Province overhauls Athabasca U board as part of staff relocation initiative

An overhaul of the University of Athabasca's board of governors was a necessary step to help the school move more staff into the town it is based in, the province says.

On Wednesday, the government rescinded the appointment of four public members of what was a 17-member board of governors via an order in council.

Seven new governors were also announced, one of whom will replace an outgoing board member. One other governor was also reappointed.

The changes follow a request from the province for more senior staff to be based out of the Athabasca area.

Many staffers have worked remotely for years, a trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said he hoped the new appointees would provide some “new eyes and ears” on bringing staff to Athabasca.

“The folks that we've recently appointed, all have a strong connection in some way or another to the university or the region,” Nicolaides said in an interview Thursday.

“They understand the dynamics of the region and the community and will be able to bring that expertise to the assistance of the executive team at the university.”

He had previously said the province would withhold the university's $3.4-million monthly grant if the school failed to reach the government's relocation target.

The institution was relocated north from Edmonton to Athabasca in 1984 and grew to become the largest online university in the country, with 40,000 students from across Canada and around the world.

The school pushed back against the relocation targets, saying it made the university less appealing to potential employees and top-level staff while also representing a waste of time, money and resources.

School president Peter Scott has been outspoken in his opposition, telling staff and students the province's plan “will add absolutely nothing to the university.”

In an email to staff and students, he thanked the outgoing board members for their work.

“While we will miss these exceptional educational experts, community leaders, industry professionals, and distinguished international voices, we look forward to welcoming the new board members to our community.”

Nicolaides said financial incentives had been used to encourage migration in similar situations, but added he wants to leave it to the board to best determine how to reach the relocation target.

“I don't want to be involved in micromanaging the institution,” he said. “I think that it's best for the university administration … to come up with the best strategies that will work.”