Online MBA for Executives

The flexibility of online learning with the strength to grow your career.

Athabasca’s renowned online MBA offers the flexibility to get a quality education without leaving the workforce. Don’t put your life on hold.

MBA graduates 30.2% salary increase (after the MBA)*

MBA active students 609

MBA alumni 4000+

MBA median income $129,500 (after the MBA)**

* MBA Graduate Data & Average Alumni Salary Tracking, AU Faculty of Business, 2011-2019.

** Statistics Canada, Labour Market Outcomes for College and University Graduates, Class of 2010‐2014, December 4, 2018.

This program is offered under the written consent of the Minister of Advanced Education effective January 10, 2018, having undergone a quality assessment process and been found to meet the criteria established by the minister. Nevertheless, prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (for example, acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies, or other educational institutions).

What can the AU MBA for executives do for you?

In 1994, Athabasca University logged on with the world’s first fully interactive online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. Since then, we have continued to build a tradition of excellence in online management education.

Today, with more than 25 years experience, the AU online MBA is one of Canada’s largest MBA programs, and has earned a place among the top MBAs in the world. Our powerful collaborative online learning environment makes it feasible and practical to work on a top quality MBA while still meeting your commitments to work and family. The AU online MBA is a fully accredited Master of Business Administration program and is recognized globally.

I became an executive while I was learning to be an executive. AU’s online format made it possible for me to complete my MBA as I pursued my passion for geology in countries as far away as West Africa. As I learned, I applied my newfound knowledge to my role as CEO and it allowed me to expand my career in ways I never thought possible. ~ Shastri Ramnath, MBA, President and Principal Geologist, Orix Geoscience Inc. Designed to fit individual schedules, the online MBA program can be successfully completed from home, work, or even while travelling. You need not leave work for a month, a year, or even every second Friday. You control your study hours, working at the time and place that’s right for you while you complete your business master's program. The AU online MBA uses a paced course schedule. The paced course schedule has specific beginning and end dates for each course, assignment deadlines and exam. It’s a rigorous program with a structure that’s designed to give our students a better learning experience and a greater breadth of knowledge than they would in a classroom alone. Even though the course is paced, it’s asynchronous meaning students are able to log on remotely and complete their coursework wherever and whenever is convenient for them. AU’s online MBA courses are flexible and fit into your schedule, not the other way around.

Ways to Qualify

Athabasca University follows the “Open University” philosophy. A key part of our mission and mandate is to reduce barriers to entering post-secondary education globally. At the master’s level, this includes admission pathways that go beyond recognition of undergraduate degrees: if you do not have an undergraduate degree but have significant management experience (see pathway #3 below), we encourage you to apply.

Powerful, Collaborative Online Learning

Build Connections Your AU MBA peers are professionals facing real organizational challenges—just like you. Through online discussions and coursework, you gain the benefit of collaborating with like-minded professionals. Go Beyond the Classroom Our platform makes it possible to keep, and grow, your career while completing your studies. You can complete your studies from anywhere. Practice concepts learned in your studies directly in your organization for better knowledge retention and comprehension.

Is the Online MBA for Executives Right for You?

Our curriculum is challenging, and concentrates on the key management areas that affect organizational performance: strategy, analytics, human resources, finance, marketing, operations, and information technology. It requires you to exercise your critical thinking and decision making skills, and to apply what you are learning to your work in your own organization—leading to immediate workplace and career impacts.

Attend an Information Session

At our information sessions, you can expect to learn more details, as well as ask questions, about our MBA program. Our interactive format makes it easy to ask questions and get real time answers.

MBA Partnership Programs

AU provides the opportunity to enter the online MBA for executives with transfer credit and associated program tuition reduction for many designations.

MBA for Accountants

Athabasca University and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada are committed to developing global business leaders who combine solid strategic management skills with superior financial management knowledge and an understanding of sound corporate governance. Read more »

MBA for Health Leaders

Athabasca University’s collaboration with the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) allows students to earn both an MBA and the Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation, Canada’s only professional credential available to health leaders. CCHL is a national, non-profit, professional association dedicated to developing, promoting, advancing, and recognizing excellence in health leadership. Read more »

MBA for Supply Chain Management

Athabasca University and the Supply Chain Management Association are committed to developing strategic business leaders who combine innovative management leadership skills with superior supply chain management knowledge, along with the highest level of integrity based on adherence to the SCMA Code of Ethics. Your Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) designation gives you enhanced access to Athabasca University’s online MBA for executives program by providing transfer credit for up to nine total credits, which will enable you to finish your online program up to six months faster. Read more »

MBA in Hockey Management

Athabasca University has collaborated with the Business of Hockey Institute (BHI) to develop an elite, graduate level, online MBA in hockey management to elevate the business of hockey. For the first time in hockey’s history, a program is in place to develop the leaders in the boardroom, rather than on the ice. Read more »

Program Information

Learn more about our program structure, curriculum, admissions, and tuition.

