Governance
Athabasca University governs itself through a bicameral governance structure, as set out in the Alberta Post-Secondary Learning Act and the Athabasca University Regulations. The Board of Governors is the senior governing body, but shares academic governance with the General Faculties Council (GFC), the academic governing body.
The University Secretariat provides support for all areas of the Board and GFC, enabling both bodies (and their respective standing committees) to govern the institution in an efficient and effective manner.
Visit the Office of the University Secretariat website.Our Vision
Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities
Our Mission
Athabasca University, Canada's Open University, is dedicated to the removal of barriers that restrict access to and success in university-level study and to increasing equality of educational opportunity for adult learners worldwide.
Our Mandate
Founded in 1970, Athabasca University is a public, board-governed, open and distance education university, operating as a Comprehensive Academic and Research Institution under the authority of the Alberta Post-secondary Learning Act, which serves students throughout Alberta, across Canada and around the world. Working as a partner within Campus Alberta, Athabasca University is committed to collaborating with other key stakeholders to ensure a seamless and responsive advanced education system that provides high-quality learning opportunities in support of lifelong learning.
The University offers a range of courses and programs leading to graduate and undergraduate degrees, certificates and diplomas in the Humanities, the Social Sciences, the Sciences, Technology, Business, and the Health Disciplines.
As an open university, Athabasca University seeks to remove barriers to undergraduate and graduate education. It offers flexible enrolment opportunities for learners regardless of age, gender, culture, income, disability, career and family obligations, geographic location, or educational background. As a distance education university, Athabasca University provides flexibility for lifelong learners who cannot or choose not to undertake residential post-secondary education. The University offers learners the opportunity to interact with students across Canada and around the world through programs in established as well as emerging areas, as it seeks to meet the needs of career professionals, develop research expertise, and create knowledge that fosters a global outlook among its graduates.
Athabasca University provides high-quality, interactive learning environments that include a variety of on-line and other media technologies for individualized and cohort learning. The University's library and tutorial services and extensive student support services that facilitate access and increase learner success are integral aspects of a quality open and distance education system. Similarly, its course designs and technology applications are based on current research in open and distance education, pedagogical advances in lifelong learning, and contemporary developments in online learning technologies. The University actively pursues technological innovations that can enhance its teaching, research and administrative functions.
The University provides undergraduate degree completion opportunities for university transfer students and college diploma graduates through credit coordination, credit transfer, prior learning assessment and associated forms of learning accreditation. It supports collaborations such as its degree completion agreements with colleges and partnership with Alberta North. These collaborations, together with its participation in initiatives like the Canadian Virtual University, reflect Athabasca University's longstanding commitment to adult and lifelong learners, to Aboriginal communities, to learners in remote, rural and northern areas, to underserved urban populations, and to students in other universities' programs who seek courses to accelerate degree completion. The University also acquires and maintains accreditation in other Canadian provinces and in appropriate international jurisdictions.
Athabasca University pursues and demonstrates excellence in research and scholarship, viewing research as central to the creation and mobilization of knowledge, the enhancement of its programs, the education of its students, the betterment of its community, and the development of its faculty and future scholars. Besides its international reputation for research in all aspects of open and distance education and learning technologies innovation, the University is also developing notable strength in interdisciplinary research in several areas such as Canadian studies, globalization and cultural studies, Indigenous education, space and environmental sciences, project management, and nursing and health management. Aspects of technological change are integral to many of these theme areas. By supporting and conducting research activity in all program areas Athabasca University makes significant contributions to cultural, scientific, and professional development in Alberta and beyond.
Athabasca University's academic, professional and support staff engage in professional service within the education system at local, provincial, national and international levels. The University encourages its members to serve a wide range of communities through activities such as volunteerism, community based research, involvement in local community organizations and participation in virtual learning communities.
Approved by Athabasca University Governing Council, Executive Committee, September 25, 2009
Approved by the Minister of Advanced Education & Technology, November 17, 2009
Our Values
The students and staff of Athabasca University hold a set of complementary values that are fundamental to Athabasca University's identity and functioning.1
- Integrity - We are guided by ethics, honesty, and fairness in all our actions, engendering trust within our University community
- Community - We are one University. We achieve more together. We embrace collaboration, and connectivity among our diverse individual community members and their teams
- Adaptability - We are flexible. We respond to the changing needs of our University and its learners with courage and continuous improvement.
