Athabasca University Students' Union

Athabasca University Students' Union is the students' union of Athabasca University, in Athabasca, Alberta, Canada. 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 External	Karl Low
Vice-President Finance	Huma Lodhi
Established	1993
Type	Non-profit
Location	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Membership	36,000
Publication	The Voice Magazine
AUSU Colours	Plum and Kelly Green
Email	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 mission statement of the AUSU reads:

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 promote 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 formally affiliated with 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.

Clubs

AUSU has established several clubs and coffee groups for students. 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.

External links

• Athabasca University Students' Union
• The Voice Magazine
• Athabasca University