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U N I V E R S I T Y U N D E R G R A D S P E C I A L F E A T U R E Educational Discovery Innovative learning frameworks offer effective choices for students Athabasca University Online Bachelor of Management Waiting four months—a typical university semester—to start your undergraduate degree can seem like a lifetime for a student. It's a frustrating setback that can create both personal and financial repercussions if the application deadline is missed. At Athabasca University (AU), North America's first fully online university, course start dates occur on the first of every month, so the opportunity to begin your undergraduate program is available when you are. With 12 entry points to help students gain admission faster and complete your degree at your own pace, students also have the opportunity to reach graduation quicker. Flexibility, equality, and open access are the guiding principles of AU that serve the online needs of any learners 16 years of age and older. Dr. Neil Fassina, president at AU describes the university's core benefits of accessibility for students in a worldwide digital learning environment: "The Athabasca University advantage is that you are in control of your life, with flexible and open options to access university- level education. Although our studies are predominantly online, you're not alone. We have amazing supports and services for our learners and want you to be successful. Our mission is to increase the equality of opportunities for adult learning in Canada and beyond." AU's strategic plan, Imagine: Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities, embodies our shared, collective future and how we aspire to further strengthen our learners' journeys by removing barriers towards lifelong learning and ultimately to transform the lives and communities in which our students and alumni reside, wherever that may be. AU removes the physical, social, and economic barriers that can limit access to and success in achieving your undergraduate goals. As a world- class leader in online education, AU serves over 40,000 students in 90 countries globally. "The student farthest away from Athabasca University resides in Durban North, South Africa," says Dr. Fassina. Regardless of a student's location and distance, AU maintains a commitment to communication strategies to keep students connected through initiatives set out by the Athabasca University Students' Union (AUSU), an independent, student-run society representing undergraduates. "We're currently helping the university M A R TIN DEE PHOTO/ COUR T ESY UBC Design and Innovation Day at UBC has students showcasing senior year thesis projects