Athabasca University - Open for Alberta

1st

68%

KIMBERLEY JONES MASTER OF NURSING ‘22

of program students are first in their family to get a degree

33

Average age of AU students

51%

of program students support dependents

OPEN FOR

ALB E RTA athabascau.ca

VICKRAM MINHAS MBA ‘17

ABOUT ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY AU IS

AU’S FUNDING

Alberta’s only open university, >40,000 students.i

Receives 2% of Alberta’s postsecondary funding but serves more than 14% of its students

2nd largest university in Albertaii, with flexible, online, bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs, plus courses for personal and professional development.

Alberta’s only fully digital and ruralbased university, proudly grounded in Athabasca.

62% of funding comes from tuition fees 29% of funding comes from Government of Alberta

Students learn at their own pace in their own place, whatever their background.

Helping Alberta meet the demand for skilled workers, staying in their communities and jobs.

A research university, leading work into sustainable communities, quality education, health and well-being, and climate change.

AU STUDENTS STUDY WHERE THEY LIVE AND WORK i. Includes undergraduate, graduate, and PowerED™ students ii. Includes undergraduate, graduate, and PowerED™ students

AU’S OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT ALBERTA GROWTH How AU helps with key issues facing Alberta AU has the largest undergraduate nursing and nurse practitioner program in Canada – upskilling more nurses while they continue to work.

AU’s business school ranks in the top 6% worldwide with the world’s first online MBA and Canada’s first online DBA programs.

Meeting demands for a skilled workforce without requiring people to leave their communities or jobs.

NATASHA DONAHUE

Offers microcredentials for students to upskill or reskill where they are.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE ‘21

Accessible in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities through its open, virtual campus.

Athabasca University

Traditional institutions

Online learning from anywhere

Place-based learning

Competitive admissions for undergrad programs

Open admissions policy ensures everyone 16 or older who wants to learn, can

Students gather in one place at a scheduled time

Students collaborate digitally, from anywhere, and learn at their own pace Students have flexibility to manage school and their lives—including work and family

Students typically dedicate a regular amount of time to their studies

Classes typically start 3 times a year

Emergency remote learning during COVID-19

!

Classes start every month

Purpose-built, engaging, and flexible online curriculum

AU’S UNIQUE ROLE Canada’s only rural-based university Courses are accessible from anywhere, any time 60% of first-year students work full-time

CARTER YELLOWBIRD MBA ‘12

Flexible - most students can enroll in any month Provides regional benefits

68%

self-identify as women

4%

self-identify as Indigenous

5.4%

have self-identified disabilities

ARC building in Athabasca, Alberta

CONNECT WITH US Let us know how you think AU can continue to support Alberta’s people and economy.

Contact our president, Dr. Alex Clark, at president@athabascau.ca