See how Athabasca University has evolved over its 55-year history
June 25, 1970, was a turning point for open, distance education in Alberta and Canada. That's when the Government of Alberta officially created Athabasca University.
Although initially envisioned as a traditional bricks-and-mortar university, AU's focus soon changed and in 1972 became the province's first pilot for an open, distance university. In doing so, it charted a course for the modern, online institution that's truly like no other through our commitment to improving access to learning, creating opportunities for students and through world-leading research, and fostering community in place and digital spaces.
To help mark AU's 55th anniversary and celebrate the successes of more than 500,000 students and alumni, we thought it would be fun to share a collection of images from our past.





























