Athabasca University, Canada’s Open University, is dedicated to the removal of barriers that restrict access to and success in university-level study and to increasing equality of educational opportunity for adult learners worldwide. Athabasca University provides learning for life. Through the achievements of its students, faculty and staff, AU stands out as a provider of high quality post-secondary education.

History

Athabasca University was established by Order in Council of the Government of Alberta on June 25, 1970. Originally conceived as a traditional campus-based institution, AU changed course in 1972 through a pilot project to test the concept of an open, distance university. The first AU course, World Ecology, was offered in 1973, and AU’s first Convocation, for two graduates, was held in 1977. The university achieved self-governing status as Alberta’s fourth public university on April 12, 1978.

By 1984, AU had outgrown its original facilities in Edmonton and, in accordance with the policy of decentralization favoured by the provincial government of the day, the university moved 145 kilometres north to the Town of Athabasca. Satellite campuses were established in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray, Alberta, to enable students to receive first-hand educational support services and to write invigilated examinations. The Fort McMurray location closed in 2000.

During the 1980s, in keeping with its mandate to explore new ways of delivering post-secondary education to students anywhere, any time, AU pioneered the use of computers to deliver online courses. AU’s Executive MBA program, the world’s first online EMBA, was introduced by AU’s Centre for Innovative Management in 1994.

Today, AU is one of the world’s foremost and fastest growing online and distance education institutions, serving over 37,000 students worldwide.

The University

• AU serves over 37,000 students (over 7,300 full-load equivalents).
• AU offers over 700 courses in more than 90 undergraduate and graduate programs in a range of arts, science and professional disciplines.
• AU has a $118 million annual operating budget.
• AU employs over 1,200 faculty and staff members on four Alberta, Canada, campuses located in Athabasca, St. Albert, Edmonton and Calgary.
• AU maintains over 350 collaborative agreements with other Canadian and international post-secondary institutions, with professional associations and employer groups and with First Nations institutions and communities.

Our Students

• AU students come from every Canadian province and territory and 84 countries worldwide.
• The average undergraduate is 29; the average graduate student, 37.
• 81 per cent work while they study.
• 67 per cent are women.
• 63 per cent of program students study year round, balancing their studies with other commitments.
• 63 per cent of graduates support dependents.
• 74 per cent of graduates are the first in their family to earn a university degree.

Research

AU is committed to excellence in research and scholarship. Through the discovery, dissemination and transfer of new knowledge and the engagement of students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, the university integrates research with creative teaching, thereby informing the curriculum and providing opportunities for highly qualified graduates to promote innovation and to participate more fully in society.

Mission critical research in the scholarship of teaching and learning in open and distance environments is the primary focus of AU’s research activity; however, the university also actively supports and maintains high standards in discipline-based research. As a university with a growing graduate student population, now over 3,000 strong, AU ensures that the research and publication records of academic staff members are comparable to those of staff at other public universities in Canada.

AU is home to the Canadian Institute of Distance Education Research (CIDER) which publishes the International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, an open-access, online, peer-reviewed e-journal. Three additional innovative research institutes are under development:

• The Athabasca River Basin Research Institute aspires to become an innovative interdisciplinary research centre that will exclusively study the Athabasca River Basin, Alberta’s largest river basin, from a broad range of perspectives.

• The Technology Enhanced Learning Research Institute will create knowledge and foster innovation in the use of digital technologies to support learning.

• The Centre of Excellence in Project Management will initiate and strengthen cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary research in project management, enabling project management scholars, organizations and practitioners to work together to address the significant challenges confronting project managers and project organizations.

Founded in 1921, Concordia University College of Alberta emphasizes teaching excellence in a caring university environment. Students can pursue programs in arts, science, education, environmental health, management, and information systems security, while gaining a quality education in a Christian context.

Today, Concordia University College of Alberta program offerings include undergraduate and graduate degree programs. In addition to its degree programs, Concordia continues to offer church work programs as well as diploma and certificate programs in Career Development and academic upgrading programs.

