Alberta. Department of Advanced Education

Corporate body

Alberta. Department of Advanced Education

Dates of founding and/or dissolution: The Department of Advanced Education was first founded in September 1971 through the passage of Order in Council 1614/71 under the Public Service Administrative Transfers Act, 1971, which transferred administration of the Colleges Act and the Universities Act to the Minister of Advanced Education. Formal creation of the department occurred on June 2, 1972 with the passage and proclamation of the Department of Advanced Education Act. The department Department of Advanced Education Amendment was dissolved in 1975 through the passage of the Act. In 1983, the Department of Advanced Education was recreated through the enactment and proclamation of the Department of Advanced Education Act, 1983. The department was dissolved again in December 1992, when its responsibilities were transferred through Order in Council 749/92 to the new Department of Advanced Education and Career Development. Functional responsibility: The principal functional responsibilities of the department were the planning, administration, and operation of the entire post-secondary education system in Alberta, including programs delivered through universities, colleges, and technical, agricultural and vocational institutions. The department was responsible for the administration of the Department of Advanced Education Act, Colleges Act, Universities Act, Banff Centre Act, Technical Institutes Act, Education of Service Men's Children's Act, Trade Schools Regulation Act, Private Vocational Schools Act, Students Loan Guarantee Act, Students Finance Act, Alberta Heritage Scholarship Act, and the Universities Foundations Act and all regulations that fall under these acts. Predecessor and successor bodies: Before the creation of the Department of Advanced Education, responsibility for delivery of adult agricultural and vocational education was held by the Department of Agriculture, by way of the Agricultural and Vocational Colleges Act, 1967. Responsibility for adult education delivered through universities, colleges, and technical institutes was held by the Department of Education, through the Department of Education Act. In 1975, responsibility for planning, administration and operation of the post-secondary education system was transferred to the new Department of Advanced Education and Manpower, through administrative transfers formalized through Orders in Council 0140/83 and 0285/83. In 1983, post-secondary education and manpower functions were split into two departments again, through the recreation of the Department of Advanced Education and the creation of the Department of Manpower. In December 1992, responsibility for the post-secondary education system in Alberta was transferred to the new Department of Advanced Education and Career Development through administrative transfers formalized through Order in Council 749/92. Administrative relationships: The Department of Advanced Education reported to the Legislative Assembly through the Minister of Advanced Education. The Minister also passed to the Legislative Assembly the annual reports of semi-independent agencies that reported to him:;Universities Commission (1972-1973),;Colleges Commission (1972-1973),;Students' Finance Board (1972-1975, 1986-1992),;Private Vocational Schools Advisory Council (1983-1992),;Private Colleges Accreditation Board (1984-1992),;University of Calgary Foundation (1991-1992),;University of Alberta 1991 Foundation (1991-1992),;University of Lethbridge Foundation (1991-1992), and;Athabasca University Foundation (1991-1992). The structure of the department was hierarchical. The principal components of the department were various divisions, each in turn made up of a number of branches. Three semi-independent agencies, the Students' Finance Board, the Universities Commission and the Colleges Commission, reported directly to the Minister of Advanced Education. The Communications and Personnel offices reported directly to the Deputy Minister. Provincially Administered Institutions functioned as divisions of the Department. Their presidents reported directly to the Deputy Minister, who acted in the role of Board of Directors for these institutions. Provincially Administered Institutions included the Alberta Vocational Centres (former agricultural colleges) and, until April 1982, Alberta's three Technical Institutes. In 1982, the three Technical Institutes became Board-governed institutions akin to public colleges and universities. Significant reorganizations of the Department took place in 1973, 1985, 1986, and 1988. In the first two years of the department, the different divisions were Continuing Education, Regional Colleges (agricultural colleges), Vocational Education, and Other Services. These divisions had been transferred from predecessor agencies when the department was created, and were all eliminated with the first departmental reorganization in 1973. With reorganization, the department's divisions reflected general departmental functions, such as administration, planning, program delivery, and policy development. The principal functions of the department were performed by the following units:;administration and support functions: performed by the Other Services Division (1972-1975), Administrative Services Division (1973-1975 and 1983-1988), and Department Services Division (1988-1992);system planning: Special Services Division (1973-1975) and Planning, Research and Organizational Analysis Division (1985-1986);program planning, development, coordination and delivery, and development of campus facilities: Program Services Division (1973-1975 and1983-1988), Field Services Division (1983-1988), and Operations Division (1988-1992);administration of Provincially Administered Institutions: Division of Vocational Education (1972-73), Regional Colleges Division (1972-1973), Provincially Administered Institutions Services Branch (1973-1975), Financial Planning Branch (1973-1975, 1983-1986), Operations and Planning Branch (1986-1988), Operating and Endowment Support Branch (1988-1992);policy development and evaluation of programs to ensure that they conform to provincial and departmental policies: Policy and Planning Division (1988-1992);student support: Special Services Division (1973-1975);For information on the Students' Finance Board, Universities Commission, and Colleges Commission, refer to the sous-fonds descriptions of these agencies. Names of chief officers: Ministers of Advanced Education; James L. Foster 1972-1975; Dick Johnston 1983-1986; David J. Russell 1986-1989; John Gogo 1989-1992; Jack W. Ady 1992

Provincial Archives of Alberta