Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resources Management policies
The policies listed here are applicable to all HRM graduate students. It is your responsibility to read and familiarize yourself with the HRM policies as they may differ from policies for other AU programs.
Information throughout the HRM graduate program website defines our program's policies; thus, the links below all refer to other parts of the website, and are presented here as policy for clarity and ease of reference. The information below does not constitute new material that is not already found on elsewhere on our site.
Questions regarding the content of a particular policy should be directed to the CIS Office. If you cannot find a particular policy, contact the HRM Student Services Coordinator for assistance.
Admission requirements
The HRM Office must receive all components of the program application package, including required fees, prior to being considered for the HRM program. Unfortunately, we cannot start the application review until the Admission Package is completed.
Program applications will be received and reviewed on a continuous admission basis. Students may wish to start taking courses as a non-program student prior to being accepted as a program student.
The steps to apply for program status in the Heritage Resources Management Graduate Diploma are as follows:
Submit the program application form and required fees
Online form for new students to Athabasca University: If you have never been a student with Athabasca University, complete the following program application form. Include fee payment information and press "process application."
Online form for students with an Athabasca University Student ID Number: If you already have an Athabasca University Student Identification Number, login to myAU and then complete the Graduate Application form for the GD-HRM program If you cannot remember your student ID number, contact the HRM Office for assistance.
- Your User ID is your AU 7-digit Student ID number.
- Your password is your birth date (YYYYMMDD). If you have previously logged in to the portal, to the online Registry services, or to get a T2202, you were required to change your password. In this case, use the new password you have chosen. Should you have problems logging in to myAU, contact the HRM Office at hrm@athabascau.ca.
Complete the online supplemental application
Prior to completing the Supplemental Application, read the instructions at the link below. Although the amount of time required to complete this application will vary, allow a minimum of thirty minutes to complete. During the application process, you can save your answers at any point and come back to complete the application at a later time. Questions are divided into five sections and include:
- Part A: Demographic Information
- Part B: Academic Background
- Part C: Intellectual Biography and Up dated curriculum vitae/resumé
- Part D (Optional section): Reasons for taking and interest in the program
Important instructions for completing the online Supplemental Application
Request transcripts
Request official transcripts from all post secondary institutions attended. Transcripts must be sent directly from all accredited institution(s) to the following address:
HRM Student Services Coordinator
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, Alberta T9S 3A3
Canada
Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) in a language other than English must provide an official translation of such documents.
All student academic qualifications will be assessed for their Canadian equivalence.
Degrees from outside North America must be assessed by the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS). Application forms for the International Assessments are available online from IQAS.
It is your responsibility to send your completed IQAS application form, fees, and information to:
International qualifications assessment service
9th Floor, 108 Street
Building 9942-108 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 2J5
CanadaCanada and overseas call direct: 1-780-427-2655
Web: IQAS
English proficiency requirement
Students who did not complete their degree at an English-language institution must provide documentation that shows they have met the HRM English proficiency requirements.
Credential evaluation
Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) earned outside of Canada or the United States, or in a language other than English or French, must provide an official translation of such documents. All student submissions will be measured for their possible Canadian equivalence. Application forms for the International Assessments are available online from: IQAS. Send your completed IQAS application form, fees, and information to:
It is your responsibility to send your completed IQAS application form, fees, and information to:
International Qualifications Assessment Service 9th Floor, 108 Street Building 9942-108 Street Edmonton, AB T5K 2J5 Canada
Canada and overseas call direct: 1-780-427-2655 Web: IQAS
Resources
The following resources may be of particular interest to international students.
As English is the primary language of instruction at Athabasca University, it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that he or she meets the HRM English Proficiency Requirement. Although faculty will try to facilitate the learning process as much as possible, they may have to redirect students to alternate remedial resources.
International students must provide documentation supporting the successful completion of the HRM English Proficiency Requirement.
Transfer credit: for credit earned before admission to the GD:HRM
To apply for transfer of credit, please submit the following documents with your program application:
- Official transcripts showing the successful completion of the courses to be transferred
- Transfer credit form and fee; the form is located on the HRM website under forms.
- Course outlines for each course. The information in the detailed course outline should include the following:
- Course name, number, and year completed
- A statement of the course objectives
- A detailed outline for the course
- The number of weeks duration
- Hours per week of lecture (laboratory/tutorial/seminar/studio work)
- The method of evaluation and grading
- The title of the textbooks used (complete bibliography).
