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{{Short description|Distance education university in Alberta, Canada }}
 
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Tone|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Athabasca University
| motto = Learning for Life<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athabascau.ca/aboutau/coat-of-arms.php |title=About AU: Coat of Arms |website=Athabasca University |access-date=19 August 2014}}</ref>▼
|image_size = 200px
| established = 1970▼
▲|motto = Learning for Life<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athabascau.ca/aboutau/coat-of-arms.php |title=About AU: Coat of Arms |website=Athabasca University |access-date=19 August 2014}}</ref>
| type = [[Public university]] specializing in [[Distance education|online distance education]]▼
▲|established = 1970
| president = Alex Clark<ref name="GNews2023">{{cite news |last1=Tran |first1=Paula |title=Athabasca University board of directors fires president, hires new one {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9455781/athabasca-university-fires-president/ |access-date=18 December 2023 |publisher=Global News |date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231218220613/https://globalnews.ca/news/9455781/athabasca-university-fires-president/ |archive-date=18 December 2023 |location=Calgary, Alberta}}</ref>
▲|type = [[Public university]] specializing in [[Distance education|online distance education]]
| students = 40,722630<ref name=AUannualreport2012-13>{{cite book |url=http://www.athabascau.ca/content/aboutau/documents/annual/report2013.pdf |title=Athabasca University Annual Report to Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education for the year ended March 31, 2013 |publisher=Athabasca University |pages=10, 11 |date=2013 |access-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705214053/http://www.athabascau.ca/content/aboutau/documents/annual/report2013.pdf |archive-date=5 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>▼
|president = Peter Scott<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.athabascau.ca/president/ | title=Athabasca University }}</ref>
|free undergrad = 135,233520<ref name=AUannualreport2012-13 />▼
▲|students = 40,722<ref name=AUannualreport2012-13>{{cite book |url=http://www.athabascau.ca/content/aboutau/documents/annual/report2013.pdf |title=Athabasca University Annual Report to Alberta Enterprise and Advanced Education for the year ended March 31, 2013 |publisher=Athabasca University |pages=10, 11 |date=2013 |access-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705214053/http://www.athabascau.ca/content/aboutau/documents/annual/report2013.pdf |archive-date=5 July 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|undergrad postgrad = 365,622110<ref name=AUannualreport2012-13 />
| doctoral = ▼
|postgrad = 4,100<ref name=AUannualreport2012-13 />▼
| city = [[Athabasca, Alberta|Athabasca]]
▲|doctoral =
|city province = [[Athabasca, = Alberta|Athabasca]]
|province country = [[Alberta]]Canada
| campus = [[E-learning|Online]], [[Rural area|rural]] and [[Urban area|urban]]
|country = [[Canada]]
|campus free_label = [[E-learning|Online]],Faculty [[Rural(academic areastaff)|ruralFaculty]] and& [[Urban areaEmployment|urbanStaff]]
▲ |postgrad free = 41,100233<ref name=AUannualreport2012-13 />
|free_label = [[Faculty (academic staff)|Faculty]] & [[Employment|Staff]]
| colours = [[Blue (color)|Blue]] and [[Orange (color)|orange]] {{color box|#22374A}}{{color box|#F07532}}▼
▲|free = 1,233<ref name=AUannualreport2012-13 />
| other_name = AU
▲|colours = [[Blue (color)|Blue]] and [[Orange (color)|orange]] {{color box|#22374A}}{{color box|#F07532}}
|other_name mascot = AU
| website = {{URL|https://www.athabascau.ca}}▼
|mascot =
| logo = File:Athabasca_University_Logo_2017.svg▼
▲|website = {{URL|https://www.athabascau.ca}}
| footnotes = ▼
▲|logo = File:Athabasca_University_Logo_2017.svg
| image_name = AthabascaU COA.jpg▼
▲|footnotes =
| profess =
▲|image_name = AthabascaU COA.jpg
|profess faculty =
| affiliations = {{hlist|[[Association of Commonwealth Universities|ACU]],| [[Canadian Virtual University|CVU]],| [[Middle States Commission on Higher Education|MSCHE]],| [[University of the Arctic|UArctic]],| [[Universities Canada]]}}▼
|faculty =
}}
▲|affiliations = [[Association of Commonwealth Universities|ACU]], [[Canadian Virtual University|CVU]], [[Middle States Commission on Higher Education|MSCHE]], [[University of the Arctic|UArctic]], [[Universities Canada]]}}
 
[[File:Athabasca University (J).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the Academic & Research Center at Athabasca University]]
 
