Join ACAT Council
Find out how to become a member of the ACAT Council
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The ACAT Council plays an important role in Alberta’s post-secondary admissions and transfer system. Serving as a member gives you a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by post-secondary institutions and their learners, while also helping to develop possible solutions and innovative ideas for the Minister’s consideration.
The Council Chair leads ACAT in its mission to be a catalyst for beneficial change, and to advocate for learners looking for post-secondary admission and transfer opportunities.
Key Responsibilities
- Representing the Council in providing advice to the Minister with respect to recommending policy changes related to admissions and transfer
- Ensuring Council’s governing processes and policies are in place
- Examining Council needs and recommending potential new Council members to the Minister (after Council consultation)
- Establishing committee membership for standing or ad hoc committees or task groups, as required
- Ensuring the development of Council’s Business Plan and Annual Report, including their delivery to the Minister
- Ensuring periodic reports of Council activities are shared with the Minister and other stakeholders
- Ensuring ACAT complies with the Public Agencies Governance Framework and that the ACAT Mandate and Roles document is affirmed annually by Council
- Acting in accordance with the ACAT Code of Conduct and performing the role of Code Administrator for other ACAT Council members
Key Competencies
The Chair must have the following core competencies:
- Demonstrated senior leadership skills, as well as knowledge and understanding of the admissions and transfer systems
- Demonstrated interest in and awareness of issues affecting advanced and adult education, and life-long learning
- Interpersonal abilities to deal effectively with other Council members and a variety of interest groups
- Effective communication skills
- Inclusivity, a strong advocate of admissions and transfer systems in Alberta and Canada
- Effective meeting manager
- Neutrality – not perceived as being related to special interests
It is preferable that the Chair does not simultaneously hold a formal position at an ACAT member institution.
Renumeration
Remuneration is on a per diem basis, as set by the government’s Committee Remuneration Order.
There are 12–15 members representing the post-secondary system on the Council. All have voting privileges. These individuals should represent a variety of perspectives, given their senior roles at their institutions.
Post-secondary system representation should include at least:
- 4 from Comprehensive Academic and Research Institutions
- 3 from Comprehensive Community Institutions
- 1 from Baccalaureate and Applied Studies Institutions
- 1 from Polytechnical Institutions
- 1 from Independent Academic Institutions
- 1 from First Nations, Métis and Inuit Institutions
- 1 from Specialized Arts and Culture Institutions
Key Responsibilities
These Council members are expected to:
- Attend and participate in all regular and special Council meetings, bringing a perspective of learners and institutions from their sector
- Ensure the Council operates in fulfillment of its Mandate and Roles and Terms of Reference
- Contribute to the development of the Council’s Annual Business Plan and Annual Report for submission to the Minister
- Maintain and develop, where appropriate, policies and procedures whereby admissions and transfer policies, guidelines and procedures are granted system-wide approval
- Ensure the compilation, maintenance and dissemination of a registry of all existing admissions and transfer arrangements within the Alberta system of advanced education, including publication of the annual Alberta Transfer Guide to meet the needs of students and institutions
- Monitor the effectiveness of admissions and transfer policies and practices throughout the advanced education system
- Lead or participate on standing or ad-hoc committees or task groups
- Assist with connections with stakeholders
- Actively promote ACAT activities, including those of its articulation committees, within their sector
- Recommend to Alberta Advanced Education and to institutions revisions of policies, guidelines and procedures as the Council deems necessary
- Ensure the appropriate application of Council's mediation process
- Provide comment, at the request of the Minister or one or more institutions, about unresolved transfer problems related to proposed programs
- Keep informed of issues and trends concerning the Alberta advanced education system
- Act in accordance with the ACAT Code of Conduct
- Assess his/her own performance and contributions to Council and identify ways in which Council can continually improve in fulfilling its responsibilities
Key Competencies
Post-secondary representatives on Council must demonstrate 2 or more of the following competencies:
- Functional perspectives from their roles within an institution (e.g. President, Vice-President Academic, Dean, Registrar, Faculty, Student Advisors, Contact Persons, etc.)
- Demonstrated interest in and awareness of issues affecting advanced and adult education, and life-long learning
- Knowledge and understanding of the admissions and transfer systems
- Interpersonal abilities to deal effectively with other Council members and a variety of interest groups
- Effective communication skills
- Understanding of and experience in business, the professions, labour, public service, volunteerism or other community service
The current ACAT Governance Model allows for two public members with voting privileges.
