When Athabasca University’s (AU’s) main campus was moved from Edmonton to Athabasca, Alberta in 1984, Learning Centres in both downtown Edmonton and Calgary remained in their existing location to continue to provide a face-to-face AU presence in their respective city. Now, the Edmonton Learning Centre (ELC) is making headlines with its move to a brand new location.
In a recent interview with Neil Henry, Chair of the ELC Move Logistics Committee, we learned that Capital Health Region had purchased the Seventh Street Plaza office building. As a result, the current location and central headquarters of the ELC must move. “Due to this,” Henry explained, “the current ELC office will officially close on Thursday, May 5th at 4:30 p.m.” to facilitate the move to the new location in the Peace Hills Trust Tower. The ELC move is a logistics feat that will be conveniently completed over the May 6-9, 2005 holiday weekend. This schedule minimizes the amount of time the ELC will be closed with services being temporarily disconnected. However, Henry indicated, although the ELC office will be closed during this time, the telephone services at the AU Information Centre and the Calgary Learning Centre (CLC) will remain operational during regular business hours. Both the AU Information Centre and the CLC will be available to assist individuals with questions or concerns. The AU Information Centre can be reached toll-free at: 1-800-788-9041.
The AU Students’ Union (AUSU), an autonomous student-run organization that has its office space within the ELC, will also be moving to the new building, as will the Voice Magazine. The AUSU office will be closed on Friday, May 6 and Monday, May 9. The AUSU phone lines should remain in working order with the possibility of some brief outages. Calls will be handled by the AUSU Communications Coordinator at a remote location. The most reliable way to contact AUSU during the move is through email: use ausu@ausu.org for general inquiries, and webmaster@ausu.org for inquiries about the AUSU website or account issues. AUSU’s office hours and contact information will remain the same, with the exception of a new office address (see below).
On Tuesday, May 10, 2005, the new ELC office is scheduled to officially open at 8:30 a.m. The ELC Service Centre will be located on the 12th floor of the Peace Hills Trust Tower, as will the AUSU office. The AU Academics Centre will be located on the 11th floor. There is access to both floors via elevator and stairs. The new location site, Peace Hills Trust Tower, is located near the current location in the Seventh Street Plaza building. Both office buildings are situated on the edge of the downtown area in Edmonton. The physical distance between the old and new ELC locations is minimal, totaling a mere two blocks. Both office buildings have a similar parking situation and offer easy access to public transit.
Many students are likely wondering whether any ELC services will change with the move to the new location. Students will be pleased to know that “few changes will be made to the services previously offered at the Seventh Street Plaza location,” promised Henry. “The ELC office,” he stated, “will be open during the same regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the telephone numbers will remain the same.” AU’s main Edmonton telephone number will continue as (780) 421-8700. Changes that will be implemented at the new location include the removal of the small computer lab that was present in the Seventh Street Plaza location. However, Henry points out that this lab closure is not attributable to the ELC move, but rather it is a result of a previously agreed-upon policy that will be implemented in the Peace Hills Trust Tower location.
The new location will offer an increased number of AU Academic Units, as well as a staffed reception desk during regular office hours to assist students and visitors, two invigilated examination rooms, on-site AU student advisors, and Access to Students with Disabilities (ASD) offices.
If you are in Edmonton after the ELC opens its new doors, stop by the 12th floor of the Peace Hills Trust Tower and take a peek! Effective May 10, 2005, the ELC’s new address is:
Peace Hills Trust Tower
1200, 10011-109 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8
Hours of Operation: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday to Friday)
Telephone: (780) 421-8700
The AUSU offices will be located on the 12th floor of the new building, in suite 1213. The office will be straight down the hall from the AU reception desk and very easy for students to find. The new mailing address for AUSU is:
Athabasca University Students’ Union
Peace Hills Trust Tower
1200, 10011-109 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8
Phone: 1-800-788-9041 extension 3413
The Voice Magazine will receive mail at the same address, but mail should be address to: The Voice Magazine, Editor