- Respect - We foster respect by contributing to an environment in which every individual is valued.
- Excellence - We ask bold questions, provoke new ways of thinking, and focus on those things at which we can excel to enhance the quality of all that we do.
1 The word staff is used throughout the plan to indicate faculty, support staff, professionals, and tutors.
Strategic Plan
Annual Reports
- 2020 (5.87mb)
- 2019 (3.36mb)
- 2017-18 (3.39mb)
- 2016-17 (4.4mb)
- 2015-16 (486.6KB)
- 2014-15 (1.5MB)
- 2013-14 (608kb)
- 2012-13 (869kb)
- 2011-12 (1.2mb)
- 2010-11 (967kb)
- 2009-10 (779kb)
- 2008-09 (600kb)
- 2007-08 (1.3 MB)
- 2006-07 (5.3 MB)
- 2005-06 (2.3 MB)
- 2004-05 (2.8 MB)
- 2003-04 (2.8 MB)
- 2002-03 (880 KB)
Comprehensive Institutional Plans
The Athabasca University Policy and Procedures Manual, the official source for AU's policies, is a public document maintained and issued by the Office of the University Secretariat. Unless otherwise noted, policies apply to all units under AU's jurisdiction, whether they are located in Athabasca, Edmonton, Calgary or an off-site location.
The Office of the University Secretariat considers the online, published version of all policies and procedures as part of the Policy and Procedures Manual to be the official records
Visit the Policy Manual WebsitePrivacy - Brief Summary
- The University's website has been created in full conformity with Alberta's freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation.
- Any personal information you provide through our website will be used only for the purposes for which it was collected.
- The University does not use cookies in any manner which could impinge on your privacy (i.e. it does not use “snoop” software).
For more information, see the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy website.
Conditions of Use — Brief Summary
- While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of pages on this website, pages should be treated on an “as is” basis, rather than as official documents, unless they explicitly state “This is an official publication of Athabasca University.”
- Hyperlinks from the Athabasca University website to other sites have been provided in good faith, but do not indicate an endorsement by the University of those sites, which are subject to change over which the University has no control.
- Short extracts from the site may be reproduced for personal and non-commercial services. All other republication requires the explicit consent of the University.
- Trade marks appearing on the University website may not be copied and used without explicit permission from the University.
- Full details on conditions of use are given below.
Privacy: Details
Athabasca University's website (www.athabascau.ca) provides information about the University and its programs and services. Athabasca University respects the privacy of its online visitors and does not sell or rent any information obtained from its website to any other organization or third party.
When you visit Athabasca University's website, the server automatically collects a limited amount of information essential for the site's operation and security. This information includes your IP address, the name of your Internet Service Provider, and information concerning your browser and operating system. This information is used to perform statistical analysis of user trends and interests and to help us make this site more useful to visitors. Athabasca University does make limited use of cookies on its Web servers, but not in any manner which could impinge on your privacy. “Cookies” are small text files placed in your personal computer's hard memory that allows it to track your browser's use of the site. Cookies are used for purposes such as ensuring that procedures (such as Library procedures) work properly, or that you are not annoyed by repetitions.
When you use Athabasca University's website for program or services purposes, such as participating in online courses, requesting services, completing a questionnaire, or making payment, the personal information you provide for that program or service will be in compliance with sections 33(a) and 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used only for the purpose it was collected. The information will be disclosed only in accordance with the provisions of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Regulation.
The Athabasca University website has links to outside Web pages. Please be aware that the University is not responsible for site content outside our Web site, or the privacy policies of outside Web sites. We encourage you to read the individual privacy statements on each website you visit.
All Athabasca University web pages should be treated on an “as is” basis unless they contain the phrase “This is an official publication of Athabasca University”. This privacy statement is intended to reflect the sites maintained by Athabasca University and it is subject to change.
Web Services, Office of Advancement
Email: web_services@athabascau.ca
Conditions of Use — Brief Summary
- While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of pages on this website, pages should be treated on an “as is” basis, rather than as official documents, unless they explicitly state “This is an official publication of Athabasca University.”
