Executive Director

AUSU Bylaw Amendment Notice

September 19, 2018 by Executive Director Leave a Comment

AUSU will be proposing amendments to the Bylaws as well as policy 6.08 Financial Management: Membership Fees at the next two public council meetings. To ensure full transparency and to get feedback from our members on these proposed amendments, the following consultation opportunities are available:

NOTE: If you are unable to participate in any of the following opportunities, or you would prefer to speak to AUSU directly, please email [email protected] or call us at 1-855-497-7003.

Teleconference Member Consultation:

A teleconference consultation has been scheduled. All members are welcome to attend and provide feedback or ask questions about the proposed bylaw and policy revisions. The teleconference instructions are online here.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 5:00 pm MST.

Busy, New or Just Uncertain? Tips and Tricks to Help Ease Your AU Experience – By VPEX Melinda Goertz

August 3, 2018 by Executive Director Leave a Comment

If you’re new to Athabasca University or perhaps you’ve just been super busy with your studies, chances are you may be missing out on some really great services or networking opportunities. No worries, I got you.

Tap Into Student Life

If you’re wondering where your fellow students reside and how you can connect with them, there really is an app for that: Athabasca University Students, available on iTunes as well as the Google Play Store. So many resources in one place. The newsfeed alone will keep you current on everything thing from contests and award deadlines, fellow student successes/pain points and even perhaps connecting with others that are taking the same courses or in your field of study.

Other App options:

Ask a Question Study Tips

Buy & Sell Photos

Study Buddy Groups

This is a GREAT place to start.

AUSU Annual Members Meeting

July 19, 2018 by Executive Director Leave a Comment

After our Public Council Meeting on August 9th, please join your Council Members and Executives for an AUSU Annual Members Meeting. Students will be given the opportunity to voice their concerns and ask any questions they may have about AUSU, our initiatives, and a portion of this event will be focused on collecting student feedback on your overall learning experience and what that may look like in the future.

Time: 7:30pm-8:30pm MST
Date: Thursday, August 9th
Location: GlobalMeet https://athabasca.pgimeet.com/AUStudentsUnion

July Executive Blog

July 19, 2018 by Executive Director Leave a Comment

If you had the opportunity to improve AU, how would you do it?

Well now is your chance, find out how you can help re-imagine online learning at AU!

For months you have heard us talk about the university’s IMAGINE plan and how over the next few years AU is going to be making some big changes. This is great news for students and now with a 4.9-million-dollar grant from the government momentum is gaining. So, what does this mean for you as a student?

It means that you have an opportunity to help write AU history. How often does a university decide that they are going to make sweeping changes and then turn to students for input. That is the opportunity we have before us. We can participate in the re-imagining of both AU as an institution and learning itself. Thanks to our out of the box thinking administration at AU we are looking past AU as it currently exists and focusing on what would be the most optimal university. Once we have this picture we can then begin to build AU’s future.

The first step in the redesign process is developing a learning framework. So, what does that entail? In the simplest form the framework is going to lay out what learning looks like fifty years from now. It is a very broad topic that is being addressed by numerous AU committees. AUSU has a seat on the steering committee and from hearing from the other committees, they also need student feedback.

The university wants to be able to understand questions like: What student’s expectations of learning are? What skills do we expect to gain from our education? What needs to be considered regarding learning to ensure student success.

With how important this process is AUSU has been working on developing ways to get your input. We want to know what you would like to see happen at AU. So, to do this, we will be launching an engagement campaign very shortly. There will be many ways to get involved including online and in person town halls, meet & greets, online discussions in the AUSU app and forums, or you can always reach out to me. Make sure to keep an eye on our social media platforms and website for more details.

This is an exciting time, and I can’t wait to see our members contribute their input to help us Imagine a better AU experience.

All the best,

Brandon Simmons

AUSU President

Email : president @ausu.org

Cell: 780-668-2952

AUSU Membership Fee Update

June 7, 2018 by Executive Director Leave a Comment

AUSU Council Approves Fee Increase!

