Alberta’s government is introducing Bill 38, the Advanced Education Statutes Amendment Act, 2026. Amendments to the Post-secondary Learning Act would introduce maximum tuition amounts, establish requirements for institutional neutrality and freedom of expression policies, and set clearer standards for student conduct. The legislation would also amend the Professional Governance Act to simplify how some engineering and geoscience professionals are regulated.
“Students should be free to ask hard questions, debate ideas openly and know they’ll be treated fairly. Families should know what tuition will look like so they can plan ahead. This bill would deliver both and would make licensing simpler for the engineering and geoscience professionals who help build Alberta.”
Making tuition more predictable
The amendments would move Alberta from a tuition growth cap to maximum tuition amounts for programs or groups of programs. These maximums would provide greater clarity for students and families and better reflect what programs cost to deliver, while institutions would set tuition within those limits. To support stability during the transition, tuition for existing domestic students would not rise by more than two per cent in 2027-28.
Protecting freedom of thought and debate
Bill 38 would set minimum requirements for institutional neutrality and freedom of expression policies at public post-secondary and independent academic institutions under the Post-secondary Learning Act. Institutional neutrality would apply to an institution’s official statements as an organization on social and political issues outside its educational, research and institutional mandates, but would not limit academic freedom or what students, faculty or staff can lawfully say.
“Post-secondary institutions are places of diverse viewpoints, rigorous inquiry and open debate. Academic freedom and freedom of expression are fundamental to our mission. By remaining impartial on social and political questions outside of matters affecting our educational, research and institutional mandates, our institutions help preserve the broadest possible space for members of the academic community to express their views, challenge ideas and engage in open inquiry.”
Ensuring fair treatment for students
Public post-secondary institutions currently have student codes of conduct, but a 2025 government review of almost 200 policies found inconsistencies in how they are written and applied. The amendments would allow government to set minimum requirements through regulation, so students have clear, accessible rules and fair, timely and transparent processes, with appropriate privacy protections. Institutions would continue to write their own codes and address individual cases.
Simplifying professional licensing
Bill 38 would also simplify licensing for professional technologists and professional licensees, who do specialized engineering and geoscience work. At the request of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) and the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET), both groups would be regulated by APEGA. Minor technical amendments would ensure the Professional Governance Act works as intended.
Quick facts
- Maximum tuition amounts would be set by the Minister of Advanced Education through ministerial order.
- Since 2019, public post-secondary and independent academic institutions have been expected to have freedom of expression policies. Since fall 2024, they have reported annually on campus freedom of expression.
- Institutions would continue to manage their own speakers, invitations and events within the new minimum policy requirements.
- Neutrality and freedom of expression requirements would apply to public post-secondary and independent academic institutions under the act. Code of conduct requirements would apply to public institutions, with requirements for independent academic institutions set through policy.
- Other private and First Nations post-secondary institutions would not be affected by these proposed changes.