- Any other materials or reading lists that were used (complete bibliography)
- Content of assignments and assignment weighting
- Credential of instructor(s) (Required for Colleges only)
- Course title of prerequisite or co-requisite courses (if any)
- Credit value
Please note that, in some cases, we may require students to provide copies of exams and/or assignments.
The Program Director and/or the HRM Committee would then review these documents and determine whether transfer credits will be permitted into the HRM Program.
Letter of Permission: to obtain outside credits after admission to the GD:HRM
Once in the program, students may also apply to take equivalent courses at other institutions. To do so, students must obtain a letter of permissions. For more information contact the HRM Office.
Please see the fee schedule for the evaluation fee and the letter of permission fee.
Note: Check myAU for announcements from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Graduate Programs Office.
For detailed Graduate financial aid information, please see the Financial Aid Office's website.
Full time student status and the Heritage Resources Management (HRM) Graduate Diploma
Most provincial funding agencies require that students maintain full-time student status to be eligible for full time financial aid. Maintaining Program Student status by joining the HRM Program is not sufficient to meet these requirements for funding purposes, and students must maintain a course load defined by the provincial funding agency for the jurisdiction in which they reside.
Full time eligibility may be considered by one of the following registration scenarios;
- enrollment in a minimum of one grouped-study graduate level course over a four-month period.
- enrollment in two individualized-study graduate courses simultaneously.
- enrollment in one individualized-study graduate course and two undergraduate HRM courses.
- enrollment in three undergraduate HRM courses.
Courses in a given funding period or study term must have the same start date to be deemed eligible for full time status.
The course contract of six months for a 3-credit undergraduate individualized-study course will be reduced to a four-month contract for AU students receiving financial aid in order to meet the full-time enrollment requirement for graduate students. Also, course extensions are not considered in the calculation of full-time or part-time status.
It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the financial assistance guidelines in the province or other jurisdiction in which the student resides are followed.
For further information and details on how to apply for financial assistance, please contact the Student Financial Aid office.
General program requirements
All materials for non-program student registration (including the application form and fees) must be completed in full and received one month prior to the course start date.
Non-program students are encouraged to apply to become a program student. Acceptance as a non-program student does not, however, guarantee or imply future acceptance as a program student.
To apply
Complete the non-program application form online. Include fee payment information, and press "process application." Please Do Not Fax the Online Application Form
For further assistance, contact the HRM Office.
To maintain their program status, students must complete 3 credits of course or project work during one academic year (September 1 - August 31). Students who are inactive in their studies for a 13-month period may be contacted by the CIS Office for an update on their progress. Students who have been inactive for 13 months, and who have not updated their status with the HRM program nor consulted with the HRM Student Services Coordinator, will be withdrawn from the program automatically.
Students may interrupt their studies, without academic prejudice, contingent upon the submission of a written request for a leave of absence from their studies and subsequent approval from the HRM Program Coordinator.
Any student who is receiving Student Financial Aid should review the Student Finance Funding Criteria.
Any student who receives a grade of "F" in one course, or a grade of "C" in more than one course, may be required to withdraw from the program. Review the course grading system for further information.
In order to participate in the program, each student must own or have access to:
- the Internet
- the required computer hardware and software requirements
- use PC's (assistance is limited for other hardware, software or operating platforms)
- other communication services (e.g. telephone / mobile phone)
Students are responsible for their own communications costs, such as long-distance telephone charges and subscriptions to an Internet Service Provider, or any other communications service requirement. Older technology may be inadequate to allow full participation in the course or it may detract from a student's learning experience.
In order to participate, each student must own or have ready access to the following suggested computer hardware and software requirements:
- a computer that conforms to the required standards. Athabasca University's standard computing platform is the IBM-compatible computer. Some courses support other hardware and software platforms and / or have more specific requirements and these are noted in the Web syllabus. Students are advised that only limited assistance for other hardware and software platforms is offered from Athabasca University's Help Desk.
- an Internet service provider (ISP connection).
For more information on required standards see Student Computer Requirements at the IT Help Desk.
Definition of a program deferral: An interval of time when a student is ‘inactive’ and not expected to make progress in their program of study. The time of the deferral is not counted toward the maximum number of years allowed in the program.
