Athabasca University was formed by the Alberta government in 1970. It was part of the extension of the higher
education system in Alberta at that time to handle with rising enrolment. In the late 1960s, the University of Alberta (U of A) had long been recognized, the University of Calgary was created after legislation had been changed, and an Order in Council had formed the University of Lethbridge. In 1967, the Manning government announced its intention to establish a fourth public university, but this would be postponed by three years as the government considered different proposals. The U of A wanted to inflate rather than see another university open in Edmonton to compete with it. One suggestion favoured establishing a Christian university as an alternative of a secular one. Another early suggestion was an "Alberta academy" that would take credits students had earned at multiple universities, estimate them for transfer, and perhaps award degrees. A Department of
Education ad hoc group favoured the organization of a fourth public university. A group of U of A graduates including Preston Manning influenced the development of an independent fourth university. In 1970, Grant MacEwan, then the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, established AU by an Order in Council. The name for the new university was a challenge, as it was not desired to associate the new university in a primarily rural province with a city (Edmonton) that already had a university (the U of A). Athabasca Hall, a student residence at the U of A, was scheduled for demolition, so the name was appropriated for the new Athabasca University.
Last Updated on: Nov 26, 2024