- Hyperlinks from the Athabasca University website to other sites have been provided in good faith, but do not indicate an endorsement by the University of those sites, which are subject to change over which the University has no control.
- Short extracts from the site may be reproduced for personal and non-commercial services. All other republication requires the explicit consent of the University.
- Trade marks appearing on the University website may not be copied and used without explicit permission from the University.
- Full details on conditions of use are given below.
Privacy: Details
Athabasca University's website (www.athabascau.ca) provides information about the University and its programs and services. Athabasca University respects the privacy of its online visitors and does not sell or rent any information obtained from its website to any other organization or third party.
When you visit Athabasca University's website, the server automatically collects a limited amount of information essential for the site's operation and security. This information includes your IP address, the name of your Internet Service Provider, and information concerning your browser and operating system. This information is used to perform statistical analysis of user trends and interests and to help us make this site more useful to visitors. Athabasca University does make limited use of cookies on its Web servers, but not in any manner which could impinge on your privacy. “Cookies” are small text files placed in your personal computer's hard memory that allows it to track your browser's use of the site. Cookies are used for purposes such as ensuring that procedures (such as Library procedures) work properly, or that you are not annoyed by repetitions.
When you use Athabasca University's website for program or services purposes, such as participating in online courses, requesting services, completing a questionnaire, or making payment, the personal information you provide for that program or service will be in compliance with sections 33(a) and 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used only for the purpose it was collected. The information will be disclosed only in accordance with the provisions of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Regulation.
The Athabasca University website has links to outside Web pages. Please be aware that the University is not responsible for site content outside our Web site, or the privacy policies of outside Web sites. We encourage you to read the individual privacy statements on each website you visit.
All Athabasca University web pages should be treated on an “as is” basis unless they contain the phrase “This is an official publication of Athabasca University”. This privacy statement is intended to reflect the sites maintained by Athabasca University and it is subject to change.
Web Services, Office of Advancement
Email: web_services@athabascau.ca
Conditions: Formal Details
The Athabasca University (“AU”) website consists of information made accessible at the athabascau.ca domain (“this Site”). This Site is subject to the terms of use below. If upon reviewing the terms of use below, you do not agree with these terms of use, you should leave this Site now.
Terms of Use
The terms of use that follow may change without prior notice and it is the user's responsibility to review for such updates.
General
The information provided on this Site is meant for educational and reference purposes only and should not be used in replacement of official documents provided by AU, unless clearly provided for. Also, the information provided on this Site is not intended to be a replacement for professional advice of any kind and the user should not act or rely on any information at this Site without first seeking the advice of a professional.
As a user of this Site, you are granted a limited licence to use (display or print) the information for your own personal, non-commercial use and you are responsible for any outcome resulting from such use. Except for short extracts, used for personal and non-commercial purposes, none of the information provided at this Site may be altered, republished or re-distributed in any way, shape or form without the explicit prior consent of AU.
Intellectual Property Rights
AU owns the intellectual property rights, including copyright, in and to this Site, or has obtained the necessary licenses. Therefore, AU will take any appropriate legal action to enforce its rights. A number of words, phrases, names, designs or logos used on this Site may be trademarks, service marks or trade names of AU or of other bodies. AU's trademarked designs or logos may not be used by other parties without prior explicit consent.
No Warranties
Although the information provided on this Site is thought to be correct when communicated, there is no obligation on AU to update this information or advise on further changes. There may be misprints or other errors on this Site, and AU does not guarantee the quality, correctness, completeness or timeliness of the information provided on this Site. AU makes no warranties, representations and conditions regarding use of this Site or the information provided, including any implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, whether express or implied, or arising from a course of dealing, usage or trade practice. AU is not responsible for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages or any other damages, however caused, arising out of your use of this website or from the information provided, including the loss of use, lost data, lost business profits, business interruption, personal injury, or any other personal or pecuniary loss, whether the action is in contract, tort (including negligence) or any other tort action.
Web Pages and Links
The staff and the students of AU may create and maintain pages contained on, or linked to, from this Site. The creation, maintenance and responsibility for these pages is entirely the responsibility of the parties who create and maintain such pages. AU shall have no responsibility for such pages and is not responsible for any content or information that you may find distasteful or offensive.
