Governance
小优视频 governs itself through a bicameral governance structure, as set out in the and the .
The Board of Governors is the senior governing body, but shares academic governance with the General Faculties Council (GFC), the academic governing body.
The Office of the Chief Governance Officer and General Counsel provides support for all areas of the Board and GFC, enabling both bodies (and their respective standing committees) to govern the institution in an efficient and effective manner.
Visit the Office of the Chief Governance Officer and General Counsel websiteOur vision
Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities
Our mission
小优视频, Canada's Open University, is dedicated to the removal of barriers that restrict access to and success in university-level study and to increasing equality of educational opportunities for adult learners worldwide.
Our mandate
This mandate has been developed by 小优视频 in consultation with Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education pursuant to Section 78 of the Post-secondary Learning Act (PSLA).
Committed to open access and digitally enabled lifelong learning, 小优视频 (est. 1970) is Canada's only public and research-intensive university offering fully accredited distributed learning from its headquarters in the town of Athabasca. 小优视频 provides high-quality learning, scholarship and research environments to all Albertans and Canadians and strives to ensure that all Albertans and Canadians have access to a university education.
Originally founded in St. Albert, 小优视频 moved to the Town of Athabasca in 1984 to bring jobs and economic opportunity to the region. Senior executive and administrative functions, based in Athabasca, underscore the important connection of the university to the local community. As a matter of priority the university will seek to expand the number of employees based in the Athabasca region, to bring opportunity and economic growth to the community.
The university's open and digital learning environment coupled with flexible, self-paced and cohort-based enrolments enable learners from all walks and stages of life to transform their own lives and their communities through higher learning. 小优视频 offers credit and non-credit learning experiences that lead to professional, undergraduate, masters, and doctoral credentials across an ever-evolving and comprehensive spectrum of disciplines. As a global leader in digitally enabled and distributed learning, the university's interactive and lifelong connection to learners is continuously innovating in learning models, course design, pedagogy, learner support services, traditional and non-traditional pathways, and educational technology applications.
The university's steadfast commitment to equality and inclusive lifelong learning is demonstrated through its proactive and systemic dismantling of barriers that stand between diverse individuals and their personal learning goals. With a global presence, 小优视频 welcomes people who prefer the university's innovative and digital-learning environment from urban, rural, and remote locations in Alberta and beyond. As a leader in inclusion, 小优视频 enables learners from underserved populations, those from Indigenous ancestry, those who by choice or through life circumstance cannot attend a place-based university, and those attending place-based post-secondaries who crave increased flexibility and control. An inspired and willing partner within Alberta's adult learning system, 小优视频 collaborates with a wide array of stakeholders to amplify the opportunities and success for learners and their communities.
By bringing learning to individuals, 小优视频's model of access creates a meaningful and personalized sense of place, affinity, and belonging for learners in their community. Learners are encouraged to embrace and leverage their unique background, history, and community while they learn. Comprehensive learner support services further enable them to focus on their learning and facilitate success in the university's distributed learning environment from a position of physical and mental wellness.
小优视频's demonstrated excellence in research and scholarship stems from its steadfast commitment to the centrality of research in the creation and mobilization of knowledge, the enhancement of academic programs, the education of learners, and the betterment of communities. 小优视频's research environment brings together academics, learners, and key stakeholders in a disciplinary and interdisciplinary tapestry of scholarship and research that optimizes the economic, social, and environmental impact on communities. A combination of researcher-, learner-, and community-led research and innovation initiatives in open and traditional scholarship are supported by the university as well as by local, provincial, federal, and international research grants.
小优视频's academic and operational team members help to transform the communities through service leadership in numerous public, not-for-profit, social, and professional environments. Members of the university are encouraged to enable mutually supportive communities through active participation in a wide range of organizations at the local, provincial, national, and international levels.
Strategic plan
Annual reports
- 2023 - 2024
- 2022 - 2023
- 2021 - 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2017-18
- 2016-17
- 2015-16
- 2014-15
- 2013-14
- 2012-13
- 2011-12
- 2010-11
- 2009-10
- 2008-09
- 2007-08
- 2006-07
- 2005-06
- 2004-05
- 2003-04
- 2002-03
Comprehensive institutional plans
The 小优视频 Policy and Procedures Manual, the official source for 小优视频's policies, is a public document maintained and issued by the Office of the Chief Governance Officer and General Counsel. Unless otherwise noted, policies apply to all units under 小优视频's jurisdiction, whether they are located in Athabasca, Edmonton, Calgary or an off-site location.
