It started as a much smaller school focused on fashion design and expanded over the decades into other creative fields. Today, Lasalle College has two campuses in Montreal and offers over 30 programs. The main campus is located downtown in the Quartier Des Spectacles entertainment district.
Lasalle College is owned by the LCI Education network, which operates private career colleges across Canada. While Lasalle College focuses specifically on arts, design and media programs, LCI has expanded into fields like business, technology and health sciences. All LCI schools operate as private institutions.
Key Facts About Lasalle College
Here are some key facts about the status and operations of Lasalle College of the Arts:
- Lasalle College is a private, non-profit institution
- It is not part of any public college or university system
- Lasalle College has had full accreditation from the Ministry of Education since 1959
- It confers its own certificates, diplomas and bachelor’s degrees which are recognized by the Ministry
- The school receives no direct public funding or government grants
- Lasalle College is owned by the private career college company LCI Education
- Tuition fees at Lasalle are paid entirely by students and not subsidized
- Lasalle College operates autonomously and sets its own tuition rates
These facts clearly demonstrate that Lasalle College operates as a private educational institution, both historically and within its current business model. It receives no public funding, is not part of a public college network, and confers credentials as a private school.
Comparison to Public Educational Institutions
To further illustrate that Lasalle College is private, it is helpful to compare it to some features of public colleges and universities in Quebec:
- Public institutions are part of university systems such as Université de Montréal or Université du Québec
- They receive funding from the provincial government each year
- Tuition rates at public schools are regulated by the government
- Programs require approval from the Ministry of Education
- Credentials are awarded in the name of the government
- Public schools have limited autonomy in operations
Lasalle College does not share any of these key characteristics of public institutions. From its tuition policies to curriculum design, Lasalle operates independently without any direct government oversight or funding. This clearly places it in the category of a private college.
Accreditation Status
An important piece of evidence that Lasalle College is private is its accreditation status. Lasalle has been fully accredited by the Ministry of Education since 1959. This means its programs and degrees have full recognition from the Québec government.
If Lasalle College were a public school, it would not need this separate accreditation. Public colleges and universities have automatic recognition of their credentials. The fact that Lasalle went through the independent accreditation process demonstrates its private status.
Lasalle’s accreditation is also what allows it to confer diplomas and bachelor’s degrees autonomously. This provides further proof of its independence from any public authority.
Enrollment and Tuition Costs
Lasalle College’s enrollment policies and tuition costs are further evidence it operates as a private institution:
- There are no government subsidies or financial aid programs for students
- Lasalle sets its own admission criteria without external input
- Tuition is approximately $16,000 CAD per year for Canadian students
- International students pay tuition of approximately $16,900 CAD per year
- Students are responsible for full tuition costs out-of-pocket or through private loans
A public school would have much lower tuition regulated by the government, as well as public scholarships and financial aid available. The fact that Lasalle controls its own enrollment and charges market-rate tuition demonstrates its finances are independent of any public funding.
Facilities and Campus
Lasalle College’s campus and facilities provide additional evidence that it is a private institution:
- The campus buildings and land are owned privately by Lasalle/LCI Education
- Construction of new campus facilities is funded through private sources
- The school receives no public funding for capital projects or infrastructure
- All maintenance and operations costs are covered without government support
Public colleges and universities, in contrast, either occupy government-owned buildings or receive infrastructure funding from the provincial government. Lasalle’s privately owned real estate and capital funding point to its status as a private college.
Administration and Staffing
As a private school, Lasalle College has full autonomy over its administrative staff and faculty hiring:
- Faculty and staff salaries are set by Lasalle based on private sector rates
- Hiring and staffing decisions are made independently by the school
- Administrators are private employees of the college, not public servants
- There are no government representatives involved in operations
- Lasalle is self-managed through its internal governance structure
This gives Lasalle flexibility and independence in staffing, unlike public institutions which have some restrictions or oversight on hiring. The fully private administration is indicative of Lasalle’s overall private business model.
Academic Programs and Curriculum
The content of Lasalle’s academic programs also demonstrates its private status:
- Programs are designed and updated internally based on industry demand, without external oversight
- Curriculum and course offerings are set by Lasalle faculty and administrators
- New programs can be introduced through internal approval, without Ministry input
- Teaching methods and evaluations are controlled by the college
- Academic calendars and schedules can be modified independently
This level of autonomy over academic content is only possible because Lasalle operates privately. Public colleges require government approvals for new programs and curriculum changes.
Extracurricular Student Life
Lasalle College’s extracurricular student life policies also reflect its private status:
- Student associations and clubs are operated independently, without provincial oversight
- College rules around conduct, disciplinary issues and athletics are all set internally
- There are no government standards imposed on the school regarding student life
- Any student residence facilities are owned and operated privately by Lasalle
In contrast, public institutions must adhere to various government regulations and standards around student life and extracurricular activities. Lasalle’s independence in this area is a product of its private status.
Corporate Structure and Ownership
Lasalle College’s corporate and ownership structure provides the clearest confirmation that it is a private institution:
- Lasalle College is owned by LCI Education, a private education company
- The school is incorporated provincially as a registered private career college
- Lasalle/LCI Education has a corporate board of directors, not a public board
- The college is responsible to shareholders and investors, not taxpayers
- Lasalle College generates profits for its owners, unlike public non-profits
- Campuses are owned by the corporation, not a public entity
This clearly for-profit, corporate structure with private investors and shareholders demonstrates unambiguously that Lasalle functions as a private college. Its corporate ownership and obligations prove it is not a public institution.
Recognition as a Private Institution
Lasalle College of the Arts’ status as a private, non-profit institution is clearly recognized and acknowledged:
- The school identifies itself as a “private college” on its website and materials
- Lasalle’s accreditation and ability to grant degrees is based on its private status
- Government databases classify Lasalle College as a registered private career college
- Lasalle is a member of the Canadian Association of Private Colleges, a group that solely represents private schools
- The college participates regularly in conferences and events for private colleges and universities
- Lasalle College is commonly cited as an example of a high-quality private arts college in Canada
There is no debate or uncertainty within the postsecondary education community that Lasalle College operates as a private institution. Both officially and informally, Lasalle is recognized as private by regulatory bodies and peers.
Comparison to Hybrid Public-Private Models
While Lasalle College is entirely private, it should be distinguished from some hybrid public-private models:
- Some schools are former public colleges that became privatized, such as Centennial College
- Other schools receive partial direct government funding along with private revenue
- Some schools are private but have public partners or articulation agreements with public institutions
Lasalle College differs because it has operated as an entirely private school from its founding, and maintains complete financial and operational independence from any level of government. This unequivocally confirms its status as a fully private postsecondary institution.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an objective examination of the evidence confirms definitively that Lasalle College of the Arts is a private, non-profit arts college. Its incorporation, ownership, funding model, operations and governance all point to its unambiguous status as a private postsecondary school. Lasalle receives no public funding, maintains autonomy over its programs and policies, and operates independently from any government oversight or participation. While some hybrid public-private models exist, Lasalle College fits the clear profile of a fully private college in Canada. This private status allows it to focus on its mission of providing specialized career-focused arts training, while adapting nimbly to industry needs. Lasalle’s enduring private model has enabled it to become a leader in Canadian arts education over more than 60 years.