Athabasca University Students' Union
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Athabasca University Students' Union is the students' union of Athabasca University, in Athabasca, Alberta. AU is one of the world's largest virtual universities, with satellite campuses in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta. The AUSU head office is in the Edmonton center, though the students' council may have elected members from any area where AU students reside.
| Athabasca University Students' Union | |
|---|---|
| President | Lisa Priebe |
| Vice-President | Lonita Fraser |
| Vice-President | Karl Low |
| Established | 1993 |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Location | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Membership | 36,000 |
| Publication | The Voice Magazine |
| AUSU Colours | Plum and Kelly Green |
| ausu@ausu.org | |
| Website | http://www.ausu.org/ |
AUSU Membership
AUSU represents all active undergraduate students of Athabasca University and has a current membership of about 36,000 students across Canada and around the world. As of 2006, about 40% of AUSU members reside in Alberta, 30% in Ontario, 10% in British Columbia, 5% in Saskatchewan, 13% in the rest of Canada, and 3% are international students residing in more than 70 countries.
The AUSU membership is about 2/3 female, and has a higher mean age due to AU's high population of students who are working professionals, those working toward a second career, or students returning to school after a long absence. Only 44% are under 25, with 34% between 25 and 34 and the remaining 22% over the age of 35.
The AUSU membership is the largest of any university in Alberta. AU is also the only university in North America that is accredited in both Canada and the United States, and one of, if not the, fastest growing universities with an increase in enrolments of about 10% per year.
Formalization
On 13 September, 2004 the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta approved an order in council which states:The Lieutenant Governor in council establishes and incorporates a students' association to be known as "The Students' Association of Athabasca University" to provide for the administration of students' affairs and the promotion of the general welfare of students consistent with the purposes of Athabasca University.
Mission
"The AUSU mission is to serve Athabasca University students and represent their interests. We affirm universal accessibility to quality post-secondary education in a system that recognizes student rights and the credibility of open and distance education."In pursuit of this mission, we will hold to the following goals:
- Leadership: Actively promtoe values consistent with open and distance education
- Advocacy: Defend open and distance education through consultation and communication with stakehlders.
- Learning Organization: Expand our capacity to create our future through dialogue with stakeholders.
- Responsibility: Collaborate with stakeholders to achieve educational excellence for Athabasca University students.
- Responsiveness: Provide services that students think are essential.
- Stewardship: Manage programs and activities to commitments do not exceed resources.
Representation
The AUSU is not represented externally by any organization. In November, 2005 the organization parted ways with the Council of Alberta University Students to focus on other broader goals, along with promoting distance education.
Athletics
Athletics at Athabasca work somewhat differently than a traditional university, seeing as almost all of its programs are done by distance education. The Athabasca University Students' Union sponsors a number of student clubs, however, including the AU [Sports Club]. The Club via their website, encourages individual participation in sports, or local groups that get together of students at the University, to participate in various events. One such group they have is a Fitness Support Group, created " to help the members of the AUSC achieve their health, fitness and sports goals."
Other features they have are an "Athlete of the Month," "Latest Scores," Olympics information, and "Ask Angela" a column on becoming more physically fit and healthy or learning how to play sports.
Student media
Student media at Athabasca University is provided by the official publication The Voice Magazine. Previously published on paper, the magazine since 2001 is published exclusively online in HTML and PDF format.
Groups and Clubs
Bridge the gap and broaden your horizons! Start a group or join a club.
"Outside of education, one of the most important aspects of university life is the people you meet, the sharing of ideas, and the friends you make. This holds true for the distance student as much as it does for the student attending classes in body every day. In fact, for the distance student it is more important because they lack the context of physical connections with others."
The AUSU has tried to establish several clubs and coffee groups for students.
Clubs
Clubs currenty sponsored by AUSU include the La Société Française d'AU, the AU Literature Club, AU Business Students’ Association, AU Science Students' Society, AU Sports Club, AU Psychology Students Society, and, the most popular club, the AU Student Moms Club.Coffee Groups
Coffee Groups are a way for Athabsca students to get together with others in their community in a relaxed atmosphere to compare notes on courses and the University, or to just have that social interaction that students of distance education may be missing. Locale specific areas in the AUSU forums allow students to find others in their locale and arrange times to meet.
External links
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| Athabasca University | |
| Centres: | Centre for Distance Education | Global & Social Analysis | Innovative Management | Integrated Studies | Language & Literature | Psychology | Nursing & Health Studies | Research | State & Legal Studies | Science | Work & Community Studies | World Indigenous Knowledge and Research
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| Schools: | School of Business | Computing & Information Systems |
| Special: | Movies Worth Watching |
| Students: | Students' Union | The Voice Magazine |
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|- | align="center" style=font-size: 70%;" colspan="4" | Student Unions |- | align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" colspan="4" | Acadia | Alberta | Algonquin | Athabasca | Bishop's | British Columbia | Brock | Calgary | Carleton | Lethbridge | Manitoba | McGill | McMaster | UNBC | Ottawa | Queen's | Ryerson | St. Francis Xavier | Saint Mary's | Saskatchewan | Simon Fraser | Toronto | Victoria | Waterloo | Western | Wilfrid Laurier | Windsor | York |- | align="center" style=font-size: 70%;" colspan="4" | School Memberships |- | align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" colspan="4" | ANSSA | CASA | CAUS | CFS | CSA | NBSA | OUSA
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