Four post-secondary institutions across southern Alberta signed a formal partnership agreement Wednesday, committing to work together on academic programs, research, student supports and regional stewardship under a shared framework called the Southern Alberta Higher Education Relationship.
The signing ceremony took place at the University of Lethbridge, where the presidents and CEOs of all four institutions put their names to the agreement University of Lethbridge President and Vice-Chancellor Digvir Jayas, Lethbridge Polytechnic President and CEO Brad Donaldson, Medicine Hat College President and CEO Kevin Shufflebotham, and Red Crow Community College Interim President Sinopaaki – Samantha Fox.
What Makes This Different
What sets this agreement apart from routine institutional cooperation is who is at the table. Red Crow Community College is a First Nations post-secondary institution located on the Blood Tribe reserve south of Lethbridge its inclusion alongside a research university, a polytechnic and a regional college represents a genuinely rare alignment in Alberta's post-secondary landscape.
Sinopaaki – Samantha Fox said the partnership reflects something truly unique. "A university, college, polytechnic and Indigenous college coming together with a shared purpose in one region," she said.
Fox added a personal dimension to the announcement she had been an adult learner herself, starting at Red Crow Community College before transitioning to the University of Lethbridge through a two-plus-two arts and science pathway. "Back then, there weren't so many supports in place," she said. "But today we want to look forward to ensuring our students have that pathway."
What It Means for Students
The partnership's most immediate practical effect is on student mobility. The agreement creates clearer articulation pathways between all four institutions, meaning students can move between a certificate, a diploma and a degree or graduate program without losing credits or starting over.
University of Lethbridge President Digvir Jayas said students can now complete their entire education from foundational courses through to a PhD without leaving southern Alberta.
On the research side, Jayas said projects could be conceived collaboratively and executed across multiple campuses, each contributing its own specialized capabilities. The four institutions plan to meet two to three times per year to assess progress.
A Regional Economic Play
Lethbridge Polytechnic's Brad Donaldson framed the partnership as an economic development tool as much as an education initiative. "We're able to grow and develop talent in our region that we're able to keep here and contribute to the social and economic growth of the region," he said.
Medicine Hat College's Kevin Shufflebotham, credited with first floating the idea, summed it up plainly. "By working together, we can better support students across southern Alberta, strengthening our college, our community and our region."
Mutual respect and reconciliation are cited as core principles of the agreement, with a specific focus on Indigenous learner success a commitment underscored by Red Crow Community College's presence as a founding partner.
Sources: University of Lethbridge; Lethbridge Polytechnic; April 2, 2026