Details pertaining to a program deferral:
While enrolled in the HRM program there may be situations in which students are temporarily unable to meet the program requirements. One alternative for the student is to request a deferral in order to suspend the program requirements for a period of time. The maximum length of one deferral is one (1) year. In special circumstances, students may reapply for a second year of deferral during their time in their program.
A deferral is typically reserved for situations when extenuating circumstances are present, such as serious health conditions, pregnancy, significant care giving responsibilities, adoption, unexpected military service or deployment, and participation in a political election, executive position on AUGSA or required jury duty. Having multiple competing responsibilities is not sufficient to be considered extenuating circumstances.
The length of time of the deferral is not included in the time period for completion of the HRM program and deadlines will be adjusted accordingly.
During the deferral, the student will have limited access to the program, University, and supervisory resources.
No program fees or tuition fees will be charged for deferrals.
Factors to consider before requesting a program deferral:
All deferral arrangements must be discussed as early as possible with the HRM Office so that appropriate adjustments can be made prior to the start date of the leave.
If the student holds any awards/scholarships at the time of the request of the deferral, they must check the criteria of the award/scholarship to determine whether the award can be deferred or interrupted and discover the necessary process to seek deferral or interruption of the award/scholarship.
Students should make themselves aware that the deferral may cause some of their courses to be ‘stale-dated. HRM program students are strongly encouraged to either withdraw from or complete any “in progress” courses prior to applying for a deferral.
Students whose research involves ethics approval and agency access approvals need to be aware that the AU REB and the pertinent agencies approval to conduct their research ceases when they are no longer a currently registered student. They cannot conduct their research during this time and they will have to resubmit their ethics/access applications upon their return to study.
The maximum length of a deferral is one (1) year. In special circumstances, students may reapply to the HRM Office for a second deferral during their time in their program.
The student needs to make themselves aware of any costs related to the program deferral. No program or tuition fees will be paid by the student during the deferral.
Procedure:
The student shall submit the Request for Program Deferral form to the HRM Office. The request should include the following:
- Reasons for the request;
- Length of deferral requested;
- Pertinent documentation related to the deferral request (e.g. if a medical leave, provide a letter from a qualified health practitioner).
The graduate program director will notify the HRM Office, who will place a special notation on the student’s record and notify the student of the Director's decision.
The graduate program director will submit the letter with their recommendation and the accompanying documentation to the Dean, FGS for information.
If a student requests a third year of a deferral, approval must be obtained from FGS.
Students are to notify the HRM Office when they are ready to resume their HRM studies.
Course requirements
Registration requests must be received by the CIS Office at least one month prior to the requested start date. Note that all graduate courses have limited enrolments.
Undergraduate courses begin the first day of every month, on a year-round basis. Registration requests must be received by the CIS Office at least one month prior to the requested start date.
Students are expected to use computer-mediated communications for:
- instructor-student and student-to-student interaction in computer conferences
- electronic mail, both within and outside of the course structure
- file transfer or file attachment of assignments
- feedback between instructor and students or between students on joint projects
- accessing electronic databases (e.g., AU Library search) and web resources
- accessing course material that is provided in an online format
If you have questions about the grading scale, consult the course regulations and procedures.
Students must formally request to withdraw from a course. Simply not completing the course requirements or not participating in the class does not constitute withdrawal. Students who wish to withdraw from a course must submit a HRM Withdrawal Request Form. Students can receive a refund if they withdraw within the allowable timeframe. See course regulations and procedures in the calendar.
Students registered in Individualized-Study graduate HERM Courses can extend the 6-month term of their course contract for a period of 2 months (up to three-times, for a maximum of 6-months) by submitting the appropriate fee and an Extension Request Form to the HRM Office. Please contact the HRM Office for more information on extensions.
Students registered in Grouped-Study Courses are expected to complete all course work by the scheduled end-date of the course. Short extensions may be available if circumstances warrant, but the course instructor and HRM Office must be notified well in advance of the course end-date.
No discounts on registration fees are available for course re-registrations.
In order to carry forward any completed coursework, you must first obtain written approval from the course professor/course coordinator. Approval to carry forward completed coursework is at the discretion of the course professor/coordinator. To carry the results forward, you must re-register in the course within one year from the course contract end date of your original registration.
Updated September 26, 2023 by Digital & Web Operations (web_services@athabascau.ca)