Good Stuff Happens in 1:1 Meetings: Why you need them and how to do them well
Keep Athabasca in Athabasca University
1. Presentation to Athabasca County Council
June 8, 2021
By Mavis Jacobs, on behalf of
Keep Athabasca in Athabasca University community group
Rick Baksza Rob Balay
Mike Gismondi Mavis Jacobs
Natasha Kapitaniuk Brian LeMessurier
Mike MacLean Noel Major
John Ollerenshaw Lewis Semaskewich
Penny Semaskewich Renee Sibera
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2. Goal
Influence UCP Government and Athabasca University (AU) to:
• Protect and expand a cross section of AU jobs in Athabasca
• Appoint local representatives on Board of Governors
• Recruit new AU President and new hires to Athabasca
• Roll back near-virtual plan so locals can work on campus
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3. University Positions 2016 2021
5-Year
Change
Total
All positions 1,163 1,215 4%
Athabasca 415 299 28%
Executive & senior managers
Total 25 34 36%
Athabasca 18 5 72%
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4. Current AU Recruitment
• Five AU professional positions advertised
• Four positions - Home office Alberta
• One position - Home office Canada
• Professional job ads read
We “will be transitioning to a near-virtual work
environment by December 2021. At that time
this role may become permanently home-based.”
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5. Current Out-of-Province
• Three executive positions are now out-of-province
• Director of facilities-related operations works from Burnaby, BC
• Current and recent director position ads read
“In this exciting and near virtual work environment, this
role may be permanently home-based from anywhere
across the country – your postal code is irrelevant!”
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6. Semi-Virtual
• All tutors and markers (33%) and
most academics (18% staff) work
from home
• Most managers, professionals and
support staff reported to an AU
office until recent years
Near-Virtual
• Permanent transition to a near-
virtual organizational structure by
December 2021 per May 4 email
• “Currently virtual roles [COVID] will
not return to place-based unless
the core role requires a physical
attachment to an AU location.”
• 30 to 50 AU positions, at most, will
continue to work at the Athabasca
campus, per an AU executive
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7. Regional Economic Impact
From 2016 to 2021
112 jobs moved out of Athabasca $12 million salaries =
$32 million economic loss
From 2016 to 2026 (same trend)
224 jobs expected lost $24 million salaries =
$64 million economic loss
Just imagine the harm this will do to our region?
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8. Questions for AU
1. How many permanent non-IT positions have been filled in the last
year and where do the positions report?
2. How many permanent staff are expected to be place based and
virtual in Athabasca as of December 2021 and in five years?
3. What plans exist to use the mostly vacant space in Athabasca?
4. Will Athabasca staff that do not want to work virtually, have poor
Internet or cannot work from home be allowed to work in the office?
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9. Request to Athabasca County
Please unite with our community group, Town of Athabasca, Aspen View
School Division, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce,
businesses and residents to lobby for AU to:
• Appoint local representatives to Board of Governors
• Recruit the new AU President and new hires to Athabasca
• Roll back the near-virtual plan so local staff can work on campus
• Protect and expand a cross section of AU jobs in Athabasca
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