Minister outlines legislative agenda for post-secondary education

As the Alberta Legislature enters into its fall sitting, Minister of Advanced Education Myles McDougall posted a video outlining his plans for legislation affecting post-secondary institutions (PSIs).

The video’s caption, posted to McDougall’s social media, said that students “want clear rules and room to share their ideas.” The upcoming legislation will aim to keep campuses focused on “learning, debate, and growth.”

Last year, an Expert Panel on Post-Secondary Institution Funding and Alberta’s Competitiveness, appointed by the Government of Alberta, made several recommendations in a report. Most recommendations focused around the funding structure for PSIs. 

The panel also recommended the government expect all PSIs to maintain institutional neutrality. McDougall’s video focuses on this element of the report and recommendations. 

McDougall said the government will be proposing legislation to “add clarity about institutional neutrality, freedom of speech, academic freedom, and student codes of conduct.”

“Publicly funded institutions should not take sides of political, social, or ideological issues unrelated to their mandate,” McDougall said. “Their role is to create a neutral environment where people can discuss those issues and come to their own conclusions.”

“Neutral institutions do not mean neutral individuals,” he noted. “Students, faculty, and staff should still be able to express their views, ask difficult questions, research any topic, and debate ideas within the law and their professional responsibilities.”

McDougall said that PSIs need clear rules to make that work.

Clarifying student code of conduct requirements

Additionally, McDougall said the government will seek to create consistent requirements for student codes of conduct. The goal is for students to be able to understand what is expected of them and the process used when concerns arise. 

“Institutions will continue to address those concerns with their own processes, but the expectations should be clear and easy to understand,” McDougall said.

The U of A’s General Faculties Council recently approved amendments to the U of A’s Student Conduct Policy and procedures to clarify the application of the policies and the process for complaints.

McDougall said that the government has listened to the recommendations of the expert panel and engaged with students about these issues.

The video featured quotes from anonymous students expressing concern with politics being brought into classrooms and a lack of clarity around freedom of expression on campus.

“We’re acting to make life better on campus,” McDougall said. “Alberta campuses should be places where students can question, challenge, and decide for themselves what they believe.”

Separately, the Government of Alberta has tabled legislation to ban equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) hiring practices in public institutions. The legislation would also restrict EDI training for staff of public institutions. This would apply to PSIs like the University of Alberta.

In March, the U of A’s Board of Governors (BoG) approved a revised recruitment policy that removed language around EDI. This followed an earlier decision to rename the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to Access, Community, and Belonging.

Reporting by CBC News found that the U of A told the Ministry of Advanced Education ahead of the decision. The ministry praised the decision.