The overall goal is renewal of the Athabasca campus so most University administrative functions are headquartered and operate from there. Athabasca University’s (AU’s) Board of Governors and executive have been executing a near-virtual strategy since June 2020, wherein almost all AU staff work permanently from home offices and new staff are hired from anywhere in Canada. In 2017, the Athabasca cam
pus had about 400 full-time employees. Now, about 250 AU employees live and work in the region, most from home offices. If the near-virtual strategy continued, Athabasca would eventually lose most of these good-paying AU jobs, as new recruits and retirement replacements would be hired from anywhere in Canada. The region and Alberta as a whole risks losing about $37 million in annual wages, resulting in $100 million in economic loss every year. The depopulation of the Athabasca region is continuing to manifest in serious economic, social and cultural losses in the area, as bright young families move away or will never be recruited to the region. Fortunately, on November 30, 2022, AU’s Board of Governors signed a new Investment Management Agreement with the Government of Alberta that requires AU’s near-virtual strategy to cease as of December 31, 2022. Looking ahead, the number of Athabasca University employees that work full-time in the Athabasca region is to increase from 252 to 277 and at least four executive team members are to work full-time in Athabasca by 2025. A new strategic plan is being developed with the goal to expand and reinforce the University’s physical presence in Athabasca. Now, renewal of the Athabasca campus is being planned, and AU’s future and growth in the region is encouraging and the future of the University is brighter. Community contacts:
Email [email protected]
Rick Baksza 780-799-9999
Natasha Kapitaniuk 780-689-9847
Mavis Jacobs 780-675-7118
John Ollerenshaw 780-675-4920
