Athabasca University

Phase: Formerly Accredited
Status: Voluntarily Surrendered
Candidacy Granted: January 1, 2002
Accreditation Granted: June 22, 2005
Accreditation Ceased: March 31, 2025

On February 28, 2025, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) acted to accept Athabasca University's request to voluntarily surrender its accreditation and terminate its membership effective March 31, 2025. The Commission did not require a teach-out plan because the institution will retain its degree-granting authority from the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Advanced Education. The institution does not participate in title IV/student financial aid programs. Accreditation for the institution ceased on March 31, 2025. As of April 1, 2025, Athabasca University is no longer accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education www.msche.org.

Accreditation Actions

June 6, 2025
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to note the supplemental information report requested on January 16, 2025, will not be acted upon because the institution is no longer accredited. To note the Commission action of February 28, 2025.
February 28, 2025
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of November 4, 2024. To accept the institution's request to voluntarily surrender its accreditation and terminate its membership effective March 31, 2025. As of April 1, 2025, Athabasca University is no longer accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. To note that the institution does not participate in Title IV/student financial aid programs. To note that a teach-out plan is not necessary because the institution will retain its degree granting authority from the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Advanced Education.
January 16, 2025
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due February 14, 2025, providing information on key data indicators (student achievement) from the 2024 Annual Institutional Update in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19 (b). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2028-2029.
November 4, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the notification, dated October 23, 2024, of the institution's intent to voluntarily surrender accreditation and terminate membership. Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due December 13, 2024, providing: (1) evidence that state or federal requirements and approvals regarding the surrender of the institution's accreditation status have been obtained or are in progress and that the institution has ascertained and verified that any state and federal requirements, including requirements from the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Advanced Education, related to surrender or loss of accreditation have been met (Standard II); (2) confirmation that the institution does not participate in title IV/student financial aid programs (Standard II); (3) copies of communications to the institution's community, including all board members, students, faculty, staff, and others with significant roles, related to the surrender of accreditation as appropriate (Standard II and Public Disclosures Policy and Procedures); and (4) the anticipated date of the voluntary surrender (MARCHE Bylaws, Accreditation Actions Policy and Procedures, and Accreditation Review Cycle and Monitoring Policy and Procedures). To note that a teach-out plan is not necessary because the institution will retain its degree granting authority from the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Advanced Education.
June 27, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the teach-out plan. To note that teach-out agreements were not submitted. To note that an updated teach-out plan and signed teach-out agreements will not be required.
June 27, 2024
To acknowledge receipt of the monitoring report. To note the follow-up team visit by the Commission's representatives to the main campus at 1 University Drive Athabasca, Alberta, T9S 3A3 Canada on April 25-26, 2024. To reaffirm accreditation because the institution is now in compliance with Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment). To request a monitoring report, due August 1, 2025, demonstrating sustainability of implemented corrective measures and further evidence of (1) organized and systematic assessments, conducted by faculty and/or appropriate professionals, evaluating the extent of student achievement of institutional and degree/program goals (Standard V); (2) consideration and use of disaggregated assessment results for all student populations for the improvement of student learning outcomes, student achievement, and institutional and program-level educational effectiveness (Standard V); and (3) periodic assessment of the effectiveness of assessment policies and processes utilized by the institution for the improvement of educational effectiveness (Standard V) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). To direct a follow-up team visit following submission of the monitoring report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2028-2029.
March 28, 2024
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to acknowledge receipt of the supplemental information report requested by the Commission action of November 6, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (student achievement), as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update (AIU) in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19(d). Upon reaffirmation of accreditation, the next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2028-2029.
March 14, 2024
To note the Commission liaison guidance visit occurred on January 16-17, 2024. Upon reaffirmation of accreditation, the next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2028-2029.
November 16, 2023
To acknowledge receipt of the monitoring report requested by the Commission action of June 7, 2023. To note the follow-up team visit by the Commission's representatives to the main campus at 1 University Drive, Athabasca, Alberta, T9S 3A3 Canada on August 13-15, 2023. To place the institution on probation and note that the institution's accreditation is in jeopardy because of insufficient evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment). To note that the institution remains accredited while on probation. To note further that federal regulations limit the period during which an institution may be in non-compliance, which started on November 17, 2022. To request a monitoring report , due March 1, 2024, demonstrating evidence that the institution has achieved and can sustain ongoing compliance with Standard V (Educational Effectiveness Assessment), including but not limited to (1) documentation of the evaluation of general education student learning outcomes with evidence of appropriate levels of rigor and coherence and the regular consideration of results and follow-up on any findings (Standard V) and (2) documentation of an implemented, systematic, and sustained process to assess student learning outcomes at all levels (Standard V) (Fourteenth Edition and Evidence Expectations by Standard Guidelines). To request that the monitoring report also include (1) evidence of consideration and use of appropriate assessment by key institutional and unit stakeholders for identifying opportunities for innovation and/or the improvement of educational effectiveness at division/unit level (Standard VI); (2) evidence of regular reporting on institutional performance on key performance indicators (KPIs), and evidence of analysis of KPIs tied to strategic or institutional effectiveness planning (Standard VI); (3) well-defined decision-making processes and clear assignment of responsibility and accountability for achieving institutional and unit effectiveness (Standard VI); and (4) periodic assessment of the effectiveness of planning, resource allocation, institutional renewal processes, and availability of resources (Standard VI). To require that the institution complete and submit for approval, by March 1, 2024, a comprehensive, implementable teach-out plan and signed teach-out agreements with appropriate teach-out partner institutions (Teach-Out Plans and Agreements Policy and Procedures). In accordance with Commission policy and federal regulations, the teach-out plan must provide for the equitable treatment of students to complete their education or transfer to another institution if the Commission were to withdraw accreditation. To note the Commission may reject the teach-out and require resubmission if all of the required information is not provided. To direct a follow-up team visit following submission of the monitoring report. To direct a prompt Commission liaison guidance visit to discuss the Commission's expectations. Upon reaffirmation of accreditation, the next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2028-2029.
November 6, 2023
Staff acted on behalf of the Commission to request a supplemental information report, due December 13, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (student achievement) as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update in accordance with federal regulation 34 CFR § 602.19 (d). The next evaluation date is scheduled for 2028-2029.