Research Exercise: Athabasca University

byJacqueleen A. Reyes

EDD 7007 – OL1Principles of Distance Education

Nova Southeastern UniversityFebruary 8, 2012

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Part I: The Institution and its Programs

Name, Mailing Address, and Website

Athabasca University

1 University Drive

Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3

Canada

Website: http://www2.athabascau.ca/

(“Contact Us,” 2012)

Degrees and Majors

The degrees offered in the Distance Education program at Athabasca University are

Doctor of Education in Distance Education and Master of Education in Distance Education

(“General,” 2012).

Program Establishment

Athabasca University was established on June 25, 1970, as a traditional institution

(“History,” 2011). The Doctor of Distance Education degree was first offered in August of 2008

(“General,” 2011).

Course Delivery

To deliver instruction and course materials to students, Athabasca University utilizes a

variety of information technologies. These include print materials, CD-Rom, Internet, e-mail,

web, multi-media, computer software, radio, television, audio/video tapes, and audio/video

conferencing (“Delivery,” 2011). The university uses the learning management software,

Moodle, where students can participate in online discussions, obtain library access, and interact

with professors and classmates (“CDE,” 2011).

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Face-to-Face Component

The only face-to-face requirement for students in the doctoral program is a five-day

workshop for orientation conducted at the main campus of the university (“Delivery,” 2011).

During this time, the first course begins and students are able to meet with colleagues and

professors, participate in activities, and become acquainted with new technology.

Length of Time to Earn a Degree

Students are required to finish the program in a five-year period, but usually complete the

program in four (“Delivery,” 2011).

Accreditation

Athabasca University was the first school in Canada to become accredited in the United

States in 2006 through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (“Accreditation,”

2012). It is the only Canadian public university that holds a foreign accreditation of this level. In

addition, the university reports to the Government of Alberta, is recognized by the Government

of British Columbia, and received CMA accreditation in 2011 for its accounting major.

Public University

Athabasca University reports to the Canadian government via the Minister of Advanced

Education. The university is publicly funded under the Province of Alberta (“About AU,” 2012).

Enrollment

Athabasca University’s enrollment exceeds 38,000 students from all the Canadian

provinces and territories and from 84 countries throughout the world (“Athabasca,” 2012). The

program for the Doctor of Education in Distance Education allows for twelve students per year

and is cohort-based, where the twelve students travel through the program as a group

(“Delivery,” 2011). The program is offered entirely at a distance with the exception of an

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orientation, located at the university, at the start of the first year of study. Currently, there are

five cohorts in the distance education program, totaling sixty, enrolled students (“Academic,”

2011).

Tuition

Students are required to pay a yearly program fee of $4,450 in two installments and a

course tuition fee of $275 per course (“EdD fees,” 2012). Students who do not complete their

degree within four years will be charged $2,225 every six months. Other fees include an

application fee of $150, course extension fee of $250, and withdrawal fee of $350.

Part II: The Institution’s Web Site

Critique of the Institution’s Website

Visual appeal. Athabasca University’s website exhibits the distinct, easily recognizable

purpose of an educational institution. From an artist’s or designer’s perspective, the combination

of the cool color of the side navigation and warm color of the middle menu bar, along with clear,

white text make for an aesthetically-pleasing layout. The center photograph changes every few

seconds, engaging the viewer with four, different pictures of university students and videos are

available on the bottom of the page.

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(http://

www2.athabascau.ca/)

Navigation. The site is easy to navigate and there are several paths one can take to locate

information. For instance, on the home page for the Doctor of Education in Distance Education

program, viewers can easily find specific information on the program from the related links on

the right or revert back to general university information by using the left or top menu bars. A

search function is also available for key word or phrase searches.

(http://cde.athabascau.ca/programs/intro.php)

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Information. Locating information for the research assignment was time-consuming, but

was not difficult in any way. Athabasca University was chosen for this assignment because of the

abundance of information on the university and its programs available right from the website.

There was only the need to email the university to clarify one answer to a question, which was

already on the website. Additionally, there was the added feature of answers to top questions

from students, including a real-time answer service. When a question is asked that is not in the

list of top questions, the university gets back to the student in less than twenty-four hours.

(http://search.athabascau.ca/?value=moodle&type=site)

Positive aspect. The most positive aspect of the website was the inclusion of every bit of

information one might want to know about the university. Not only was the information readily

available for prospective students, but they are able to apply online directly from the website.

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(https://tux.athabascau.ca/oros/servlet/DispatcherServlet;jsessionid=F23196CB9CAA73868891479643B626B0.tux-secure)

Area of improvement. One area of the website that needs updating is the library page.

The design is outdated, albeit simple to navigate, and the page is too lengthy, causing users to

scroll far down the page to view further information and resources.

(http://library.athabascau.ca/ebook.php)

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References

About AU: Accreditation. (2012). Athabasca University. Retrieved from http://www2.athabascau.ca/aboutau/accreditation.php

About AU: Athabasca University at a glance. (2012). Athabasca University. Retrieved from http://www2.athabascau.ca/aboutau/glance.php

About AU: History. (2011). Athabasca University. Retrieved from http://www2.athabascau.ca/aboutau/history.php

Centre for distance education: Academic schedule 2011. (2011). Athabasca University. Retrieved from http://cde.athabascau.ca/programs/edd_academic_schedule.php

Centre for distance education: CDE online. (2011). Athabasca University. Retrieved from http://cde.athabascau.ca/resources/cdeonline.php

Centre for distance education: Delivery format. (2011). Athabasca University. Retrieved from http://cde.athabascau.ca/programs/delivery.php

Centre for distance education: General list of programs. (2011). Athabasca University. Retrieved from http://cde.athabascau.ca/programs/

Contact us. (2012). Athabasca University. Retrieved from http://www2.athabascau.ca/contact/ index.php

EdD fees. (2012). Athabasca University. Retrieved from http://calendar.athabascau.ca/grad/current/distance_06_07.php