Alberta-North: About Us
Alberta-North is committed to northern communities, northern learners and northern needs. The partners believe that adult learners in the north have a right to access affordable, equitable educational and training opportunities. Alberta-North creates bridges that allow northern residents to participate and succeed in post-secondary education and training in their community. On-site facilitators at over 85 Community Access Points (CAPs) provide learning support services, meaningful information and offer resources needed to build readiness and develop skills for learning. Through its CAP sites Alberta-North is able to provide distance education programs and learning support services to citizens in 60 per cent of Alberta’s geographic area, representing nine per cent of province’s total population and 51 per cent of its Aboriginal population.
The Alberta-North Vision
Northern learners will have affordable and equitable access to university and college level educational and training opportunities and to quality services in order to succeed.
Our Mission
Alberta-North, through strong collaboration among its partner organizations, will work inclusively with stakeholders to ensure the growth and sustainability of a network of educational opportunities and services designed to meet the needs and circumstances of northern learners.
History
The Northern Alberta Post-secondary Institutions Society (Alberta-North) partnership began in 1994 as a means of increasing and improving access to educational and training opportunities for learners in northern Alberta communities. The partners realized that, through co-operation, this task could be accomplished. By collaborating and pooling resources, they created a network of educational services. In the process, they realized northern Alberta’s adult learning system needed a transformation. As a result, Alberta-North has became more than a partnership: it has become a model for other educational collaborations.
Alberta-North Members
The members of Alberta-North are Athabasca University, Grande Prairie Regional College, Keyano College, NorQuest College, Northern Lakes College, Portage College, and Aurora College, which serves the Northwest Territories.
Alberta-North’s Board of Directors
Frits Pannekoek (President, Athabasca University), Sarah Wright Cardinal (President, Aurora College), Don Gnatiuk (President, Grande Prairie Regional College), Jim Foote (President, Keyano College), Wayne Shillington (President, NorQuest College), Rick Neidig (President, Northern Lakes College) and Bill Persley (President, Portage College). The current Executive Committee comprises of Don Gnatiuk (Chairperson), Rick Neidig (Vice-Chairperson) and Jim Foote (Treasurer).
Strategic Documents
Alberta-North 2007-2008 Annual ReportAlberta-North 2009-2013 Business Plan
Statement of Collaboration