Accreditation
Athabasca University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
AU is a publicly funded post-secondary institution, one of four public comprehensive universities in the Province of Alberta, Canada. You can rest assured that your AU experience represents a rigorous, high quality university education. We are a respected and recognized university with a proven track record.
Canada
AU is recognized by the Government of Alberta and reports to the Government of Alberta through the Ministry of Advanced Education. AU's quality assurance mechanisms and program proposals are reviewed by the Campus Alberta Quality Council. AU has the mandate for the provision of university-level distance education programs in Alberta. Through Alberta's Post-secondary Learning Act, the government authorizes The Governors of Athabasca University to govern the university and to grant degrees. Members of the board are appointed by Orders in Council of the Government of Alberta.
United States
In 2006, AU became the first Canadian public university to receive accreditation in the United States, through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), one of six regional organizations in the U.S. that accredits universities.
Important Note for Prospective Students: If you are considering an academic program that leads to a professional license or certification in your province or state, please contact the appropriate licensing agency in that jurisdiction prior to enrolling. As a student, it is your responsibility to contact the appropriate licensing board to confirm whether an Athabasca University program will meet the requirements for licensure in that jurisdiction.
Athabasca University cannot imply, promise, or guarantee that credits earned at the University will transfer to other institutions, since such determinations are made according to the policies of the receiving institution. If you are considering transferring to another school, it is your responsibility to determine whether that school will accept your academic credits. You are encouraged to make this determination as early as possible.
Athabasca University is in compliance with regulations concerning postsecondary distance education in the following states. Please note this list is subject to change without notice.
California
As an out-of-state public institution accredited by the Middle
States Commission on Higher Education, Athabasca University is not under
the purview of the
California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. Bureau
approval for Athabasca University to offer its programs to residents of
California is not
required. Therefore, Athabasca University is in compliance with
California regulations concerning postsecondary distance education.
Connecticut
Athabasca University is not required by the Connecticut Office of
Higher Education to obtain approval from the Office to offer its
programs to residents of
Connecticut. Therefore, Athabasca University is in compliance with
Connecticut regulations concerning postsecondary distance education.
Hawaii
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in
state, Athabasca University is not required by the Hawaii Postsecondary
Education
Authorization Program to obtain approval from the Program to offer
its programs to residents of Hawaii. Therefore, Athabasca University is
in compliance
with Hawaii regulations concerning postsecondary distance education.
Idaho
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in
state, Athabasca University is not required by the Idaho State Board of
Education to
obtain approval to offer its programs to residents of Idaho.
Therefore, Athabasca University is in compliance with Idaho regulations
concerning
postsecondary distance education.
Indiana
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in
state, Athabasca University is not required by the Indiana Board for
Proprietary
Education to obtain approval to offer its programs to residents of
Indiana. Therefore, Athabasca University is in compliance with Indiana
regulations
concerning postsecondary distance education.
Kansas
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in
state, Athabasca University is not required obtain approval from the
Kansas Board of
Regents to offer its programs to residents of Kansas. Therefore,
Athabasca University is in compliance with Kansas regulations concerning
postsecondary
distance education.
Louisiana
Athabasca University is not required by the Louisiana Board of
Regents to obtain approval from the Office to offer its programs to
residents of Louisiana.
Therefore, Athabasca University is in compliance with Louisiana
regulations concerning postsecondary distance education.
Nebraska
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in
the state, Athabasca University is not required by the Nebraska’s
Coordinating Commission
for Postsecondary Education to obtain approval from to offer its
programs to residents of Nebraska. Therefore, Athabasca University is in
compliance with
Nebraska regulations concerning postsecondary distance education.
Nevada
According to the State of Nevada Commission on Postsecondary
Education, Athabasca University is not required to be licensed in Nevada
by the Commission on Postsecondary Education. Therefore Athabasca
University is in compliance with Nevada state authorization
requirements.
New Jersey
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in
the state, Athabasca University is not required by the New Jersey
Secretary of Higher
Education to obtain approval to offer its programs to residents of
New Jersey. Therefore, Athabasca University is in compliance with New
Jersey regulations
concerning postsecondary distance education.
New York
Because Athabasca University does not operate an instructional site,
sponsor organized activities, have a representative acting on its behalf
in New York, or place students in clinical internships there, Athabasca
University is not required to obtain authorization to operate by the
New York State Board of Regents. Therefore, Athabasca University is in
compliance with New York regulations concerning postsecondary distance
education.
Oklahoma
As an out-of-state public institution accredited by the Middle
States Commission on Higher Education, Athabasca University is not under
the purview of the
Oklahoma State Regents. Bureau approval for Athabasca University to
offer its programs to residents of Oklahoma is not required. Therefore,
Athabasca
University is in compliance with Oklahoma regulations concerning
postsecondary education.
South Carolina
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in
the state, Athabasca University is not required by the South Carolina
Commission on
Higher Education to obtain approval from the Commission to offer its
programs to residents of South Carolina. Therefore, Athabasca
University is in
compliance with South Carolina regulations concerning postsecondary
distance education.
South Dakota
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in
the state, Athabasca University is not required by the South Dakota
Secretary of State’s
Office to obtain approval to offer its programs to residents of
South Dakota. Therefore, Athabasca University is in compliance with
South Dakota
regulations concerning postsecondary distance education.
Texas
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in the
state, it is exempt under Rule 7.14 Distance Education Approval Process
for Degree Granting Colleges and Universities other than Texas Public
Institutions of the Texas Administrative Code. Athabasca University is
therefore in compliance with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board.
Virginia
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in
the state, Athabasca University is not required by the Virginia State
Council on Higher
Education to obtain approval to offer its programs to residents of
Virginia. Therefore, Athabasca University is in compliance with Virginia
regulations
concerning postsecondary distance education.
Washington State
Because Athabasca University does not have a physical presence in state,
Athabasca University is not required by the Washington Student
Achievement Council to obtain approval to offer its programs to
residents of Washington. Therefore, Athabasca University is in
compliance with Washington regulations concerning postsecondary distance
education.
CMA Accreditation
AU received CMA accreditation for its Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting Major in February of 2011. CMA accreditation recognizes universities that achieve high standards of instruction in management accounting. Graduating from a CMA accredited degree program allows you to bypass the CMA Entrance Examination. For more information please visit the Faculty of Business website.
Memberships
AU is a full member of the following associations:
- Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
- Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE)
- Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS)
- Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
- Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD)
- International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)
- International Education Council (IEC)