Athabasca University board of directors fires president, hires new one

Athabasca College’s board of administrators fired its former president Peter Scott with out discover and changed him with present president Alex Clark, following a authorized battle with the Alberta authorities.

Clark was introduced as the brand new president in a information launch Wednesday afternoon, the place he described his imaginative and prescient for the college and priorities for the rest of the tutorial 12 months.

Because the dean of the school of well being disciplines at Athabasca College, Clark mentioned he desires to strengthen the college’s tutorial objectives whereas participating with the area people as an establishment identified for its on-line programs.

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“We have to transfer past a zero-sum mindset and acknowledge that we will have an energetic presence that advantages the area people whereas additionally making a serious contribution provincially, nationally and internationally,” Clark mentioned in an announcement. .

“On this post-pandemic period, the AU’s distinctive position in open and versatile training has by no means been extra priceless or wanted.”

The capturing comes amid an ongoing battle with the provincial authorities, which escalated final August after Superior Training Minister Demetrios Nicolaides threatened to chop the college’s funding if it didn’t finish its near-virtual technique .

The federal government beforehand demanded that 500 employees relocate to the city north of Edmonton, saying the transfer to non-public studying was wanted to spur financial growth in northern Alberta.

Nicolaides additionally introduced that he had eliminated 4 public members from the council by way of an order in council final October.

Then-president Peter Scott mentioned he didn’t perceive why Nicolaides was claiming that the college was the primary financial driver.

He additionally questioned spending cash to uproot and accommodate tons of of employees members whereas not furthering the college’s core mission of high quality on-line training.

Byron Nelson, chairman of Athabasca College’s board of administrators, instructed World Information that Scott was not fired due to the battle with the provincial authorities.

In truth, Nelson mentioned Scott was a part of discovering the answer.

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“We resolved it by the tip of November 2022, as required by the minister, so it did not play a task on this,” Nelson mentioned.

“We had plenty of challenges that we did resolve, such because the funding administration settlement, which is the funding mechanism with the province.”

Nevertheless, Nelson didn’t elaborate on why Scott was fired.

“By way of his contract, we terminated him with out discover and want him the perfect. He was an essential a part of the historical past of Athabasca College,” Nelson mentioned.

“I believe Clark is conscious of the place the board will go and continues to enhance … From my conversations with him and the hiring course of, it looks like we’re all for it.”

World Information reached out to Scott Wednesday afternoon with a request for remark.

Scott mentioned he was first made conscious of the information by way of the identical press launch despatched to the media and a short telephone name Wednesday afternoon, and mentioned he was ready for extra info from the college earlier than commenting absolutely.

– With information from Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press.

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