AB calls for new strategic plan from Athabasca by end of September, threatens funding cuts

The Government of Alberta has threatened to cut Athabasca University’s monthly operating grant over the institution’s virtual campus plan, report CBC and the Brandon Sun. In 2020, the university’s board of governors approved a plan to move to “near-virtual” operations, which would allow new and existing staff members to work at the university without ever setting foot in the Athabasca, AB community. AB Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides stated that the university has been directed to end its pursuit of this strategy and deliver a new strategic plan to the ministry for approval by September 30th. Failure to submit a new plan “would allow the Ministry of Advanced Education to withhold the $3.43-million monthly instalment for Athabasca University’s base operating grant,” stated Nicolaides. Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.