'''Athabasca University''' ('''AU''') is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[public university|public]] [[research university]] that primarily operates through [[Distance education|online distance education]]. Founded in 1970, it is one of four comprehensive academic and [[research university|research universities]] in [[Alberta]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Comprehensive academic and research universities (CARUs) |url=https://www.alberta.ca/types-publicly-funded-post-secondary-institutions.aspx#jumplinks-1 |website=Types of publicly funded institutions |publisher=Government of Alberta |access-date=25 November 2022}}</ref> and was the first Canadian university to specialize in distance education.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/June+1985+Athabasca+University+opens+distance+education/9942159/story.html |title=June 16, 1985: Athabasca University opens for distance education |last1=Zdeb |first1=Chris |work=Edmonton Journal |date=16 June 2014 |access-date=19 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820212801/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/June+1985+Athabasca+University+opens+distance+education/9942159/story.html |archive-date=20 August 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
 
==Origins==
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A group of U of A graduates including [[Preston Manning]] influenced the development of an independent fourth university. In 1970, [[Grant MacEwan]], then the [[Lieutenant Governor of Alberta]], established AU by an Order in Council. The name for the new university was a challenge, as it was not desired to associate the new university with a city (Edmonton) that already had a university (the U of A). Athabasca Hall, a student residence at the U of A, was scheduled for demolition, so the name was appropriated for the new Athabasca University.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />
 
In 1984, AU moved its main campus in [[Edmonton, Alberta|Edmonton]] 145 kilometres (90 miles) north to [[Athabasca, Alberta|Athabasca]]. Today theThe main campus remains in Athabasca, and there are satellite locations in [[Calgary, Alberta|Calgary]], [[Edmonton, Alberta|Edmonton]] and [[St. Albert, Alberta|St. Albert]].
 
In 1994, AU's Centre for Innovative Management introduced the world's first online MBA program.<ref name=aboutAU-history>{{cite web|url=http://www.athabascau.ca/aboutau/history.php |title=About AU: History |website=Athabasca University |access-date=22 August 2014}}</ref>
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===Mandate===
[[File:AU2.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The front entrance of the main campus building at Athabasca, Alberta.]]
The initial mandate for Athabasca University dictated that AU be primarily [[undergraduate]] in scope. Creating new procedures for curriculum development was also part of the mandate.
 
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The government of [[Peter Lougheed]] in 1971 brought changes including a cabinet portfolio specifically for post-secondary education. The newly elected [[Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta|Conservative]] government was opposed to building a new university in Edmonton, but architectural plans were permitted to continue. A proposal was made to the government to test the new model for three to five years, and if it succeeded, AU would become a fully independent university. This happened under chair Merrill Wolfe. The proposal was accepted by the government.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />
 
In the summer of 1972, the new deputy minister of [[Alberta Advanced Education and Technology|Alberta Advanced Education]] stated there was a demand for lifelong continuing education. There was also a need for an "Alberta academy" that would evaluate university courses taken at multiple institutions and award degrees based on its evaluations. Meanwhile, AU also proposed to serve part-time students and made the case that this would not affect the traditional universities already established in Alberta or the new approach of AU. An [[open door policy|open-door admissionsacademic policy]] removing most traditional university admission requirements was part of AU's proposal.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />
 
In 1972, a new [[Order in Council]] was issued to include only a new pilot project for distance education.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />
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Trial and error characterized the pilot period, as there was no similar model to follow for the mandate Athabasca University was given. In 1973, AU began to advertise for students to help with course development. World Ecology was the first course and the core of the pilot project. In-house production of the learning packages for courses was important to the staff, so the university developed its own printing process.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />
 
{{quoteblockquote|Contrary to much current belief, Athabasca University was not modelled after the [[Open University]], but was developed in its present form during the pilot project. AU became aware of what the Open University was doing when, during the final year of the project, a representative went to [[Milton Keynes]] to discover any methods its staff might have devised to speed up production.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />}}
 
In 1975, plans came together to reach out to students through field services tutors and regional learning resource centres. In 1976, the first part-time telephone tutors were appointed, 24 in total. The tutor role was to facilitate learning, not to teach the course. Tutors were assigned blocks of between 20 and 40 students each, and AU provided toll-free phone numbers that students used for contacting the tutors. All tutors were (and are still) required to have at least a master's degree.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />
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An early test project for a learning resource centre had books and tapes relevant to the courses available at branches of public libraries throughout Alberta. Although the libraries were keen on the idea, students preferred to remain in their homes to learn. By 1975, the median age was between 35 and 40, and there were 725 students. A minority of students had only completed Grade 9.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />
 
