Athabasca University Students Union

Athabasca University Students' Union is the students' union of Athabasca University, in Athabasca, Alberta although their main center is in Edmonton. They represent the undergraduate students.

AUSU Student Council

AUSU Council President:

• Lisa Priebe

Vice-President External:

• Lonita Fraser

Vice-President Finance and Administration:

• Karl Low

Council Members

• Mac McInnis
• Joy Krys
• Shannon Maguire

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

Provincially, the AUSU participates in the Council of Alberta University Students which represents them. Federally, the AUSU remains unaffiliated, with the belief that neither the Canadian Federation of Students or the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations could properly or effectively represent the students of Athabasca University, due to the distance education nature of their studies.

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 offers a 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 their official publication The Voice Magazine. Previously published on paper, the magazine since 2004 is published exclusively on the website of the Athbasca University Students Union.

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

Club wise, they offer the Athabasca University Business Students’ Association, Athabasca University Science Students' Society, Athabasca University Sports Club, Athabasca University Psychology Students Society, and Athabasca University Student Moms Club.

Coffee Groups

Coffee Groups are a way for Athabsca students to meet in their community, with other AU students, and compare notes on the University, and to just have that social interaction that lacks due to distance education. Thus, in most major cities, a coffee group is set up by a contact person. It is similar to that of meetup.

• Coffee Groups Area

External links

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