16 Facts About Athabasca University

1.

Athabasca University is a Canadian public research university that primarily operates through online distance education.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,603
2.

Athabasca University was created by the Alberta government in 1970 as part of an expansion of higher education to cope with rising enrolment at the time.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,604
3.

Under the leadership of university president Dominique Abrioux, Athabasca expanded programs in all faculties, including graduate studies, with a new MA in Integrated Studies called MA-IS.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,605
4.

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.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,606
5.

AU became aware of what the Open Athabasca 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.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,607
6.

Athabasca 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.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,608
7.

Athabasca University is the first Canadian post-secondary institution to enter into a formal collaboration with Amazon Web Services, Inc .

FactSnippet No. 1,152,609
8.

The partnership speaks to the five-year digital transformation of Athabasca University, as set out by the university's strategic plans – Imagine: Transforming lives, transforming communities and RISE: Athabasca University's Digital Transformation, Our 5 Year IT Strategy.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,610
9.

In June 2014, Athabasca University formally partnered with the CFLPA as the official education provider for their players – both past and present.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,611
10.

Since 2009, the WHL and Athabasca University have partnered, offering fully accredited university courses to any WHL player interested in pursuing post-secondary studies while playing in the WHL.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,612
11.

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.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,613
12.

Under the Post-Secondary Learning Act, Athabasca University is considered a "Comprehensive Academic and Research University" .

FactSnippet No. 1,152,614
13.

Athabasca University is accredited with the United States by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,615
14.

Some notable people have studied through Athabasca University, including Alberta politician Debby Carlson, Olympic bobsleigh racer Christian Farstad, former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, professional hockey player Alyn McCauley, and cross-country skier Milaine Theriault.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,616
15.

In 2012, it was revealed that Athabasca University was one of the institutions of higher education involved in illegal donations to the provincial Progressive Conservative party of Alberta.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,617
16.

Student media at Athabasca University is provided by the official publication The Voice Magazine.

FactSnippet No. 1,152,618