Structure & Curriculum

The AU online MBA for executives program integrates theory and practice by focusing on real business problems, building on the knowledge and expertise of both teachers and learners. The curriculum concentrates on the management areas critical to organizational performance, and requires you to connect the program to your experience in your own organization or an organization with which you are familiar.

The information below pertains to our general MBA program. For structure and curriculum information for qualifying accelerated entry students, please click here.

Intakes There are three student intakes per year for the AU online MBA for executives program: Winter, Spring, and Fall. Each intake of students is assigned a Student Services Coordinator who is their main administrative contact throughout the program. How Courses Work All online MBA courses are paced, meaning there are scheduled start and end dates, and assignment deadlines within each course. Students in each intake progress through the program’s core courses as a cohort. Courses are also asynchronous—meaning you are never required to be online at a particular time. Plan to spend 20 – 25 hours per week on your studies. All courses (core and elective) are eight weeks long and three (3) credits* (with the exception of some six-credit, ten week in-residence electives). The applied project is nine (9) credits, to be completed within a five-month period. The MBA is 48 credits total. Completion Time Usual program completion time is two and one-half to three years; the program must be completed in five years. If you’ve completed your business degree in the last 10 years, you may qualify for accelerated entry and complete your degree in as little as 19 months. Structure Phase One *Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM) Six foundational courses build upon each other and are capped by a week-long comprehensive examination. This exam is case-based and requires students to integrate and apply all they have learned to this point. *The GDM and Phase One of the MBA are the same. Phase One Core Courses: Strategic Management

Human Resource Management

Financial and Managerial Accounting

Marketing Management

Managerial Economics and Quantitative Analysis

Operations Management

Comprehensive Exam Award of Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM) Phase Two Four core advanced courses solidify students’ holistic, organizational view of the senior management function. In this phase, students also complete 18 elective credits, either in the form of six* elective courses, or three* elective courses plus an applied project. At least one elective must be taken in residence. In residence electives are held in locations across Canada and internationally. *Some in residence electives are six credits and can be taken in lieu of two, three credit electives. Phase Two Core Courses: Information Technology Strategy

Corporate Finance

Strategy and Organizational Analysis

Ethical Decision Making Electives: three, three credit* elective courses plus a nine credit applied project, or

six, three credit* elective courses. Award of Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) Elective Courses* To see a list of electives you can choose from, click here » *not all electives are on the schedule at all times; some electives are offered bi-annually.

Phase One and Two Schedules

Electives Schedules

Admissions

Discussion, collaboration, and peer learning are at the heart of the AU online MBA for executives. To effectively contribute, students must have a solid base of education and management experience.

Admissions Overview The Admissions Committee considers your entire application profile holistically, including academic records, managerial/professional experience, your essay, and letters of reference. You are assessed on your own merit and your application is considered separately from other applications. Athabasca University follows the “Open University” philosophy. A key part of our mission and mandate is to reduce barriers to entering post-secondary education globally. At the master’s level, this includes admission pathways that go beyond recognition of undergraduate degrees: if you do not have an undergraduate degree but have significant management experience (see pathway #3 below), we encourage you to apply. How to Apply You can apply to the AU online MBA for executives through one of three pathways: If you have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university plus at least three years of managerial experience (managerial experience must demonstrate progressive responsibility and should include managing people, projects, or budgets, or any combination of these).

or

from an accredited university (managerial experience must demonstrate progressive responsibility and should include managing people, projects, or budgets, or any combination of these). You hold an accepted professional designation (see list) and at least five years of managerial experience,

or

(see list) and of managerial experience, You have at least eight years of progressively responsible managerial experience.* For more information about our entry routes, please visit: MBA Entry Routes » *Students who wish to apply to the Online MBA for executives using route 3 must apply to the Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM) first. Upon successful completion of all Phase One courses and the comprehensive exam, they may apply to transfer into Phase Two of the MBA. Your Admissions Application Once your complete application package—including reference letters and transcripts—has been received, your student services coordinator will send it for review by the online MBA for executives Admissions Committee. Generally, you will receive a decision within two weeks. For more information about admissions applications, please visit: Applications »

Tuition and Fees

See below for examples of payment schedules with different MBA routes. In both examples, the student has chosen just one in-residence elective, located in Canada (tuition for international in-residence electives is higher, and varies depending on location).

