Athabasca University's 'near-virtual' reality has town leaders worried about future of campus
CBC
Though there's never been a definitive announcement of its demise, the fight to keep the Athabasca University's campus operating in the town for which it's named is expected to be heard at a new venue next week.
The Town of Athabasca, located 145 kilometres north of Edmonton, has submitted a resolution to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) convention asking that the province make a clear business case and consult with the community when contemplating the closure, privatization or move of a publicly funded organization.
The City of Lacombe has agreed to second the motion when it comes up during the three-day convention, which begins Nov. 17 in Edmonton.
The AUMA resolution is the latest salvo in a campaign to prevent an expected closure of the campus. Last year, in a move that alarmed staff, politicians and business leaders in the town of about 3,000, the Athabasca University's (AU) board of governors voted to transition to "near-virtual" operations.
"I feel within 10 years ... there'll be hardly any people working at AU that actually live in our community," said Rob Balay, a former councillor who was elected mayor last month. "And that's a huge concern for us."
Balay said the "near-virtual" policy could eliminate the need for new hires and current employees alike to live in Athabasca, as they could work anywhere with an internet connection.
An exodus of AU employees could have a detrimental impact on the town's economy and viability, he said.
Balay is involved with a grassroots organization called Keep Athabasca in Athabasca University. Over the past six months, the group's public awareness campaign has included penning op-eds for newspapers, making appearances before municipal councils, and hiring a lobbyist to make its case to the provincial government.
Athabasca University moved from Edmonton to Athabasca in 1984 as part of the province's decentralization plan. The university's mandate is to provide distance university education to people who are unable to attend bricks-and-mortar institutions in person.
A spokesperson said there are no plans to close the main campus.
The board of governors decided to let the leases expire on the university's offices in Edmonton and Calgary and affirm that "our primary physical home is in Athabasca," said Kristine Williamson, AU's vice-president of university relations, in a written statement.
Williamson said she is disappointed with the Keep Athabasca in Athabasca University group for disseminating "inaccurate" information.
"AU is not moving to a fully virtual work environment," she stated.
"As pandemic restrictions allow, AU team members will again work in our buildings in Athabasca in a near-virtual workforce design," she wrote. "In AU's near virtual-design, Athabasca-area residents will have the opportunity to apply for any role — place-based or remote — creating more opportunities for job growth in the region."
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