Despite news of budget cuts and layoffs, the future of Athabasca University is bright, according to Barry Walker, chair of the schoolís governing council.
ìI think in some cases the other institutions are having to reduce the number of programs, where as with online education we can increase our enrollment,î Walker said. ìIf that happens we will be even more successful.î
After the provincial budget was released and included cuts to post-secondary education, AU had to offset the lack of funds.
ìLast week the board approved the balanced budget for the university, and the unfortunate part of that whole process is that it resulted in some layoffs that are happening at the university, almost as we speak,î he said.
Amidst the university laying off 44 people last week, Walker said that the university is moving forward with replacing president Frits Pannekoek after he tendered his resignation several weeks prior.
ìWe are just in the process of doing a Request For Proposal (RFP) to engage a firm to assist the hiring committee to hire a new president,î Walker said.
ìWe hope to have that done probably within the next 60 days.î
Walker said it could be as long as a year-and-a-half to replace the current president.
ìA committee will be formed that will be involved in the process of trying to determine the role that the new president will fill,î Walker said. ìThey will try and identify the needs of the university on a future basis, and we will then go through a process of looking for applications, and following though the process of interviewing candidates.î
