Alberta Transfer System - Mandate Initiative

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Alberta Transfer System Capacity Grants

We are pleased to open the call for proposals for the Alberta Transfer System Capacity Grants!

Please see the following two documents for more information regarding required criteria for grant proposals and template for proposal submissions.

Highlights regarding proposal submission instructions and timelines are also provided.

Proposal Criteria:

Proposal Template:

Proposal Meeting:

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. MT on August 12, 2026

Stakeholders planning to submit a proposal may attend a grants meeting on August 12, to walk through the submission criteria and answer any questions. Outlook meeting invitations have been sent to all Alberta Transfer System member institutions.

Contact  acat@gov.ab.ca if you require a copy of the meeting invitation.

Proposal Instructions and Due Date: 

• Project End Date:
  • All projects in proposal submissions must end no later than December 31, 2029.
• Proposal Due Date:
  • Proposals must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. MT on August 26, 2026, and use the template provided.
• Proposal Submissions:
• Please submit your completed and signed electronic proposal by email to acat@gov.ab.ca on or before the due date with the following subject line: 

“<Institution Name> – Alberta Transfer System Capacity Grant.”

• Technology/Software for Proposal Completion: 
  • Any type of Adobe Acrobat may be used to complete your proposal submission. Adobe Reader will not have full functionality to attach documents. If you do not have access to Adobe Acrobat, please include your attachments in the same email as your proposal.
• Questions:
  • For any questions, please email acat@gov.ab.ca.

Proposal Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. Question: What if the lead institution is ready to submit its proposal but has not yet obtained the final letter(s) of support or required signatory approval from one or more collaborating institutions or non-member learning providers by the August 26, 2026 deadline?
   • Answer: If the required letter(s) of support or partner approvals cannot be obtained by the proposal deadline, the lead institution may attest in its proposal that the required partnerships are in place. If the proposal reaches the final stages of consideration, the lead institution will be required to provide the outstanding letter(s) of support and required approvals by September 14, 2026, prior to finalization of the grant agreement.
2. Question: Can a lead institution partner with an institution or organization located outside Alberta?
   • Answer: A collaborating institution or organization does not need to be based in Alberta, provided the proposed partnership and resulting learner pathways benefit Alberta learners, create transfer pathways that they can access, and align with the objectives of the grant. For example, an out-of-province or national learning provider may be an appropriate partner where its offerings are accessible to Alberta learners.
3. Question: Can an institution submit a proposal as a lead institution while also participating as a collaborator on another proposal?
   • Answer: Yes. An institution may submit a proposal as a lead institution while also participating as a collaborator on another proposal.
4. Question: Do all collaborating institutions and organizations need to participate in every component of the proposed project?
   • Answer:
     • No. Collaborating institutions and organizations do not need to participate in every component of the project. A project may include multiple smaller initiatives with different collaborators and pathway targets. However, the proposal must still meet the collaboration requirements outlined in the Grant Criteria.
     • All project lead institutions must participate in the working group and the broader advisory committee. Collaborators may participate in the working group and advisory committee, but it is not required.
5. Question: When completing the budget section of the proposal template, should applicants plan to spend each year’s grant allocation by March 31 of that funding year?
   • Answer: Applicants should plan to spend each year’s allocation by March 31 of the applicable funding year. However, if a grant recipient has funds remaining at the end of a funding year, remaining funds may be carried forward into the following year and accounted for in the following year’s work plan, expenses, and progress reporting.
6. Question: Does Advanced Education require a minimum number of pathways for a proposal to be considered?  
   • Answer: The number of pathways is determined by the applying institution(s). Advanced Education is seeking projects that include development of a depth and/or breadth of learner pathways and accessible transfer decisions and learner mobility data. Strong proposals will demonstrate significant impact on learner access to transfer pathways in Alberta for alternative offerings and introductory-level programming. We are looking for considerable impact that is commensurate with funding.

We look forward to receiving your proposals and thank you for your interest!

Transfer Mandate Advisory Committee

Request for nominations for the Transfer Mandate Advisory Committee are now open!

Nomination Due Date and Form:

If you are interested in submitting a nomination, we are requesting the following information for an advisory committee representative(s) from your learner pathways-related institution/organization (e.g., representative(s) from one or more of your program/business areas or organization) for the Transfer Mandate Advisory Committee:

• Institution/Organization Name(s)
• Nominee's Name(s) and Job Title(s)
• Nominee's Email Address(es)

Please email ACAT Secretariat to request the link for the nomination form for advisory committee participation. Nominations must be received by September 25, 2026.

Request Nomination Form 

First Advisory Committee Meeting:

The first virtual meeting of the Transfer Mandate Advisory Committee is planned for October 8, 2026, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. MT via Zoom.

All nominees are asked to please save October 8 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. MT in their calendars to support availability for the first meeting date.

Once we have received your nomination information, an additional formal invitation with meeting details and Zoom information will be sent directly to all meeting participants before September 30.

Committee Purpose and Objectives:

The new Transfer Mandate Advisory Committee will foster relationships and collaboration, enhance communication, and share information among transfer system member institutions and non-member learning providers/organizations related to the Alberta Transfer System Mandate Initiative.

Through these efforts, the committee will help to foster learner pathways and career and education pathways for the transfer mandate initiative and support the initiative's Transfer Mandate Working Group, including planned Alberta Transfer System Capacity Grant holders. The committee may also provide the system or Advanced Education recommendations or responses related to learner mobility and pathways.

Committee objectives include:

• Providing a forum for exchanging information and enhancing collaboration and coordination among institutions/organizations for the transfer mandate initiative and recognition of learner pathways and mobility, including transfer credit pathways and online data access for learners for Alternative Offerings and Introductory-level Programming (See Appendix 3 - Definitions).

• Supporting development of transfer decisions and other learner pathways between institutions/organizations, as well as relevant system frameworks, policies, and tools as needed.

• Addressing learner pathways, admissions, and other system-related issues regarding member and non-member learner pathways articulation as appropriate.

• Contributing to review of Advanced Education-led updates to Alberta Transfer System technology and tools to support learner access to transfer and pathways information, including for the Learner Pathways System (LPS) and Transfer Alberta Search Tool.

Committee Process and Membership:

Advanced Education’s ACAT Secretariat/Learner Pathways area will help to lead the advisory committee initiative, collaborating with institutions and organizations and helping facilitate the governance and processes for the committee. 

The committee:

• Will develop a terms of reference
• Will meet virtually up to three times annually between 2026 - 2029
• Will include volunteer members from institution/organization-nominated committee participants
• May have more than one representative (e.g., representatives from different roles at the institution or organization) on the advisory committee
• May also include Alberta Transfer System member institutions and learner pathways-related non-member learning providers/organizations from Alberta and other jurisdictions.

Articulation Committees:

See the ACAT website for more information about articulation committees.  

Questions:

For any questions regarding the advisory committee or nominations, please email acat@gov.ab.ca.

Timelines and Project Updates

How Can I Get More Information?

For questions, input, or additional information, please contact ACAT@gov.ab.ca.