Also, this Site has links to other websites. This does not mean AU is associated with, or is legally allowed, to use any trademark, trade name, logo or copyrighted symbol that may be shown in the link (or in its description). These other sites were independently created and AU does not assume responsibility for the content of these other websites. By providing links to these other websites, AU does not endorse, act as a publisher or distributor of the content on those other websites.
Computer Viruses
Most material available from the AU website is in a “text-file” form which cannot contain or transmit computer viruses. Some pages, however, such as Word files, are in “binary” form, which can, like downloadable executable files, transmit viruses. Although AU makes every effort to exclude computer viruses from its materials, you should take measures to check for computer viruses, execute due caution when downloading executable files, and make certain you have a comprehensive and recent backup of the information stored on your computer.
Governing Law
The laws of the Province of Alberta and the laws of Canada applicable shall govern any dispute or action regarding this Site or any content present on the Site. You hereby consent and submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Alberta in any action or proceeding established under or related to your use of this Site or document.
Please address comments and questions regarding this site to Rachel Conroy, Copyright Officer, Athabasca University.
Expect the Best
Athabasca University recognizes that students need efficient academic and administrative service. To ensure that students receive the attention needed to succeed academically, we have developed a comprehensive set of service standards.
These standards are provided by Athabasca University to:
- determine if the service standard is being met;
- determine who to contact for follow-up; and
- determine when to involve the Ombuds office.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about our level of service, don’t hesitate to contact the appropriate service unit listed on this page. For general questions, contact the Information Centre or an AU office near you. If you leave voice mail, please provide an email address for response.
General Information Service Standards
- Response to voice mail: 1 business day
- Response to e-mail: 1 business day
- Telephone response time: 1 minute during working hours
- Materials processing (brochures, etc.)*: 2 business days
- General inquiry processing: 2 business days
- Resolution or referral of problem/query: Immediately during working hours
* Does not include electronic submission or postal service processing time.
If standards are not met please contact us.
Canada/U.S:
1-800-788-9041
International
780-675-6100
Information Centre Coordinator 1-800-788-9041 ext. 6588
780-675-6588
auinfo_admin@athabascau.ca
Administrative Service Standards
- Response to voice mail: 1 business day
- Response to e-mail: 1 business day
- Query – transfer credit: 1 business day
| Service | Paper Submitted | Web Submitted |
|---|---|---|
| Admission - New | 5 business days | Immediate |
| Admission ‚ Change | 5 business days | Immediate |
| Admission ‚ Program Change | 5 business days | Immediate |
| Appeal - general | 5 business days | n/a |
| Appeal to Student Appeals Committee | Up to 30 days | n/a |
| Transfer Credit Evaluation | 8 weeks from receipt of all documents | n/a |
| Course Registration | 5 business days | Immediate |
| Challenge for Credit Registration | 5 business days | 5 business days |
| Letter of permission | 5 business days | n/a |
| Exam Request | 5 business days | 5 business days |
| Course Extension | 5 business days | Immediate |
| Course Withdrawal | 5 business days | Immediate |
| Student Financial Aid processing | 5 business days | n/a |
| Transcript Request | 5 business days | 1 business day |
| Letter of certification | 5 business days | n/a |
| Course outline/ syllabus | Available on website; 5 business days otherwise |
If standards are not met please contact us.
Canada/U.S:1-800-788-9041
780-675-6100
Please ask to speak with the coordinator responsible for the service.
registrar@athabascau.caLibrary Services Standards
- Response to voice mail: 1 business day
- Response to e-mail: 1 business day
- Information desk response: 1 business day
- Library materials*: 1 business day
- Borrowing period: 4 weeks
- Information search: 2 business days
- Process interlibrary loan (ILL): 3 business days
- Redistribution of ILL material to student: Varies with lender
* Does not include electronic submission or postal service processing time.
If standards are not met please contact us.
Library Information Desklibrary@athabascau.ca
1-800-788-9041 ext. 6254
Interlibrary Loans Supervisor
1-800-788-9041 ext. 6251
* International students should expect to use library materials which are already in digital format, i.e. online journals, databases and web resources.