Note: All Fees are payable in Canadian dollars and are subject to change.

Applied Project Route Course fees due upon registration. Applied Project Route Program application fee $205 Program admission fee $856 Phase One 6 core courses ($3,136 per course) $18,817 Phase Two 4 core courses ($3,136 per course) $12,544 2 online electives ($3,136 per course) $6,272 Elective in-residence (Canada) $4,180 Applied Project $4,834 Total $47,708 You may choose to take your in residence elective outside of Canada, or choose more than one in residence elective. Your selections will affect your overall tuition; your student services coordinator can help you sort through your options. The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable. Course Based Route Course Based Route Program application fee $205 Program admission fee $856 Phase One 6 core courses ($3,136 per course) $18,817 Phase Two 4 core courses ($3,136 per course) $12,544 5 online electives ($3,136 per course) $15,680 Elective in-residence (Canada) $4,180 Total $52,282 You may choose to take your in residence elective outside of Canada, or choose more than one in residence elective. Your selections will affect your overall tuition; your student services coordinator can help you sort through your options. The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable. Other Fees Course Withdrawal Processing fee1: $383 Comprehensive Examination fee (repeats): $263 Program Transfer fee: $114 AU Graduate Student Association fee (per credit): $13 Transfer Credit Evaluation fee (one time): $295 Program Continuation fee: $592 Letter of Permission fee: $84 Applied Project Extension fee $368 1 The course withdrawal processing fee is a mandatory administrative fee charged when a student withdraws from a course. Refer to Withdrawals. You may choose to take your in residence elective outside of Canada, or choose more than one in residence elective. Your selections will affect your overall tuition; your student services coordinator can help you sort through your options. The Application fee, admission fee, and transfer credit evaluation fee are non-refundable.

Financing your Program

While there is no question an Online MBA for executives is a large financial commitment, the potential rewards are many: increased mobility, job satisfaction, confidence, credibility, and income.

You already have a head start in your financing quest by choosing AU’s Online MBA for executives program—a program that offers you all the academic quality and rigour of the top bricks-and-mortar programs at half the price or less. Not only that, but our 24 hour online format means you don’t have to leave your job to pursue your master’s degree.

Canada Job Grant Program Students can take advantage of the provincial Canada Job Grant when your employer is helping you fund your education. Through the Canada Job Grant, your employer can receive reimbursement of two-thirds of the cost of training, up to a maximum of $10,000 per employee per year. Companies can access up to $300,000 per year in grant funding to cover tuition, learning materials and fees. Provinces and Territories are responsible for the design and delivery of the Canada Job Grant in their jurisdictions. The application process is simple and approval time is a matter of weeks. For more information on the Canada Job Grant and how employers can apply, select a province or territory from the list below: Alberta

British Colombia

Manitoba

Newfoundland and Labrador

New Brunswick

Northwest Territories

Nova Scotia

Nunavut

Ontario

Prince Edward Island

Saskatchewan

Yukon Self-Financing Options In Canada, student loans, low interest student lines of credit, and the Lifelong Learning Plan can all be reasonable options to help you with tuition. Please note this information is for Canadian students only. If you are an international student, please enquire in your home country. Student Loans The Athabasca University Online MBA for executives program is recognized as a full-time program by the Canadian federal government for individuals applying for student loans. Canada Student Loans Low Interest Student Lines of Credit Many banks offer options for financing your education. The following are just a few – check with your own bank as well, to see what they can offer you. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)

National Bank of Canada

RBC Royal Bank

TD Canada Trust Lifelong Learning Plan You can also consider using some of your RRSP funds for your education. Lifelong Learning Plan Tax Deductions for Canadian Students ALL TUITION FEES ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE IN CANADA. At AU, text books are included in tuition and will be included in your annual tuition tax credit.