Key Responsibilities
These Council members are expected to:
- Attend all regular and special Council meetings
- Participate in Council meetings
- Ensure the Council operates in fulfillment of its Mandate and Roles and Terms of Reference
- Contribute to the development of the Council’s Annual Business Plan and Annual Report for submission to the Minister
- Maintain and develop, where appropriate, policies and procedures whereby learner pathways (e.g., admissions and transfer) policies, guidelines and procedures are granted system-wide approval
- Monitor the effectiveness of admissions and transfer policies, tools, and practices in the post-secondary system, including provision of learner pathways information and supports via Transfer Alberta
- Lead or participate on standing or ad-hoc committees or task groups
- Assist with connections with stakeholders
- Recommend to Advanced Education and to institutions such revisions of policies, guidelines and procedures as the Council deems necessary
- Ensure the appropriate application of Council's mediation process
- Provide comment, at the request of the Minister or one or more institutions, about unresolved learner pathways and mobility issues, notably regarding transfer problems related to proposed programs
- Keep informed of issues and trends concerning the Alberta post-secondary education system
- Act in accordance with the ACAT Code of Conduct
- Assess his/her own performance and contributions to Council and identify ways in which Council can continually improve in fulfilling its responsibilities
Key Competencies
Public members on Council must demonstrate two or more of the following competencies:
- Knowledge of Alberta's K-12 education system, including their current or recent involvement
- Demonstrated knowledge of Alberta’s admission and transfer system through direct experience as a parent, high school counselor, administrator or superintendent of a school board
- Demonstrated leadership in education, business, the professions, labour, public service, volunteerism or other community service
The current ACAT Governance Model allows for two student members, including at least one with experience as a transfer student. Student members have voting privileges on Council.
Key Responsibilities
These members are expected to:
- Attend all regular and special Council meetings
- Participate in Council meetings as a representative of the views of the province’s student population
- Liaise with Alberta’s student groups and associations
- Ensure the Council operates in fulfillment of its Mandate and Roles and Terms of Reference
- Contribute to the development of Council’s Annual Business Plan and Annual Report for submission to the Minister
- Maintain and develop, where appropriate, policies and procedures whereby admissions and transfer policies, guidelines and procedures are granted system-wide approval
- Ensure the compilation, maintenance and dissemination of a registry of all existing admissions and transfer arrangements within the Alberta system of advanced education, including publication of the annual Alberta Transfer Guide to meet the needs of students and institutions
- Monitor the effectiveness of admissions and transfer policies and practices throughout the advanced education system
- Participate on standing or ad-hoc committees or task groups
- Assist with connections to learners and stakeholders
- Recommend to Alberta Advanced Education and to institutions such revisions of policies, guidelines and procedures as the Council deems necessary
- Ensure the appropriate application of Council's mediation process
- Provide comment, at the request of the Minister or one or more institutions, about unresolved transfer problems related to proposed programs
- Keep informed of issues and trends concerning the Alberta advanced education system
Key Competencies
Student members on Council must:
- Have direct experience with the transfer system (current or recent student transfer experience preferred) OR
- Be a current or recent post-secondary student, enrolled in a credit program
Preference is given to students recommended by the Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS) or the Alberta Students' Executive Council (ASEC).
These members are Government of Alberta employees representing the post-secondary and K-12 education systems. They have significant knowledge and influence in their area of expertise, with the ability to advise ACAT on matters related to their ministries and Alberta’s admissions and transfer system.
Council Member Terms
Appointments for most Council members are for a fixed term up to 3 years, with a potential for re-appointment for up to 9 years of continuous service. Student members serve for a fixed term of 1–3 years, with a possible renewal for 1 term.
Remuneration
Council members (except the Chair) are unpaid positions. Members are reimbursed for travel and other expenses associated with their Council commitments, according to the government’s Committee Remuneration Order.
Council Member Recruitment Process
Voting members are recruited by Council based on the position descriptions provided above. Existing Council members consider a number of factors, including competencies needed, or whether there may be gaps in addressing regional distributions and diversity. The recruitment process for post-secondary and student representatives follows these steps:
- ACAT Council develops a competency matrix outlining the skills, experience and knowledge of its current members, to identify gaps that could be filled by new members.
- These competencies are sent to the relevant Campus Alberta sector or to a representative nominating body (i.e., Alberta Association of Colleges and Technical Institutes, Alberta’s Universities Association, Independent Academic Institutions Council, First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium, Council of Alberta University Students, Alberta Students’ Executive Council) for potential nominations.
- A Council sub-committee reviews the nominations, which may include meeting with potential candidates.
- Council makes a recommendation to the Minister.
- The Minister makes the final decision on all voting member appointments.
Recruitment for the Council Chair and public members is managed by the ACAT Secretariat, with involvement from Council. These roles are publicly advertised, with all identified candidates being considered through the Council’s competency matrix. The Minister makes the final decision on these appointments, which are formalized through a Ministerial Order.
Individuals continue to hold office after the expiry of the member’s term until the person is reappointed, the person’s successor is appointed or 3 months has elapsed—whichever occurs first.
Continuously Improving Council’s Effectiveness
Every year, Council conducts an annual evaluation and review of its performance, including its Chair and sub-committees. This ensures Council continues to work together effectively to meet its mandate and priority initiatives. Evaluation results are also used for strategic planning, education, Council reappointments and to help identify any missing competencies on the Council.