Reducing Barriers to Post-Secondary Education for All Alberta Students
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate for the Government of Alberta to provide dedicated funding for the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of a comprehensive Pathway to Post-Secondary Education Strategy that will:
- Identify barriers impacting equitable rural, remote and urban student access to all post-secondary opportunities, including barriers related to housing and overall affordability of post-secondary education;
- Offer targeted scholarships, bursaries, and financial aid to alleviate the economic burdens faced by rural, remote and underrepresented students, additionally provide financial support for intern students to complete practicum placements away from their usual place of residence;
- Enhance outreach and support efforts to communities outside of metropolitan regions to increase awareness of available post-secondary opportunities;
- Provide targeted support for academic preparation, to ensure prospective rural, remote and small urban students meet university prerequisites;
- Improve technological and broadband infrastructure to improve accessibility to online learning;
- Establish local and community-based mentorship and guidance programs for students;
- Promote collaboration between municipalities, school boards, and community organizations to support the transition to post-secondary education for rural, remote and small urban students.
WHEREAS participation in post-secondary education is critical to the long-term viability and prosperity of Alberta’s communities, enabling individuals to contribute meaningfully to economic development, community leadership, and innovation;
WHEREAS Albertans outside of the metropolitan regions face unique and significant barriers to accessing post-secondary education, including but not limited to financial constraints, geographic isolation, cultural and social challenges, limited access to advanced academic preparation, and inadequate technological infrastructure;
WHEREAS students from rural, remote and urban communities are an equity-deserving group requiring targeted strategies and tailored support to overcome systemic inequities in education access, including resources for financial aid, academic counselling, mentorship, and reliable high-speed internet;
WHEREAS the Government of Alberta has identified education and workforce development as critical priorities for sustaining economic growth and diversifying Alberta economies; and
WHEREAS existing post-secondary pathways insufficiently address the unique needs of rural and remote Alberta students, contributing to underrepresentation in advanced education and perpetuating inequities that hinder their full participation in Alberta’s prosperity.
This resolution is being brought forward as a partner resolution to a Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) resolution, passed at the RMA Spring 2025 Convention. This resolution aligns with Alberta Municipalities’ Strategic Initiatives on Viability of Small Communities (the need for a diverse workforce to support smaller communities’ growth and service delivery) and Economic Development.
The two resolutions represent one of the initiatives coming from the University of Calgary’s Inclusive Governance Committee[1] that Alberta Municipalities and RMA participate on. Both organizations are taking an active role in shaping governance changes that will improve access to post-secondary education for all Albertans through the work of this committee.
This resolution also directly aligns with the provincial government priority on workforce development. This resolution is relevant to all municipalities in Alberta. Top talent from within Alberta is not necessarily reaching post secondary, and the loss of potential skilled workers is an issue that faces all of Alberta, not just those in rural and remote areas, who face shortages.
Albertans outside the major centres face systemic barriers that hinder equitable access to post-secondary education. Financial constraints, such as the high cost of tuition, relocation expenses, and limited part-time employment opportunities, disproportionately affect rural families. Geographic isolation necessitates relocation, further increasing costs and contributing to emotional and cultural challenges. The University of Alberta’s current estimates for a first-year student is $10,500 for tuition and books with an additional $17,285 for accommodation and food in residence[2]. Students that live in the metro area can eliminate this $17,285 cost by opting to remain living at home, this gives them a significant cost of living and potential debt advantage over students from families that do not reside in Edmonton.
Additionally, schools outside of larger metropolitan regions often lack resources for academic preparation, including advanced courses, standardized test preparation, and guidance counselling.
Limited access to reliable high-speed internet further restricts rural students from fully engaging with online learning and digital application platforms. Many schools are forced by budget constraints to offer key courses such as biology, chemistry and physics at the 20 and 30 level in a rotation making it challenging for students to complete all science options. Without the option to complete these virtually, students may not be able to complete all the necessary courses to apply to STEM based programs in post-secondary.
These barriers contribute to the underrepresentation of students from rural, remote and smaller urban centres in Alberta’s post-secondary institutions, limiting their ability to contribute to economic and social growth. Addressing these inequities requires a dedicated pathway strategy that recognizes students from outside of the main metropolitan centres as an equity-deserving community and provides the resources and supports necessary for their success.
Developing this strategy will empower all Albertans to pursue advanced education, fostering stronger, more resilient communities across the province and ensuring meaningful participation in Alberta’s long-term prosperity.
[1] The purpose statement of the University of Calgary’s Inclusive Governance project is “To bring our differences together without erasing them – to create spaces for constructive, productive, and creative dialogue and collaboration on shared goals. We aim to foster strong relationships with different people, communities, knowledges, and the future – which requires that we listen to understand even if we do not agree and view our differences as societal assets to solve our shared problems. The Inclusive Governance project facilitates dialogues to surface and elevate ideas into decision-making spaces and steward the people and ideas through the complex institutional decision-making apparatus to drive new research, education, policies, innovations, market solutions, and shared understanding.”
[2]https://www.ualberta.ca/en/admissions/tuition-and-scholarships/tuition-and-fees.html
ABmunis does not currently have a position on this specific issue. If this resolution is approved, it will be forwarded to the Government of Alberta for response. Further advocacy will be determined by ABmunis’ Board based on input from ABmunis’ relevant policy committee within the context of ABmunis’ priorities and positions.