Athabasca University
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Athabasca University, headquartered in Athabasca, Alberta, is a fully accredited institution specialized in the delivery of distance education courses and programs. Athabasca University is also recognized as one of the fastest growing universites in Canada. Courses are offered in both English and French.
The University is especially popular with students who are disabled, overseas, looking after family members, single parents who need a degree to get ahead in their careers, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, students who are working full time and students who need just that extra course to add on to their degrees or diplomas at a traditional university.
June 2005 Dr. Frits Pannekoek became the new President of the University. [1] (http://www.ausu.org/voice/articles/featuredisplay.php?ART=3526)
| Athabasca University | |
|---|---|
| Missing image Athabascaulogo.gif | |
| Learning for life | |
| President | Dr Frits Pannekoek |
| Established | 1970 |
| School Type | Public |
| Location | Athabasca, Alberta, Canada |
| Campuses | Athabasca, Edmonton and Calgary |
| Enrollment | 29,542 |
| University Colours | Blue and Green |
| Member of | ACU, AUCC |
| Website | http://www.athabascau.ca/ |
| Contents |
Origins
Aufront.jpg
Created by the Alberta government in 1970, Athabasca University was formed when a fourth traditional university couldn't be justified. New teaching and learning ideas for post-secondary students were studied and considered. Finally a pilot project was developed starting in 1972 in which students enrolled, to see if the community liked the idea of this new concept of teaching. Distance education. After being considered a success, the University was granted a permanent, self-governing status in 1978. After growing too big for where it was located, Athabasca University moved 145 kilometres north from Edmonton to the town of Athabasca, Alberta in 1984 where it is now established. Satellite centers are in Calgary and Edmonton.
Distance Education
The University has become a leader in distance education. Its flexible programs, geared to continuing education using state-of-the-art communications technology, has attracted participation by students from around the world. The University is a leader in on-line study programs and has a special dedicated web site for that purpose.
Differences
Students at the University write their exams in a different way than a regular university. They can write them at any one of the three learning centres, or by arranging to do it at a local college or university.
AU's classes are taught in several ways:
- Individual study: Students are provided with the textbooks, computer software, and video material required. A pre-set recommended schedule comes with each course in a "course reader". The student is then free to study as they wish. Students have up to 6 months to finish their course, unless they are received a student loan, in which case, they have up to 4 months. Courses start at the beginning of each month.
- Grouped study: Offered primarily to students physically in Alberta, this method allows students to get together with other sudents in the same course, and study in a manner similar to that of a regular university. Students studying in this method have up to 4 months to complete their course. Courses start in September and January.
Reputation
AU is recognized as a leader in distance education. Their programs are appreciated by students who work full-time and wish to pursue studies towards a degree because of the flexibility distance learning provides to such students.
AU's MBA is also noted as being one of the top degrees in both Canada and the world.
Facts & Trivia
- In 2004, Athabasca's Executive MBA was rated in the top 75 by the Financial Times, the only executive MBA on the list that is delivered entirely online. [2] (http://www.mba-advice.us.com/mba-online-canada.html)
- Canada's only exclusively open University
- Maclean's Magazine called it Canada's fastest growing university
- Cannot be ranked by Maclean's Magazine except for a biographical writeup due to its difference with other universities.
- Originally started in Edmonton but outgrew their facilities, and moved an hour and a half north (160 km) to Athabasca, Alberta.
- Serves about 30,000 students per year
- Admissions are year-round.
- 1,028 staff as of March 2004
- Awarded prize for Institutional Learning in 2004 by the International Council on Open and Distance Education. In 2002 the Commonwealth of Learning awarded AU a similar prize.
- In an independent survey for the Government of Alberta, 96% of students said they would recommend AU to a friend. The survey was in 2002.
- 59% of Athasbasca students are between the ages of 25 and 44.
- Only Canadian University to seek accreditation in the USA.
