Accreditation

AU is a publicly funded post-secondary institution, one of four public comprehensive universities in the Province of Alberta, Canada. You can rest assured that your AU experience represents a rigorous, high quality university education. We are a respected and recognized university with a proven track record.

Canada

AU is recognized by the Government of Alberta and reports to the Government of Alberta through the Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology. AU's quality assurance mechanisms and program proposals are reviewed by the Campus Alberta Quality Council. AU has the mandate for the provision of university-level distance education programs in Alberta. Through Alberta’s Post-secondary Learning Act, the government authorizes Athabasca University Governing Council to govern the university and to grant degrees. Members of Governing Council are appointed by Orders in Council of the Government of Alberta. AU is also recognized by the Government of British Columbia.

United States

In 2006, AU became the first Canadian public university to receive accreditation in the United States, through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), one of six regional organizations in the U.S. that accredits universities. No other public Canadian university holds this level of foreign accreditation.

Memberships

AU is a full member of the following associations:

• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
• Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE)
• Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS)
• Canadian Virtual University (CVU)
• Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
• Inter-American Distance Education Consortium (CREAD)
• International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)

Updated October 22, 2009