{{quoteblockquote|Inviting students to register in a course and then forcing them to wait an unconscionable length of time for delivery of units was obviously not a way to establish a reputation as a reliable institution.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />}}
 
In 1975 at the end of the pilot project, an agency was appointed to evaluate its success. A recommendation was made to the Alberta government that the university be made a permanent member of the province's university system. It was also to remain an open university. Under the chairmanship of Edward Checkland, the university gained permanency.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />
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The first collaboration the university embarked on was with [[Keyano College]], which eventually led to the opening of a regional learning office in [[Fort McMurray]], Alberta. (This regional office would later close.) In 1976, [[North Island College]] took on the challenge of delivering many of AU's courses on its many campuses.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />
 
{{quoteblockquote|In the mid-seventies, two young Canadians, one of whom was the son of a prominent Edmonton family, were indicted in an English court for attempting to smuggle drugs into the country. They were each sentenced to a lengthy prison term and incarcerated in one of [[England]]'s most infamous prisons. Each registered in one of Athabasca University's first three courses, becoming the first two in a long list of [[prison|prison inmates]] to join its student body.<ref name=Byrne-1989 />}}
 
In 1985, AU reached an agreement with the [[Correctional Service of Canada]] for the payment of tuition and program delivery fees for federal inmates taking courses through the university.<ref name=Byrne-1989/>
 
=== Modern Partnershipspartnerships and Collaborationscollaborations ===
The university maintains more than 350 collaborative agreements with other Canadian and international educational institutions, with professional associations, with businesses, and with Indigenous institutions and communities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://study.alberta.ca/plan-your-studies/universities-colleges-technical-institutes/universities/athabasca-university/|title=Athabasca University|last=Government of Alberta|website=Government of Alberta - Studying in Alberta|access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref>
 
==== Educational Partnerships ====
Through Athabasca University's partnerships with other post-secondary institutions, students have options. For example, they can add an Athabasca University course to their program at a partner institution, take classroom versions of Athabasca University courses at a partner institution or enrol in an Athabasca programs while studying at or working for a partner institution.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.athabascau.ca/aboutau/collaborations/|title=Collaborations & Partnerships|last=Athabasca University|website=Athabasca University|access-date=27 March 2019}}</ref>
 
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==Education delivery models==
[[File:AU1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Water fountains at the main campus at Athabasca, Alberta.]]
The majority of Athabasca University's courses are taught through online distance education, but some courses or components of courses are taught in-person, face to face. The major education delivery models at AU are as follows:
 
* Individual study: Students are provided with the textbooks, computer software, and video material required. A preset recommended schedule comes with each course. Each course has a professor, as with any university course. This person publishes creates a series of learning activities, readings and assessments. That publication becomes additional reading and activity for the student. Assignments are submitted to the professor via email or more commonly via the [[Moodle]] assignment drop box. The final exam is administered at Athabasca's learning centres or a partner university, college or accredited individual. Students have up to six months to finish their course, unless they have received a student loan, in which case, they have up to four months. Courses start at the beginning of each month. Most courses are now augmented with additional resources and activities using the Moodle [[Learning management system|LMS]]
* Collaborative, online: Courses in the graduate programs are paced, usually beginning three times a year. The primary delivery platform is the Moodle Learning Management System, that is augmented by web conferencing using Adobe Connect and social networking using [[Elgg (software)|elgg]]-based Athabasca Landing
* Grouped study: Offered primarily to students physically in [[Alberta]], this method allows students to get together with other students in the same course, and study in a manner similar to that of a regular university. Students studying in this method have up to four months to complete their course. Courses start in September and January.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athabascau.ca/aboutAU/distanceeducation.php |title=Who studies at AU |website=Athabasca University |access-date=9 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927043717/http://www.athabascau.ca/aboutAU/distanceeducation.php |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>
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* [[International Association of Universities]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iau-aiu.net/content/institutions |title=International Association of Universities |access-date=1 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501224946/http://www.iau-aiu.net/content/institutions |archive-date=1 May 2013 }}</ref>
* [[University of the Arctic]]
* Organization of American States (OAS) Consortium of Universities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=OAS |date=2009-08-01 |title=OAS - Organization of American States: Democracy for peace, security, and development |url=https://www.oas.org/en/scholarships/regularprogram/consortium.asp |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=www.oas.org |language=en}}</ref>
 
==Academics==
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==Scholarships and bursaries==
The Government of Canada sponsors an Aboriginal Bursaries Search Tool that lists over 680 scholarships, bursaries, and other incentives offered by governments, universities, and industry to support Aboriginal post-secondary participation. Athabasca University bursaries for [[Aboriginal peoples in Canada|Aboriginal]], [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] and [[Métis]] students include: Alberta Historical Resources Foundation; [[Syncrude Canada Ltd.]]/Athabasca University Aboriginal Scholarship; Frank and Agnes Cardinal Neheyiwak Bursary; Harold Cardinal Essay Prize for Aboriginal Students; Canative Scholarship for Métis Students; AU President's Scholarship for a Blue Quills Student; First Peoples Technology Bursary<ref>[http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1351185180120/1351685455328 Aboriginal Bursaries Search Tool]</ref> In addition, people with disabilities and International students have access to these bursaries and scholarships.
 