Concordia University College of Alberta is committed to the highest standards in education, spiritual care, service, and professional conduct and to the delivery of excellent university programs. We value the potential of every student and offer a student-focused liberal arts education.

• Interactive and innovative university programs offered within an engaging learning environment and a close community of students, faculty, and staff
• Degrees that are recognized nationally and internationally
• Degrees that are designed to prepare students for professional programs (e.g., education, law, medicine, dentistry, etc.) or graduate school
• Instructors who are committed to excellence in teaching and research
• Programs that focus on writing and research, integrate technology with teaching, or offer practical, hands-on training through field or work experiences
• Student life that is diverse and accessible—athletics, drama, student leadership, choir, symphony orchestra
• Support services for aboriginal students, for students returning to school after several years, and for students with physical or learning disabilities
• An overwhelming number of Concordia graduates are completely satisfied with their university experience.

Concordia is an intimate university community within the busy urban center of Edmonton, Alberta’s capital. Our Highlands campus is tucked away in a residential area overlooking the beautiful North Saskatchewan River valley, minutes from downtown by public or private transportation. It’s the best of both worlds: a peaceful locale within easy reach of the countless amenities of city center.

Edmonton is a diverse, multicultural city of 770,000 people who enjoy a high quality of life amid an abundance of arts, professional sports, and entertainment events as well as parks that form an extensive network of trails for hiking, biking, jogging, and cross-country ski enthusiasts. The city is home to the world-famous West Edmonton Mall and the popular market, cafés, and pubs in Old Strathcona. The mountains, forests, lakes, and grasslands of Alberta’s (External Link) spectacular landscape are within driving distance.

Campus Life

Opening doors. Opening minds. Opening life’s endless possibilities. At Concordia, we believe that a university education should illuminate both who you are and who you want to be. What does Concordia offer you? A learning environment. A social environment. A spiritual environment. Most of all, a community. An intellectual, spiritual, social and athletic community that reflects the spirit of concord or harmony… the spirit that is Concordia… your home for learning. Your home for growing.

Student Affairs

Concordia, in keeping with its mission, values the uniqueness, the potential, the integrity, and the well-being of every student that it serves. The Student Affairs Office supports students by working to create an environment that fosters the well-being of individuals and the health of the campus community. The Dean of Student Affairs oversees the student life program, resolves non-academic discipline situations, and advocates on behalf of students. The student life program includes:

• Concordia Students Association
• Counselling
  • Academic Strategies
  • Career
  • Psychology
  • Spiritual
• Grievance Resolution
• Insurance
  • Accident Insurance
  • International Student Medical Insurance
• Learning Accommodation Services for Students with Disabilities
• New Student Orientation
• Residence
  • Men and Women Residence
  • Off-Campus Housing Registry
• Student Identification Cards
• Writing Centre
• And much more…

Performing Arts

• Drama: Through the Drama program, Concordia students have the opportunity to experience all aspects of dramatic production. Concordia presents two major dramatic productions a year, one in the fall and one in the winter. Students apply theirtalents to gain practical experience in the areas of acting, stage management,set design, technical lighting and sound. The Green Thespians Club (GTC) is the student drama association; their activities include a wide range of theatrical experiences. The GTC holds monthly activities and workshops to expose students interested in drama to the local arts scene and the many interesting aspects of theatre. Chapel Drama, which performs bi-monthly, is a vibrant part of Concordia’s drama scene.
• Music: Music has been called the universal language. It crosses cultural, generational and geographic boundaries and communicates far more than mere words ever can. Music lets the human spirit speak. The School of Music offers many performing opportunities for Concordia students and community members. The Concordia Concert Choir and the Concordia Ringers are auditioned, touring groups comprised entirely of students. In addition, the Concordia Community Chorus, the Concordia Symphony Orchestra, and Jublioso! (handbell ensemble) exist for community members and students. Festival City Winds provides opportunities for band performance. Additional singing opportunities lie with a student-led sub-group from the Concert Choir and the Chapel Choir, open to the campus community. Students are encouraged to participate in music as well as to consider majors, concentrations, and minors in music.
• Musical Opportunities: Several performing opportunities exist at Concordia. The flagship of the music program, the Concordia Concert Choir, is comprised of students from all disciplines and maintains a standard of excellence in choral music. The choir tours extensively, frequently in Western Canada, but it has also travelled to Eastern Canada, the US and Europe. Voices in Praise, a smaller student-led group, performs frequently both on and off campus. The Concordia Community Chorus and the Concordia Community Orchestra provide additional opportunities for students and members of the community to become involved in large performing groups and to develop their musical abilities under excellent direction. In addition, the Drama Department frequently produces musicals which offer students an opportunity to become involved in musical theatre.