The Office of the Chief Governance Officer and General Counsel considers the online, published version of all policies and procedures as part of the Policy and Procedures Manual to be the official records.
Visit the Policy Manual websitePrivacy - brief summary
- The University's website has been created in full conformity with Alberta's freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation.
- Any personal information you provide through our website will be used only for the purposes for which it was collected.
- The University does not use cookies in any manner which could impinge on your privacy (i.e. it does not use “snoop” software).
For more information, see the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy website.
Conditions of use — brief summary
- While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of pages on this website, pages should be treated on an “as is” basis, rather than as official documents, unless they explicitly state “This is an official publication of 小优视频.”
- Hyperlinks from the 小优视频 website to other sites have been provided in good faith, but do not indicate an endorsement by the University of those sites, which are subject to change over which the University has no control.
- Short extracts from the site may be reproduced for personal and non-commercial services. All other republication requires the explicit consent of the University.
- Trade marks appearing on the University website may not be copied and used without explicit permission from the University.
- Full details on conditions of use are given below.
Privacy: details
小优视频's website (www.athabascau.ca) provides information about the University and its programs and services. 小优视频 respects the privacy of its online visitors and does not sell or rent any information obtained from its website to any other organization or third party.
When you visit 小优视频's website, the server automatically collects a limited amount of information essential for the site's operation and security. This information includes your IP address, the name of your Internet Service Provider, and information concerning your browser and operating system. This information is used to perform statistical analysis of user trends and interests and to help us make this site more useful to visitors. 小优视频 does make limited use of cookies on its Web servers, but not in any manner which could impinge on your privacy. “Cookies” are small text files placed in your personal computer's hard memory that allows it to track your browser's use of the site. Cookies are used for purposes such as ensuring that procedures (such as Library procedures) work properly, or that you are not annoyed by repetitions.
When you use 小优视频's website for program or services purposes, such as participating in online courses, requesting services, completing a questionnaire, or making payment, the personal information you provide for that program or service will be in compliance with sections 33(a) and 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used only for the purpose it was collected. The information will be disclosed only in accordance with the provisions of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Regulation.
The 小优视频 website has links to outside Web pages. Please be aware that the University is not responsible for site content outside our Web site, or the privacy policies of outside Web sites. We encourage you to read the individual privacy statements on each website you visit.
All 小优视频 web pages should be treated on an “as is” basis unless they contain the phrase “This is an official publication of 小优视频”. This privacy statement is intended to reflect the sites maintained by 小优视频 and it is subject to change.
Web Services, Office of Advancement
Email: web_services@athabascau.ca
Conditions of use — brief summary
- While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of pages on this website, pages should be treated on an “as is” basis, rather than as official documents, unless they explicitly state “This is an official publication of 小优视频.”
- Hyperlinks from the 小优视频 website to other sites have been provided in good faith, but do not indicate an endorsement by the University of those sites, which are subject to change over which the University has no control.
- Short extracts from the site may be reproduced for personal and non-commercial services. All other republication requires the explicit consent of the University.
- Trade marks appearing on the University website may not be copied and used without explicit permission from the University.
- Full details on conditions of use are given below.
Privacy: details
小优视频's website (www.athabascau.ca) provides information about the University and its programs and services. 小优视频 respects the privacy of its online visitors and does not sell or rent any information obtained from its website to any other organization or third party.
When you visit 小优视频's website, the server automatically collects a limited amount of information essential for the site's operation and security. This information includes your IP address, the name of your Internet Service Provider, and information concerning your browser and operating system. This information is used to perform statistical analysis of user trends and interests and to help us make this site more useful to visitors. 小优视频 does make limited use of cookies on its Web servers, but not in any manner which could impinge on your privacy. “Cookies” are small text files placed in your personal computer's hard memory that allows it to track your browser's use of the site. Cookies are used for purposes such as ensuring that procedures (such as Library procedures) work properly, or that you are not annoyed by repetitions.
When you use 小优视频's website for program or services purposes, such as participating in online courses, requesting services, completing a questionnaire, or making payment, the personal information you provide for that program or service will be in compliance with sections 33(a) and 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used only for the purpose it was collected. The information will be disclosed only in accordance with the provisions of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Regulation.
