General Information

1.3 Recognition and Accreditation

1.3.1 Recognition

Athabasca University has achieved the highest possible award each year for the Province of Alberta Performance Funding. Recently, the University received the Commonwealth of Learning Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement.

Most recently, the International Council for Open and Distance Education recognized Athabasca University as one of the world’s outstanding distance and open ­learning institutions.

AU is also recognized by the Government of British Columbia.

AU was awarded the 2010 Canadian Recognizing Learning Award by the Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA) in Ottawa on November 8, 2010.

1.3.2 Accreditation

Athabasca University is a publicly funded institution of the Province of Alberta that reports to the government through the Minister of Advanced Education. Pursuant to the Post-secondary Learning Act, SA 2003, Chapter P-19.5, and the Athabasca University Regulation, AR 50/2004, the government authorizes the Governors of Athabasca University (the Board) to govern its own affairs. Public members of the Board are appointed under orders-in-council of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

Athabasca University is the first Canadian university to be accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (3624 Market Street, 2nd Floor West, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, 267.284.5000). The Commission is one of six regional accrediting agencies in the U.S. recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Membership

Athabasca University is also a full member of the following organizations:

• Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer
• Association of Commonwealth Universities
• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
• BC Council on Admissions and Transfer*
• Canadian Association for Distance Education
• Canadian Association for Graduate Studies
• Canadian Virtual University
• Circumpolar Universities Association
• Inter-American Distance Education Consortium
• International Council for Open and Distance Education

* The term "University" is used under the written consent of the Minister of Advanced Education effective April 4, 2011 having undergone a quality assessment process and been found to meet the criteria established by the minister.