During the May 10^th regular public council meeting, following member consultation and a first reading vote during the April 10^th public council meeting (in accordance with our bylaws), the AUSU council unanimously supported the following special resolution motion for an AUSU fee increase:

Be it resolved that AUSU council approve a membership fee increase in the amount of $0.75 per credit to take effect on October 1, 2018

-Carried 12/0

A great deal of consideration and research was put into the fee increase. Although AUSU always has and will continue to advocate for the lowest possible fees for post-secondary students at AU, student council is confident that this fee increase will have a healthy impact on the AUSU membership for the foreseeable future.Continue Reading

Apply to sit on an AUSU Committee!

May 18, 2018 by Executive Director Leave a Comment

Want to earn money and gain experience for a career in leadership?

Want to get more involved with your AU Students’ Union?

Do you have ideas for engaging with other AU students?

Apply to be a voting member of the AUSU Member Engagement & Communications Committee!

The MEC committee is a standing committee formed by AUSU Council to develop a strong connection between AUSU and its members, and ensure that all AUSU communications are representative of AUSU’s goals and guiding principles.

The committee also strives to promote content that provides members with a sense of community, a stronger connection with their fellow students, a better understanding of AUSU, and a well-rounded university experience.Continue Reading

Win a Prize at a Facebook Live Event!

October 17, 2017 by Executive Director Leave a Comment

AUSU will be hosting some Facebook Live Events! Join your AUSU executives in some great discussions about AU, balancing commitments, tips on how to succeed, and more!

Post a comment or question on the topics discussed during one of the three Facebook Live events listed below for a chance to win a sweet AUSU prize pack!

Come visit AUSU live at facebook.com/AthaUSU during the sessions listed below. Participate in the session and your name will be entered into a prize draw. Must be an AUSU member to win a prize.

Monday, October 23 at 12pm MT

Topics: Secrets for studying online, ways to balance your commitments such as family, work, school, etc.

CASA Foundations Conference

June 26, 2017 by Executive Director Leave a Comment

Last month, AUSU executives Julian Teterenko (Vice President External Affairs, or VPEX) and Scott Jacobsen (Vice President Finance and Administration, or VPFA) went to the annual Foundations Conference for the Canadian Alliance of Students’ Associations (CASA). The conference was hosted at the Four Points hotel in Gatineau, Quebec from May 22 to 26.

The conference is a comprehensive introduction to the organization for all new delegates, and helps delegates learn how to advocate on behalf of students. It prepares new CASA delegates to take the reins of the organization. Since CASA is a student-run organization, the most prepared students make for the best prepared organisation. These conferences are crucial to the success of the organization and making sure that post-secondary students in Canada are represented to the federal government. Furthermore, it is crucial for Athabasca University students to have representation at these conferences since we are in a unique situation among post-secondary institutions in Canada.Continue Reading

2017 Council Retreat

June 21, 2017 by Executive Director Leave a Comment

CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE. Left to right: Councillor Kim Newsome, VP External and Student Affairs Julian Teterenko, VP Finance and Administration Scott Jacobsen, Councillor Robin Bleich, Councillor Amanda Lipinski, Executive Director Jodi Campbell, Councillor Brandon Simmons, President Shawna Wasylyshyn.

In June 2017, AUSU council traveled from across Canada to meet up in Athabasca for a council working retreat. The retreat was held over the convocation weekend from June 7 to June 10, which provided a great opportunity for council to see the ceremony, greet other AU students and celebrate their successes, as well as to meet in person with various AU stakeholders.Continue Reading

25th Anniversary Re-Branding

June 16, 2017 by Executive Director Leave a Comment

AUSU is celebrating its 25th anniversary! AUSU was founded in 1992 as the first students’ union in the world to represent distance education students.

In honor of this milestone, we are updating our logo to be better represent AUSU as the Athabasca University Students’ Union!