Update on discussions with the Alberta Government

From: "President, Peter Scott" <communications@athabascau.ca>

Date: November 3, 2022 at 4:07:29 PM MDT

To: "AU Staff”

Subject: Update on discussions with the Alberta Government

Good afternoon,

    I want to keep you updated on our work with the Ministry of Advanced Education to finalize our Investment Management Agreement (IMA) and find a resolution to the minister’s request for Athabasca University (AU) to advance economic development in the Athabasca region.

    I am pleased to share that we have had a productive few weeks. We have met regularly with members of the Ministry of Advanced Education team, and we are making great progress toward a resolution. We are jointly committed to finding a solution that addresses increased economic development in the Athabasca region and doing that in a strategic and measurable way that preserves AU’s core purpose as a teaching and research university.

    In our meetings with the ministry, we have been incorporating ideas and suggestions shared with us directly from our community, including our learners and members of the town and county of Athabasca, through consultation sessions facilitated by Dr. Ken Coates. In these sessions we have explored sustainable economic development ideas for the region that will capitalize on AU’s strengths as a leading innovator in open education and research, and responsibly put learner and taxpayer investments to their best use long-term. Many of these ideas were presented as a plan to move forward; a plan that was unanimously approved by AU’s General Faculties Council (GFC) and Board of Governors in September.

    AU and the ministry have been advancing discussions to align with key dates for AU’s GFC meeting, for AU Board Standing Committee meetings (scheduled for the week of Nov. 28), and the regularly scheduled Board meeting on Dec. 9. The minister has been invited to join that Board meeting. We are confident, given the progress made so far, that AU and the Ministry of Advanced Education will reach a viable solution that considers all stakeholders and that we will soon be in a position to create research innovation and growth opportunities for AU, its learners, and the Athabasca region.

    This week, AU’s Board Chair received a letter from the Minister of Advanced Education requesting a special and expedited November Board meeting. Due to significant ministerial changes in AU’s public Board membership in October, we have been focused on welcoming the 7 new provincially-appointed members. Immediately following the announced changes to the Board, AU reached out to the new Board members to begin the robust and mandatory onboarding process. This process must be completed in advance of new members attending Board meetings to ensure they are familiar with AU, the bicameral governance structure, the Post-Secondary Learning Act, and their role as a member of our Board. Working with, and respecting, the personal and professional schedules of our seven new Board members, the onboarding process is expected to be complete just ahead of the Nov. 28 Board Standing Committee meetings.

    As we continue to work with the ministry and prepare for the upcoming meetings of GFC and the Board, we will continue to keep you updated.

Regards,

Dr. Peter Scott

President