Photo From www.study.alberta.ca

By The Canadian Press

Plan Requested

UCP threatens cuts to Athabasca University

Aug 3, 2022 | 9:47 AM

EDMONTON – The Alberta government is bringing the hammer down in its fight with Athabasca University.

Over the weekend, Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides directed the online-oriented school north of Edmonton to get busy on a plan to make sure more staff work in the small town.

If a plan isn’t ready for his approval by the end of September, Nicolaides says there may be cuts to the school’s $3.4 million monthly instalment under its operating grant.

A spokesperson for Athabasca University could not be immediately reached for comment.

The university – with 40,000 students – and the province have been in a standoff over whether employees should be mandated to live and work in Athabasca.

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University president Peter Scott says such a rule is not necessary for a school dedicated to virtual learning, and says it would make it harder to recruit top talent.

Nicolaides disagrees, and says boosting jobs in rural areas is one of the main reasons why the university was moved to Athabasca 40 years ago.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 2, 2022.

The Canadian Press