Tensions are growing between university executives in one camp, and townspeople and the provincial government in another camp, over how rooted Athabasca University should be in the Town of Athabasca, and who should decide that.

Byron Nelson, a Calgary-based lawyer, has been appointed to chair the Athabasca University Board of Governors replacing Nancy Laird. Nelson has extensive board leadership experience and is looking forward to coming to Athabasca to meet with local community leaders and tour the campus.

Things are looking up for Athabasca following recent provincial government actions and directives regarding AU. The announcement of a new AU chair is a big boost for the community and Keep Athabasca in AU advocacy group.

Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides made an Order in Council May 25 removing chair Nancy Laird from her appointment to the Athabasca University Board of Governors following a scathing letter from Laird and replaced her with Calgary lawyer Bryon Nelson.

The Alberta government, in an order in council late Wednesday, named Byron Nelson as AU’s chair, rescinding Nancy Laird’s appointment. Ms. Laird’s term was scheduled to end in August. Minister Nicolaides says the government installed a new chair in order to meet the province’s ambitions of using the university to foster local economic growth. The article references President Scott’s defiance of the provincial directives.

Alberta Order-in-Council 158/2022 - POST-SECONDARY LEARNING ACT (section 33); ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY REGULATION (sections 3 and 4) - Rescinds the appointment of Nancy Laird as chair of The Governors of Athabasca University; appoints Byron Warren Nelson as chair of The Governors of Athabasca University for a term to expire on May 24, 2025.

Installation ceremony

Shaye Ganam from CHED Mid-Morning chats with Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education about the Alberta government’s direction to the AU Board of Governors and executive, former Premier Lougheed’s vision for rural placement of AU and expectations for AU to recruit and retain employees in Athabasca.

Carrie Tait’s Globe and Mail article quotes Alberta Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides, AU president Peter Scott, and Town of Athabasca mayor Rob Balay, and refers to the Kenney government’s March 24, 2022 town hall meeting in Athabasca.

This Charles Rusnell and Jennie Russell article relies heavily on quotes from AU president Peter Scott, a March 22 letter from Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides to AU board chair Nancy Laird, and video coverage of premier Kenney at the March 24 Athabasca town hall meeting.

Michelle Bellefontaine references an email sent by AU president Scott to AU employees in defiance of Alberta Minister of Advanced Education Nicolaides's directives to move away from a near-virtual campus. Scott says the institution's move to a virtual campus will continue.

David Climenhaga’s article refers to the March 24 Kenney team town hall in Athabasca, AU President Scott’s email to AU staff about continuing the near-virtual plans, and Alberta Minister of Advanced Education Nicolaides’s directive to AU Board of Governors to move away from AU’s near-virtual strategy.

Chris Zwick reports that on March 24 over 300 people attended a town hall meeting with Premier Jason Kenney, Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, other Alberta government officials and municipal leaders. Premier Kenney highlighted three directives sent by Advanced Education to the AU Board of Governors to help ensure AU’s future in Athabasca.

On March 24, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney visited Athabasca, and made a very big local announcement on the future of AU in Athabasca, as reported in this article by Chris Zwick. Premier Kenney also touched on several other items, including the Ukraine, his leadership and COVID vaccinations.

In a town hall meeting in Athabasca on March 24, Premier Kenney focussed on and concluded that AU is “always to be grounded and rooted in the community of Athabasca.”

Michelle Belelfontaine summarizes concerns the Keep Athabasca in Athabasca University group has with AU’s planned move to near-virtual operations and the devastating impact of the gradual withdrawal from the community.

Colleen Powell, Mayor Athabasca, outlines the battle unfolding in Athabasca that has implications for the entire province. The stakes? In May 2020, AU’s Board of Governors, in a closed meeting, decided to effectively close the Athabasca main campus and end Edmonton and Calgary campus leases. The University plans to move to a near-virtual model, resulting in AU existing primarily in space instead of place.

Heather Stocking reports on a June 8 Keep Athabasca in Athabasca University presentation to Athabasca County council, following which some council members expressed concerns about being caught in the middle.

In this call to action, it is time to ask questions and raise voices in protest. Why is AU’s Board of Governors sacrificing the vital home of the University, and in the process making the Athabasca community the scapegoat? Why lose another 250 jobs and hundreds of families, friends and neighbours?