Last week, Dr. Neil Fassina, President of Athabasca University held a 90 minute town hall meeting over lunch on Tuesday at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. Students were invited to attend both in person and by teleconference, so I popped by virtually to hear what was being said. The meeting seemed to be well attended,… Read more »
If you’ve been trying to avoid recent news about Mr. Trump’s activities, I don’t blame you, but it may be time to start paying attention again. The reason? Mr. Trump has done something I had previously thought unthinkable. He did something I agree with. On Tuesday, April 4th, there was a release of the nerve-agent… Read more »
One of the best things about Athabasca University is its courses run year-round. This is also one of the downsides of AU. With the ability to begin courses every month, students have no built-in holiday period. There are no fixed semesters and no fixed breaks. No summer holidays, no reading weeks, no year-end break?nothing. AU… Read more »
CBC’s Canada Reads debate is upon us again. I love listening to books being debated and the conversations that flood social media after each elimination. There is something wonderful seeing a love of literature flood social media. It may only last for a few days, but it is fantastic. Not everyone agrees with the execution… Read more »
This week, we have a couple of new writers who are testing the waters of The Voice Magazine. Sarah Joseph brings us a book review from a new New York writer, and Tara Howse brings us a story that I don’t often see reflected in these pages, but I know happens to many AU students?the… Read more »
Should you find yourself at some point in your academic career in sore need of wherewithal, don’t take it hard. After all, the student years are typically times of scarcity; It’s the price you pay for getting the credentials you need to launch a career. Besides, It’s not such a bad experience. The money-saving lessons… Read more »
I registered for my first Athabasca course back in 2008 and, after 9 years, I am nearly finished, anticipating a completion date this summer (2017). Distance education is not easy. It requires dedication and commitment at a greater level than the standard on-campus post-secondary experience. I assume most students are quite like myself: juggling multiple… Read more »
Book: Play the Devil Author: Scott Laudati In his first novel, Play the Devil, Scott Laudati tackles the common coming-of-age story with a refreshing take on the classic cliché. Using dark humour (sometimes bordering on the macabre) to reveal some uncomfortable truths, this contemporary novel takes place in at the beginning of a modern New… Read more »
Like this spring/winter weather we have been getting, sometimes we have a hard time making up our minds. When I started with AU, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do at the end of it. I knew what I hoped to gain, but I wasn’t sure where I would apply it, or how I… Read more »