A new expert panel in Alberta, led by economist Jack Mintz, has released a report proposing sweeping reforms to the province’s post-secondary funding model. Among its 11 major recommendations: moving away from equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) mandates for universities and realigning funding to labour market demand, performance metrics, and institutional autonomy.
If adopted, these changes could transform how colleges and universities in Alberta operate, what they emphasize, and how they manage relations with students, faculty, and government. This article explores the panel’s recommendations, the rationale behind them, reactions from stakeholders, potential challenges, and what’s next for Alberta’s higher education landscape.
Alberta’s post-secondary institutions have faced funding pressures, enrollment fluctuations, and growing scrutiny around diversity and equity initiatives. The provincial government commissioned the panel to review how universities and colleges can become more efficient, competitive, and aligned with Alberta’s long-term economic priorities.
The panel’s mandate included examining funding models, institutional autonomy, red tape, and competitiveness to help Alberta’s higher education system evolve amid changing labour market demands.
The expert panel, chaired by economist Jack Mintz, included policy experts, university administrators, and economists. Over several months, it consulted with higher education stakeholders, including faculty associations, student organizations, and government agencies. Its final report presents 11 recommendations designed to make Alberta’s universities more accountable, transparent, and aligned with economic outcomes.
Here are the major recommendations, focusing on those expected to have the largest impact on Alberta’s post-secondary system.
The report proposes a three-part funding model:
Base funding to cover institutional operations and core services.
Enrollment-based funding linked to program cost, student demand, and labour market relevance.
Performance-based funding that rewards outcomes in teaching quality, graduation rates, research impact, and community engagement.
This structure would replace the historical block grant model, shifting emphasis from tradition to measurable performance and accountability.
The panel recommends removing Alberta’s 2% cap on tuition increases for new student cohorts.
Current students would still have their tuition increases limited to 2% until they complete their programs.
New entrants could see tuition adjustments reflecting the actual costs and market demand for specific programs.
To balance access, the report suggests expanding grants and scholarships for low- and middle-income students to prevent affordability barriers.
Universities and colleges would gain greater autonomy in decision-making, finances, and programming. The panel suggests cutting bureaucratic processes such as redundant program approvals and excessive reporting requirements. Institutions would be able to respond more flexibly to emerging industries and research opportunities without constant government oversight.
One of the most controversial proposals is eliminating most Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) requirements.
The panel recommends that:
Universities remain politically neutral and refrain from taking institutional positions on contentious issues.
Hiring and admissions decisions should prioritize merit and performance rather than diversity quotas.
Exceptions should remain for Indigenous representation, reflecting the province’s commitment to reconciliation.
This recommendation has sparked strong reactions, with supporters praising the emphasis on neutrality and critics warning it could reverse decades of progress in diversity and inclusion.
Proponents argue that the proposed model:
Promotes merit-based hiring and academic freedom, reducing ideological influence in governance.
Encourages universities to focus on results, teaching quality, and research productivity.
Balances freedom with accountability, ensuring tax dollars produce measurable outcomes.
Some student and business groups welcomed the alignment between education and labour market demand, saying it could improve job readiness among graduates.
Faculty associations, unions, and advocacy groups expressed deep concern about eliminating EDI mandates.
Critics argue that:
EDI initiatives are essential for supporting marginalized groups and improving representation in academia.
The notion of institutional neutrality could be used to silence academic debate on important social issues.
Without EDI structures, Alberta risks losing ground on gender equity, accessibility, and cultural inclusion.
They also worry that performance funding could unfairly penalize smaller or rural institutions that serve underrepresented populations.
The report preserves EDI-related commitments for Indigenous representation in faculty and student bodies. However, Indigenous leaders have called for more concrete guarantees to ensure Indigenous perspectives remain central to Alberta’s post-secondary landscape.
Institutions will need to adopt new accountability measures to align with the performance funding model.
Strategic priorities may shift toward programs that demonstrate clear employment outcomes or research returns.
Autonomy may allow more innovation but also demand stronger internal governance and financial planning.
Tuition flexibility may lead to higher costs for future cohorts, though expanded grants could offset affordability issues.
Students may benefit from programs tailored to real-world labour market needs, improving employability.
Access and representation could be at risk if EDI structures are scaled back.
Hiring and promotions could shift toward quantitative measures of performance, such as research grants and publications.
Faculty working in equity, social justice, or gender studies fields may face reduced institutional support.
Greater autonomy may allow universities to innovate in research directions, though funding dependence could influence academic priorities.
Performance-driven approach ensures accountability and measurable results.
Increased autonomy empowers institutions to innovate.
Tuition reform allows financial sustainability and flexibility.
Focus on labour market alignment ensures relevance of academic programs.
Potential rollback of equity efforts could harm representation of marginalized groups.
Performance funding risk: smaller or specialized institutions may struggle to compete on the same metrics.
Higher tuition could limit accessibility if grant programs fall short.
Complex transition: implementing the model will require administrative overhaul and years of adjustment.
How performance metrics will be defined, measured, and weighted.
How the government will address unintended equity consequences.
How institutions will balance autonomy with accountability to the public.
The report signals a shift toward market-oriented governance, treating universities as competitive entities focused on performance, efficiency, and return on investment. This aligns Alberta more closely with U.S. and European funding models where accountability metrics dominate.
If Alberta adopts these recommendations, other provinces may observe how performance-based funding and EDI rollbacks affect academic quality, access, and institutional culture. This could reignite national debates about diversity, merit, and political neutrality in higher education.
Alberta’s challenge will be ensuring that efficiency reforms do not erode inclusion, accessibility, or academic freedom — foundational principles of the university system. Striking this balance will determine whether the reforms strengthen or destabilize the province’s post-secondary education ecosystem.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on public reports and statements released by the Alberta Expert Panel on Post-Secondary Funding as of October 2025. Policy directions, implementation details, and government decisions may evolve. Readers are encouraged to consult official Alberta government updates for the latest information.
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