Students enrolled in the AU MBA are considered full time students by Revenue Canada for every month enrolled in a course. Employer Sponsorship If you haven’t already approached your employer about funding at least part of your MBA, then that’s the place to start. The AU MBA curriculum is designed so that you apply your studies to your workplace immediately; your employer will benefit. We’ve provided some points to help you make your case. Nurture talented professionals in your organization — develop their strategic management skills, draw out their leadership potential, renew their sense of purpose, and reap the benefits. Global Perspectives An AU MBA online classroom connects experienced managers from across Canada and around the world, from every sector and virtually every industry—students who specialize in human resources, operations, marketing, information technology … in roles from middle manager to CEO to entrepreneur. Your employee works, discusses and debates with this rich peer group and top academics, and then brings fresh thinking and creativity back to your organization. Immediate ROI Our Online MBA for executives curriculum requires students to apply concepts to projects and assignments based on their own workplaces. You gain a direct return from their very first course. No Down Time AU’s proven online course delivery system provides a superior management education without requiring students to take time off work to attend classes. Increased Job Satisfaction … and Enthusiasm Applying new knowledge immediately means achieving more sooner, in turn leading to an increased sense of accomplishment, higher motivation, and renewed sense of purpose on the job. Work-Life Balance The flexibility of AU’s online program helps students balance the demands of home, life, career and MBA studies. Our students can study at night, early in the morning, on weekends — whatever works best for them (and you). Quality Online Learning The Athabasca University Online MBA for executives was ranked among the top three Online MBA for executives programs in Canada by Canadian Business in 2001 and among the top 75 Online MBA for executivess in the world by the Financial Times, UK in 2003, 2004, and 2006. (The AU MBA was the only online MBA to make the FT list; after 2006 the publication stopped allowing us to participate because of our format). In 2012, AU’s Online MBA for executives appeared in the Financial Times’ list of online programs offered by “48 of the top business schools” from around the world. Incredible Value Your employee is already showing smart financial thinking. While the Athabasca University Online MBA for executives offers a curriculum equal in rigour and depth to Canada’s finest ‘bricks and mortar’ MBA programs, our tuition is considerably less—sometimes less than half. You recoup your investment faster. Easy Mobility If you need your employee’s talents in another town or even another country — for a week, month, year or even permanently — their online MBA program can go right along with them. Scholarships and Awards Apply for as many scholarships as you can; don’t think you won’t be selected for this or that reason, just apply and see what happens. Apply for the smaller bursaries as well as the larger scholarships—they all add up. Take advantage of many opportunities, large and small, to potentially fund part of your studies? The following links will take you to resources on our main campus web site that will help you research graduate-level scholarships offered by AU and external organizations: Awards for Graduate Students Please direct applications and inquiries to:

Student Awards Administrative Assistant

Office of the Registrar

Athabasca University

1 University Drive, Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3

Fax: (780) 675-6174 Phone: 1-800-788-9041 ext 6197 (Canada and U.S.)

Email: awardsinfo@athabascau.ca Graduate Student Research Fund Please direct applications and inquiries to:

Research Centre

Athabasca University

1 University Drive

Athabasca AB T9S 3A3

Toll free: 1 (800) 788-9041 ext. 6651 (Canada and U.S.)

Fax: (780) 675-6722

E-mail: aurc@athabascau.ca PLEASE NOTE: The Faculty of Business is not involved with the administration of scholarships and awards. However, certain scholarships require documentation such as: transcripts, letter of good standing, GPA, etc. To obtain MBA related documentation, contact a Graduate Enrolment Advisor at ssq@fb.athabascau.ca.

Being an AU MBA Student

Being an online MBA student at Athabasca University’s Faculty of Business (AU-FB) is an experience like no other. Once you are accepted into the program, you join a virtual ‘classroom’ of talented managers from organizations of various shapes and sizes and industries—private, not-for-profit, and government—across the country and beyond. And you have a strong support network to help you succeed including; core faculty and academic coaches, administrative support, and technical support—not to mention your new student peer community.

The Faculty of Business also has a strong student and alumni relations community that will help you connect to students and graduates.