Ombuds Services Standards
- Ombuds initial response: 1 business day
- Ombuds issue resolution: Variable according to research required
If standards are not met please contact us.
ombuds@athabascau.ca1-800-788-9041 ext. 6199
780-675-6199
Learning Resources Service Standards
General
- Response to voice mail: 1 business day
- Response to e-mail: 1 business day
- Learning resources inquiry: 1 business day
- Learning resources replacement:
- North America: 5 Business days
- International: up to 2 months
- Process return:
- North America: 5 business days
- International: 1 month
If standards are not met please contact us.
Distributor / Warehouse Supervisor1-800-788-9041 ext. 6362
780-675-6362
Learning Resources*
- Walk in: Immediate
- Alberta: 2 weeks
- Canada: 3 weeks
- North America: 2 weeks
- International: up to 2 months
* Assumes normal postal delivery time. Learning resources packages are not available in the Edmonton and Calgary offices.
If standards are not met please contact us.
Distributor / Warehouse Supervisor1-800-788-9041 ext. 6362
780-675-6362
Undergraduate Academic Support Standards
- Initial contact by individualized study tutor or Academic Expert: Within 2 weeks of start date
- Response to voice mail by individualized study tutor or Academic Expert: 2 business days
- Response to e-mail by individualized study tutor or Academic Expert: 2 business days
- Acknowledgement of receipt of emailed assignment: 2 business days
- Acknowledgement of receipt of assignment via regular mail: 2 business days from receipt
Marking of electronically submitted assignment (when single sent): 7-8 business days from date assignment uploaded to course website or sent by email.
Note: Additional assignments submitted during the initial marking period will be considered to be multiple assignments and the multiple assignment service standard shall apply.
Marking of assignments mailed by post: 5 business days from receipt by marker, this does not include the time it takes assignment to arrive by post mail/courier.
Note: Additional assignments submitted during the initial marking period will be considered to be multiple assignments and the multiple assignment service standard shall apply.
- Electronically submitted exams for marking: 7-10 business days from write date
- Exam marking for paper based exams: 5 business days from receipt by marker, this does not include the time it takes exam to arrive by postal mail/courier
- Assignment/exam remarked by different tutor: 10 business days
- Academic appeal (in writing):
- North America: 1 month
- International: 2 month
If standards are not met please contact us.
Learning Services TutorialTel: 780-675-6196
Toll Free: 1-800-788-9041 ext. 6196
tutserv@athabascau.ca
Do not send assignments by any method that requires a signature of acceptance by a tutor (e.g. courier), as this will delay response time.
Please Note: although the University is open 12 months of the year, tutors and academic experts/markers are entitled to vacation time. Should your academic expert/marker be away, an alternate academic expert/marker will available to support you. Tutors, on the other hand, may be away and not available to provide tutorial support for up to 9 business days. For any tutor leave of 10 or more business days, an alternate tutor will be available to support you. Please be advised that Service Standards may be extended by 5 business days for some leaves.
- Acknowledge voice and e-mail: 1 business day
-
Appointment
Program planning tools: Within 1 business week - Acknowledge voice and e-mail: 1 business day
- Counselling appointment (urgent): Immediate on a business day
- Counselling appointment (general): Within 1 business week
- Response to voice mail: 2 business days
- Response to email: 3 business days
- Response to general inquiries: 35 business days
- Acknowledge voicemail: 2 business days
- Acknowledge email: 2 business days
Advising
If standards are not met please contact us.
Coordinator Advising Services1-800-788-9041 ext. 2908
403-298-2908
advising@athabascau.ca
Counselling
If standards are not met please contact us.
Coordinator Advising Services1-800-788-9041 ext. 2908
403-298-2908
advising@athabascau.ca
Accessibility Services
If standards are not met please contact us.
Professional Services Coordinator, Accessibility Services1-800-788-9041 ext. 2054
780-428-2054
asd@athabascau.ca
Examination Services (only for those writing exams at our AU Edmonton or AU Calgary location)
Exam Services Supervisor, 1.800.788.9041, ext 3419
Faculty of Business Online Student Support - acknowledge/ resolve/ refer query: 1 business days
If standards are not met please contact us.
Manager Student Support Services, Faculty of Business 1-800-788-9041ext. 6464
780-675-6464
business-support@athabascau.ca
- Response from Webmaster: 2 business days
If standards are not met please contact us.
Coordinator, Web Services, University Relations1-800-788-9041 ext. 7321
web_services@athabascau.ca