- 36% of students come from population-rich Ontario
- "Movie stars, world-class athletes and AU grads are among the most photographed people in the world." -Athabasca University
Accreditation
Authority to Grant Degrees
Athabasca University reports to the government through the Minister of Learning and is publically funded throught the Province of Alberta. The University's Governing Council is authorized to grant degrees through the Post-Secondary Learning Act along with governing its own affairs. Members of the Governing Council are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in council.
Accreditation in the United States
The University is a candidate for accreditation in the United States by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Memberships
- Association of Commonwealth Universities
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
- Canadian Association for Distance Education
- Canadian Association for Graduate Studies
- Canadian Virtual University
- Inter-American Distance Education Consortium
- International Council for Open and Distance Education
- University of the Arctic
Full details here (http://www.athabascau.ca/main/accredit.html)
Programs
Undergraduate Programs
- Bachelor of Administration
- Bachelor of Administration (Post Diploma)
- Bachelor of Arts (3 year)
- Bachelor of Arts (4 year)
- Bachelor of Commerce (4 year)
- Bachelor of Commerce (4 year Post Diploma)
- Bachelor of General Studies
- Bachelor of Health Administration
- Bachelor of Health Administration (Post Diploma)
- Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations
- Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations (Post Diploma)
- Bachelor of Management (3 year)
- Bachelor of Management (3 year Post Diploma)
- Bachelor of Management (4 year)
- Bachelor of Management (4 year Post Diploma)
- Bachelor of Nursing
- Bachelor of Professional Arts
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Science (Post Diploma)
- Bachelor of Science in Computing and Information Systems
- Bachelor of Science in Computing and Information Systems (Post Diploma)
- University Diploma in Arts
- University Diploma in Inclusive Education
Graduate Programs
- Master of Arts — Integrated Studies
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Business Administration in Information Technology
- Master of Business Administration in Project Management
- Advanced Graduate Diploma in Information Technology Management
- Advanced Graduate Diploma in Project Management
- Graduate Diploma in Management
- Master of Counselling
- Master of Distance Education
- Advanced Graduate Diploma in Distance Education (Technology)
- Advanced Graduate Diploma: Advanced Nursing Practice
- Master of Health Studies
- Master of Nursing
- Master of Science - Information Systems
Athletics
Athletics at Athabasca work somewhat differently than a traditional university, seeing as almost all of its programs are done by distance education. The Athabasca University Students Union offers a Sports Club (http://www.ausu.org/clubs/ausc). The Club via their website, encourages individual participation in sports, or local groups that get together of students at the University, to participate in various events. One such group they have is a Fitness Support Group, created " to help the members of the AUSC achieve their health, fitness and sports goals."
Other features they have are an "Athlete of the Month," "Latest Scores," Olympics information, and "Ask Angela" a column on becoming more physically fit and healthy or learning how to play sports.
See also Athabasca University Students Union
Notable Students & Alumni
Main article: List of Athabasca University people
Controversy
In Spring of 2004 there was controversy about Alberta Premier Ralph Klein plagiarising a paper he was doing. The University cleared him of it, but it brought the University into public awareness even more than it had been.
"The plagiarism allegation stemmed from a now controversial essay Klein wrote on Chilean history. Collier found that Klein had failed to properly cite the Internet sources he used for the paper, but his instructor had noted the mistake in marking the essay and offered guidance for correcting it." - Canoe article (http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2004/05/28/477282-cp.html)
Presidents of Athabsca University
See also
- Athabasca University Students Union
- Centre for World Indigenous Knowledge and Research
- Centre for Innovative Management
- Centre for Psychology
- The Voice
External links
- Athabasca University (http://www.athabascau.ca/)
- Ask AU (http://www.askau.ca/)
- Magic and real life: Thomas Wharton (http://www.macleans.ca/culture/books/article.jsp?content=50980)
- AU should be National University (http://tinyurl.com/3jlke)