Time Commitment Weekly: on average 20 to 25 hours

Full Program: 2.5 to 3 years*

*Those in the Accelerated or Accounting programs will finish sooner. Weekly Commitment The Athabasca University online MBA for executives is a rigorous and challenging program, and will demand much from you in terms of personal commitment and time. Expect to spend on average 20 to 25 hours per week on readings, course work, discussions, group assignments, and individual assignments. The time you spend on each course may vary somewhat depending on your aptitude for and familiarity with subject matter. Daily Commitment To be successful, AU MBA students must actively engage in online discussions on an almost daily basis. The program’s collaborative, peer-learning oriented format demands that you be present and contributing within the learning environment roughly five to six days per week—cramming on weekends will not work. Often students struggle with this time commitment during the first and second course, but once schedules and routines are established, finding the best times and places to fit school around life become easier. Program Completion Time Most students complete the MBA in two and one half to three years. It is possible to complete the MBA in less than two and a half years, however, this will require a significant time commitment beyond 20 to 25 hours per week for portions of your studies. Students can take up to five years to complete the MBA should they need to. Course Scheduling With the exception of some elective courses, all MBA courses are eight weeks long and are separated by a two-week break. Courses are taken one at a time, allowing you to dive deeply into one topic area at a time while also ensuring that you can balance your student life with your professional and personal lives. Flexibility Time and location are barriers to participation for many students when it comes to classroom based learning. At traditional bricks-and-mortar schools, you have to organize your life around set school hours. At Athabasca, you can schedule your school hours to fit the rest of your life. The AU MBA is online, asynchronous, and paced:

What does exactly does all that mean? Online All of your course activities take place in one course environment that you can access on your laptop, home computer, work computer, tablet, even your smartphone if need be. Everything you need to read, discuss, collaborate, and submit work will be organized in one spot. Asynchronous We have students and academics across Canada and around the world engaged in learning and teaching 24 hours a day. Asynchronous learning means you are never required to be online at a certain date and time. You can complete your work, contribute to discussions, and ask questions of your professor at any time as long as you meet your deadlines. Paced Too much flexibility can be as bad as not enough. AU’s paced courses have set start and end dates, with assignment deadlines and requirements for group work and collaboration within each course to keep you on track. In short, they are just like regular university classes, minus the trip to the classroom. Online / Offline Whether you are in Saskatoon or Singapore, at home, or over the ocean on a flight, you can engage with others and never worry about missing a lecture. Our robust learning environment is key to providing flexibility as it allows you to work on or offline, meaning you can draft your contribution to discussions while working remotely and upload once you can connect to the Internet again. You control when and where You are expected to contribute 20 to 25 hours per week on average to your studies over roughly five to six days per week, but the when and where is completely up to you: early mornings, over your lunch hour, after work, even into the wee hours of the night – what works for you works for us. Peer Learning Athabasca University online MBA for executives students are experienced managers with interesting and diverse backgrounds across many different industries, sectors, countries, and cultures. This diversity of opinion and life experience adds depth to the program’s curriculum, and helps students understand how theories can be applied in a variety of contexts. Why do you think the way you think? Expect to engage in daily discussions with students in your group throughout each course. And expect to be challenged to examine and explain why you think the way you think. In any AU MBA course, participation in group discussions will count for up to 40 percent of your grade, and is based on: How you think through and respond to questions posed by other students and your academic coach, How you help others understand your point of view by sharing insights and examples from your own experiences, and How you integrate others’ points of view and experiences, as well as new theoretical knowledge, into your overall management perspective—in other words, how you demonstrate that you are developing and maturing as a senior manager and leader. Communicating Online All voices heard equally Your identity as an MBA student at Athabasca—how you are perceived by other students and your professors—isn’t based on how old or young you are, or your gender, or ethnicity, or physical abilities. You are known by the way you think. What matters is the strength of your arguments, how you connect academic theories and concepts to your organizational issues, and, most importantly, that you effectively share ideas and thoughts with your peers. A chance to think things through Your first answer isn’t always your best answer. That is one of the challenges with a traditional MBA classroom model and the inherent competition between students to answer questions and participate. At AU, interaction and peer learning are not constrained time or location, and neither is your ability to fully think through problems or collaborate on solutions. You can always revisit what you’ve said and add nuance, examples, even change your opinion. Better questions, better answers Your academic coaches have the same advantage. When you ask a question, they do not have to answer immediately with their ‘top of mind’ answer. They can think a few minutes, maybe even go and look something up before they respond. That gives you a better answer too. We believe that having time—to think and reflect, to craft a response, or to make sure you understand someone else’s argument—is of fundamental importance to your studies and will help move you beyond simple memorization to mastery. Tailoring Your MBA Program Design your AU MBA Experience Whether you are looking to increase your expertise in a particular field or branch out into new disciplines, the AU MBA can help you customize your experience to fit your unique learning objectives. 1) Use your own work scenarios as case studies Within almost all core courses, weekly discussions and individual assignments are focused on connecting your learning directly to your company and your industry. Our goal is to move you beyond imagining what you “might” do within a scenario and instead help you connect your learning to what is happening in the real world and in your workplace. You will come away from each course with tangible and usable knowledge and abilities. You’ll also have a series of deliverables you can take back to your organization. This is perhaps most significant way you can tailor the MBA experience to your goals. 2) Create your own electives concentration or explore a variety of topics Electives are available on a wide variety of subject areas and are delivered in online as well as in blended online/in residence formats held across Canada and internationally. You can choose to concentrate on one topic area or mix things up and take courses on completely different subjects. Should you choose to concentrate on one topic, the following areas have multiple courses available: Project Management

