Peter MacKinnon

Athabasca U's future seems brighter as Saskatchewan prof named to conduct sustainability review

| January 20, 2017

Two things are abundantly clear after this morning's news conference in Athabasca University's Edmonton offices:

1. Alberta's NDP government is determined the perennially financially troubled distance education university will survive as a viable post-secondary institution
2. Athabasca University’s headquarters and the bulk of its operations will remain in the Town of Athabasca, about 130 kilometres north of Alberta’s capital city

Just how all this is to be done remains to be seen. Likewise, while it appears quite clear AU's mandate as a distance-education and open-learning institution will remain similar to what it is today, that too will have to wait for the outcome of the sustainability review that was the official reason for this morning's announcement.

Athabasca University Students' Union eyes legal action to block retroactive changes to nursing program

David J. Climenhaga

| October 14, 2016

Neil Fassina, former provost and academic vice-president of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, started work in his new role as president of Athabasca University this week.

The first major item on the new president's agenda? Well, it probably should be figuring out what to do about the Athabasca University Students' Union's plan to take the university to court over retroactive changes to the AU nursing program's regulations by the Faculty of Health Disciplines.

Grim proposed Athabasca University budget to be shown faculty today projects insolvency by 2017-2018

David J. Climenhaga

| July 21, 2016

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Athabasca University Interim President Peter MacKinnon will present a grim proposed three-year budget this morning to the institution's General Faculties Council that projects growing deficits and financial insolvency by the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

Athabasca University documents suggest institution's leadership remains out of sync with Alberta's NDP government

David J. Climenhaga

| June 16, 2016

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Alberta Advanced Education Ministry now maintaining close watch on Athabasca U

David J. Climenhaga

| April 21, 2016

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Government asks Athabasca University to hold off on financial details; new minister to meet president

David J. Climenhaga

| March 3, 2016

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What's shakin' at Athabasca University? Something is, for sure.

Yesterday at lunch hour, Athabasca U interim President Peter MacKinnon emailed all staff members of the troubled distance-education university to tell them that earlier in the day he had received an "urgent request for a teleconference" from the assistant deputy minister of advanced education.

Athabasca U report on moving IT staff to Edmonton area helps explain motivation for space discussions with City of St. Albert

David J. Climenhaga

| February 18, 2016

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St. ALBERT, Alberta

Athabasca University appears to have a plan to consolidate all its Information Technology operations in the Edmonton area, according to a 2015 report on the future workspace needs at the financially troubled distance-education university.

Below the radar: Athabasca U and St. Albert quietly discuss partnership to develop joint office space near Edmonton

David J. Climenhaga

| January 25, 2016

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St. Albert, Alberta

Despite consternation in December 2014 when Athabasca University announced it was closing offices in the City of St. Albert, the Edmonton-area suburban municipality and the troubled public post-secondary institution were soon quietly negotiating a plan to build and share a new office building on city-owned land.

Board appears to openly defy Notley government as Athabasca U crisis deepens

David J. Climenhaga

| January 13, 2016

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The Notley Government, clearly aware of the serious problems faced by Athabasca University and anxious to find a way to save the foundering distance-learning institution, has ordered the school's board and administration, in effect, to straighten up and fly right.

Inside baseball: Legislature picks Speaker; Albertans to get first glimpse of NDP policy Monday

David J. Climenhaga

| June 12, 2015

Medicine Hat MLA Bob Wanner was elected Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly in a House vote yesterday, and it was all done peaceably enough.

The only competition to Wanner, who retired as the City of Medicine Hat’s top civil servant a decade ago, was Progressive Conservative David Rodney, the MLA for Calgary-Lougheed who is best known for having climbed Mount Everest twice.

Peter MacKinnon

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