University disappointed with cuts to post-secondary funding

March 11, 2013

The president of Athabasca University has expressed disappointment with Thursday's provincial budget, which will see a 6.8 percent reduction in operating grants for Alberta's colleges and universities. The university will see an overall reduction of nearly $5 million in its operating and infrastructure maintenance grants for the coming fiscal year.

"We did not see that coming," said Dr. Frits Pannekoek. "It's disappointing to be led to believe that the sector would be receiving a two per cent increase in operating grants, something that was promised in last year's budget, only to be hit with what amounts to a nearly 10 per cent cut."

Pannekoek says all universities, including AU, are now faced with "some very tough choices" as they finalize their budgets for the next fiscal year, which begins April 1.

"Of particular concern to us is a 56 per cent cut to our infrastructure maintenance budget this coming year," Pannekoek said. Unlike traditional universities, AU's infrastructure is largely in information technology systems. "We were expecting about $3 million to continue upgrading our IT systems to help us fully transition to an online environment," he said. "Instead, we got $1.3 million. These funds are supposed to maintain our buildings as well."

The consequences for an online university are serious. "A number of multi-year projects that would have helped Alberta become a leader in online learning will have to be cancelled, Pannekoek said. "That puts a real obstacle in our mission to serve today's and, as importantly, tomorrow's university students."

"AU's online mission has never been funded through capital grants, despite years of negotiating, Pannekoek said, "and to cut this one source of funding, the Infrastructure Maintenance Fund grant, by 56 per cent, is extraordinarily short sighted. AU's costs per student are the lowest in the province, and a modest strategic investment would have allowed the university to further reduce costs and to help our partners in Campus Alberta in the new exciting world of online learning."

Pannekoek said the university will, of course, balance its books next year, but it will be done on the back of progress.

For more information, contact:

John O'Brien
Manager, Communications and Media Relations
(403) 298-2931 (office)
(403) 990-1131 (cell)
jobrien@athabascau.ca

 

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Updated August 21, 2012