Entrepreneurship

Human Resources

IT Management

Leadership

Operations Management

Strategy

Marketing

Finance and Governance

International Business In Residence Electives In residence electives include both online and face-to-face components. All students must complete at least one in-residence elective, often referred to as a blended elective, as they are delivered with a blend of online and face-to-face formats. Choose from eight week, three credit courses or ten week, six credit courses, each containing five days of very intense face-to-face instruction. These courses include online course work, readings, group assignments, and a major individual assignment. Learning is anchored by the week in residence. These electives are offered throughout the year in major centres across Canada including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax. “I teach a six credit elective on Advanced Strategy that culminates with a week in residence. In this course, students are placed into teams of five and are paired up with a company. Over the first nine weeks of the course, these teams meet virtually with their assigned company’s senior leadership. They ask questions, gather information and conduct a comprehensive strategic analysis. The week concludes with students formally presenting their strategies and recommendations to each company’s leadership team. The week in residence brings everything and everyone together. It’s a very powerful experience both for the students and the companies they are working with.” ~ Michael Mauws, PhD Professor, Business Policy and Strategy International Electives International electives combine online study and an immersive face-to-face study. For students interested in international business, the AU MBA offers a series of international elective courses offered around the world. International electives include five to seven intensive days working in another country. Students get an insider’s view of some of that nation’s top companies. International electives are scheduled in different trade zones over a three year rotation. Some students take three international electives in residence so they can study business in three different countries over the course of their program. International courses are continually updated with new countries and topics, recent and upcoming offerings include: Doing business in the UK, taught in London

Doing business in Asia Pacific, taught in Singapore

Doing business in a recovering economy, taught in Athens, Greece The Applied Project Take on a problem or opportunity with a mentor’s guidance MBA students have the option of taking six elective courses, or completing three elective courses plus an applied project. The applied project is a major academic research paper involving a review of literature and systematic application of concepts, models, and theories to a specific business problem or solution. Many students report making significant impacts in their workplaces by tackling a serious workplace problem or pursuing a significant opportunity as their applied project. Once students submit their proposal for an applied project, they are assigned an academic supervisor with significant academic and industry experience in their chosen management area. This gives students the opportunity to assume responsibility for a substantial real-life workplace or community issue with the guidance of an experienced mentor. Graduate Advisors & Program Support As with any university, your current course professor will be your main point of contact at any given time. However, at AU, there are many others working to ensure you have a positive and successful graduate school experience. Your Professors Core Faculty members teach, conduct research, and lead academic disciplines within AU’s undergraduate and graduate programs. They shape the overall direction of the AU online MBA for executives, and oversee course and coaching quality for all core and elective courses within their academic specialization. Academic Coaches work with small groups of eight to ten students in each course, ensuring a high standard of student-academic interaction. We call them academic coaches because their job is not to teach in the traditional sense, but rather to facilitate active discussion and collaboration among students. They guide conversations and provide insights, tools, or new information to help clarify points or themes. Most academic coaches are PhD qualified (master’s degree minimum) and all have significant industry experience. Many are full time faculty members at other universities. Graduate Enrolment Advisors All AU MBA students are assigned a Graduate Enrolment Advisor upon acceptance into the program. Your advisor becomes your main administrative contact and works with you throughout your program to help you manage your schedule and meet your degree requirements. When your job demands or other life issues get too big even for an online study schedule, your advisor will help you find the best way through. Your advisor generally stays the same throughout the life of your program HelpDesk We know you want to be able to effectively study, collaborate, and get your work done online without having to become a technical expert on our systems. We want that too. HelpDesk staff provide you the resources and assistance you need to participate effectively in the online learning environment—they work extended hours to help you with setup, travel issues, or any other technical issue that comes along. Library The AU Library supports students in AU courses by collecting online, print and audiovisual resources in subject areas taught at the university, and making these available to the AU community. You can access the following services: A massive collection of online full-text journal databases, e-books and other electronic collections. AUCAT, the online catalogue of library materials and borrow materials from the AU Library collection. Library assistance and instruction from staff at the Library Information Desk. Interlibrary loans (ILL) for journal articles and book chapters.