==Notable people==
 
{{Main|List of Athabasca University people}}
Some notable people have studied through Athabasca University, including Alberta politician [[Debby Carlson]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mba.athabascau.ca/titan/aucimwebsite.nsf/AllDoc/79C9DA1CAB6FA4D187256DB200738E71/$File/2003FallNewsletter.pdf!OpenElement |title=Centre for Innovative Management Update |website=Athabasca University |access-date=22 August 2007}}</ref> Olympic bobsleigh racer [[Christian Farstad]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.ca/EN/organization/news/2003/0626.shtml |title=Olympian joins the Canadian Olympic Committee in new role |website=Canadian Olympic Committee |access-date=22 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906022106/http://www.olympic.ca/EN/organization/news/2003/0626.shtml |archive-date=6 September 2007}}</ref> former Alberta Premier [[Ralph Klein]], professional hockey player [[Alyn McCauley]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/2004/10/10/664140.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716002735/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/2004/10/10/664140.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=16 July 2012 |last=Koshan |first=Terry |title=No end in sight |website=CANOE |access-date=22 August 2007}}</ref> and cross-country skier [[Milaine Thériault]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=3079&lan=0 |title=Milaine Thériault |website=Cross Country Canada |access-date=22 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807153006/http://cccski.com/main.asp?cmd=doc&ID=3079&lan=0 |archive-date=7 August 2007 }}</ref> AU serves over 38,000 students (over 7,900 full-load equivalents) and offers over 900 courses in more than 50 undergraduate and graduate programs in a range of arts, science and professional disciplines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athabascau.ca/aboutau/glance.php |title=Athabasca University at a Glance}}</ref>
 
==Controversy==
 
In 2012, it was revealed that Athabasca University was one of theamong institutions of higher education involved in illegal donations to the provincial Progressive Conservative party of Alberta. The university spent $10,675 on Conservative fundraising events, including golf tournaments and dinners.<ref name="donationScandal">{{cite news|url=httphttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2012/03/20/edmontonalberta-collegecolleges-universities-made-illegal-donations-conservativesto-tories-1.html1192043 |title=Alberta colleges, universities made illegal donations to Tories |work=CBC |date=20 March 2012}}</ref> The university president retired early, and an interim president, Peter MacKinnon, was appointed by the university governing council.
 
=== Coates Report ===
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=== Looking forward ===
Looking to the future and guided by a new president, [[Neil Fassina]], Athabasca University charted a renewed course. Building off recommendations from the Coates Report, ''Imagine: Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://imagine.athabascau.ca/|title=Imagine: Transforming lives, transforming communities|last=Athabasca University|website=Athabasca University|access-date=28 March 2019}}</ref> was a strategic plan forward, built out of extensive collaboration with the entire Athabasca University community and acted as a roadmap with priorities to guide them on the path forward.
 
== ''Imagine: Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities'' ==
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AUSU was officially incorporated as of 16 July 1992, and was formalized as a registered Alberta society until students' unions in Alberta were granted recognition under the Post-Secondary Learning Act. On 13 September 2004 the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta approved an [[Order in Council|order in council]] establishing "The Students' Association of Athabasca University".
 
AUSU offers services to its members including but not limited to: an optional health & dental plan student awards, a free subscription to LinkedIn Learning, student advocacy, and Athabasca University course evaluations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ausu.org |title=Home |website=Athabasca University Students' Union |date=1 December 2015 |access-date=25 December 2015}}</ref> Student media at Athabasca University is provided by the official publication ''The Voice Magazine''. Previously published on paper, the magazine since 2001 is published exclusively online in HTML and PDF format.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.voicemagazine.org/ |title=A Publication of the Students of Athabasca University |website=The Voice Magazine |date=18 December 2015 |access-date=25 December 2015}}{{failed verification|date=July 2022}}</ref>
 
===Graduate students===
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[[Category:Athabasca University| ]]
[[Category:1970 establishments in Alberta]]
[[Category:EducationalUniversities institutionsand colleges established in 1970]]
[[Category:Universities in Alberta]]
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