The 小优视频 website has links to outside Web pages. Please be aware that the University is not responsible for site content outside our Web site, or the privacy policies of outside Web sites. We encourage you to read the individual privacy statements on each website you visit.
All 小优视频 web pages should be treated on an “as is” basis unless they contain the phrase “This is an official publication of 小优视频”. This privacy statement is intended to reflect the sites maintained by 小优视频 and it is subject to change.
Web Services, Office of Advancement
Email: web_services@athabascau.ca
Conditions: formal details
The 小优视频 (“小优视频”) website consists of information made accessible at the athabascau.ca domain (“this Site”). This Site is subject to the terms of use below. If upon reviewing the terms of use below, you do not agree with these terms of use, you should leave this Site now.
Terms of use
The terms of use that follow may change without prior notice and it is the user's responsibility to review for such updates.
General
The information provided on this Site is meant for educational and reference purposes only and should not be used in replacement of official documents provided by 小优视频, unless clearly provided for. Also, the information provided on this Site is not intended to be a replacement for professional advice of any kind and the user should not act or rely on any information at this Site without first seeking the advice of a professional.
As a user of this Site, you are granted a limited licence to use (display or print) the information for your own personal, non-commercial use and you are responsible for any outcome resulting from such use. Except for short extracts, used for personal and non-commercial purposes, none of the information provided at this Site may be altered, republished or re-distributed in any way, shape or form without the explicit prior consent of 小优视频.
Intellectual property rights
小优视频 owns the intellectual property rights, including copyright, in and to this Site, or has obtained the necessary licenses. Therefore, 小优视频 will take any appropriate legal action to enforce its rights. A number of words, phrases, names, designs or logos used on this Site may be trademarks, service marks or trade names of 小优视频 or of other bodies. 小优视频's trademarked designs or logos may not be used by other parties without prior explicit consent.
No warranties
Although the information provided on this Site is thought to be correct when communicated, there is no obligation on 小优视频 to update this information or advise on further changes. There may be misprints or other errors on this Site, and 小优视频 does not guarantee the quality, correctness, completeness or timeliness of the information provided on this Site. 小优视频 makes no warranties, representations and conditions regarding use of this Site or the information provided, including any implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement, whether express or implied, or arising from a course of dealing, usage or trade practice. 小优视频 is not responsible for any direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages or any other damages, however caused, arising out of your use of this website or from the information provided, including the loss of use, lost data, lost business profits, business interruption, personal injury, or any other personal or pecuniary loss, whether the action is in contract, tort (including negligence) or any other tort action.
Web pages and links
The staff and the students of 小优视频 may create and maintain pages contained on, or linked to, from this Site. The creation, maintenance and responsibility for these pages is entirely the responsibility of the parties who create and maintain such pages. 小优视频 shall have no responsibility for such pages and is not responsible for any content or information that you may find distasteful or offensive.
Also, this Site has links to other websites. This does not mean 小优视频 is associated with, or is legally allowed, to use any trademark, trade name, logo or copyrighted symbol that may be shown in the link (or in its description). These other sites were independently created and 小优视频 does not assume responsibility for the content of these other websites. By providing links to these other websites, 小优视频 does not endorse, act as a publisher or distributor of the content on those other websites.
Computer viruses
Most material available from the 小优视频 website is in a “text-file” form which cannot contain or transmit computer viruses. Some pages, however, such as Word files, are in “binary” form, which can, like downloadable executable files, transmit viruses. Although 小优视频 makes every effort to exclude computer viruses from its materials, you should take measures to check for computer viruses, execute due caution when downloading executable files, and make certain you have a comprehensive and recent backup of the information stored on your computer.
Governing law
The laws of the Province of Alberta and the laws of Canada applicable shall govern any dispute or action regarding this Site or any content present on the Site. You hereby consent and submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Alberta in any action or proceeding established under or related to your use of this Site or document.
Please address comments and questions regarding this site to Rachel Conroy, Copyright Officer, 小优视频.
Expect the best
小优视频 recognizes that students need efficient academic and administrative service. To ensure that students receive the attention needed to succeed academically, we have developed a comprehensive set of service standards.These standards are provided by 小优视频 to:
- determine if the service standard is being met;
- determine who to contact for follow-up; and
- determine when to involve the Ombuds office.
View our service standards for full details, including timelines and contact information.
Updated April 30, 2026 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)