Under Pressure
Re: University facing financial pressures from province (Athabasca Advocate, Mar. 3)
It seems that the provincial government is considering the removal of tuition caps at Alberta’s publicly funded universities.
This action is intended to reduce financial pressures on universities by allowing them to set tuition to whatever the market would bear.
It also seems probable that the provincial government intends to reduce university operating grants in the coming budget.
Removing tuition caps and decreasing university operating grants are both wrong for Athabasca University.
Open universities like AU have a purpose – to make university education more accessible to almost everyone.
Historically, AU has been very successful in this mission, providing educational opportunities for Albertans who cannot attend a bricks and mortar institution.
AU’s statistics are inspiring – 66 per cent of AU’s students are the first in their family to pursue university level studies; 9.5 per cent of Alberta students live in isolated areas; 7 per cent of undergrads have a disability.
Alberta society is challenged by growing inequalities that make university education less attainable for all Albertans.
A 2012 StatsCan survey showed income inequality in Alberta is worse than in the U.S.A. And, just this week, it was revealed that Alberta has the largest wage gap for women in all of Canada.
With challenges like this, why is the government musing about removing the tuition cap and reducing accessibility to university education?
Post-secondary education (PSE) is the surest way for individuals to increase their earnings and quality of life.
Public support for public funding of post-secondary education is strong.
Last week, an Environics poll revealed that, by a margin of two to one, Albertans want increased PSE funding, even in the province’s current fiscal situation.
Albertans recognize PSE funding is an investment in our future. The government is out of touch with Albertans on this issue.
Athabasca University does have financial challenges which are the result of years of provincial underfunding and outright cuts.
This financial stress on the institution has hurt the ability of AU to achieve its mandate to provide accessible university education for all Albertans.
In 2013, the government cut funding to universities by seven per cent. AU is struggling to recover from the damage caused by those cuts.
A recent “pulse survey” of employees showed that staff morale is dismal. We believe that further funding cuts to AU would damage the institution irreparably.
There is also a local connection. The prosperity of the town and region of Athabasca is linked to the stability of AU.
After the 2013 cuts, commerce in Athabasca suffered. We recall that several local businesses closed in the aftermath of the layoffs, induced retirements and staff attrition at AU.
The value of Athabasca University to Alberta is clear, and Albertans want to invest in post-secondary education. The big question is – what are the PC government and the local PC MLA, Jeff Johnson, doing to support Athabasca University and its students?
Athabasca University, as an open university, has immense value to Albertans for the opportunities it provides.
Do the PCs want to have an open university in Alberta? Are they willing to fund it properly?
And, are they willing to keep tuition down to make sure that people can actually afford the educational opportunities that AU provides for all Albertans?
Lawton Shaw President, Athabasca University Faculty Association