Mount Royal University (MRU) is a public undergraduate focused post-secondary institution in south-west Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1910 as a primary and secondary school, Mount Royal became a post-secondary institution in 1931 as Mount Royal College (MRC) offering transfer courses to the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. It was renamed Mount Royal University in September 2009 by Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach. MRU comprises thirteen schools, centres and faculties including the Bisset School of Business, the Faculty of Communications Studies, and the Conservatory (Music).

Mount Royal is located in Calgary, Alberta, a clean and vibrant cosmopolitan city surrounded by the rolling foothills, open prairies and within an hour’s drive of the spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountains and Banff National Park.

Mount Royal’s central location gives you easy access to all that Calgary has to offer, from shopping to sports events, from concerts to art galleries, from downtown’s hottest night life to an abundance of year-round outdoor activities. With more than a million people, Calgary is one of Canada’s fastest growing cities and is known for being a hub for international and national business, including oil and gas, information technologies and agriculture.

Whether you are interested in shopping, dining or recreational entertainment, Mount Royal’s central location means easy access to a variety of amenities!

From the time of its first campus affectionately known as ‘the barn’, to today’s high-tech and environmentally-friendly additions, Mount Royal has embraced change in order to meet the needs of the people and community it serves. We’ve expanded our facilities and programs since our founding in 1910, but our purpose remains the same — to provide personalized learning that fosters the success and satisfaction of our students.

Student Housing

Residential living at Mount Royal is a no-hassle way to get the most out of your post-secondary education. Living in Mount Royal residences offers all of the following and more:

• MRU services – Everything you need. You’re only a short walk from those 8 a.m. classes, the Library, computer labs, top-notch fitness facilities and on-campus special events — a campus built to serve students’ needs.
• No hassles – Mount Royal residences are fully furnished, have on-site laundry facilities and one payment covers utility bills for the semester. Check out Facilities and Services for all the details.
• Live-in staff – Trained professionals and student Resident Advisors live on-site, helping create a positive living and learning environment. They’re part of Mount Royal’s commitment to residence life — and your success.
• Safety – With 24-hour, on-campus security, an escorted SAFEWALK program and key card/coded building entry, Mount Royal works hard to ensure the safety of residents.

Athletics and Recreation

Cougar Athletics is the heart of Mount Royal’s team spirit. With an impressive track record, Cougar Athletics is a proud part of campus life and boasts 12 award-winning men’s, women’s and mixed sports teams in basketball, hockey, soccer, volleyball, badminton and golf.

The Cougars athletes, coaches, and staff are a testament to the team motto of tradition, leadership and commitment. They provide a positive educational and athletic experience for everyone involved with their programs and invite you to join the team. Or, if your backswing needs a little work, how about showing your support by cheering for your team at a game or joining the “adopt-a-Cougar” program — go Cougars!

Whether you crave activity to maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle or whether you use it to reduce exam stress and blow off some steam, or whether you simply to have some fun — Mount Royal Recreation has what you’re looking for.

Recreation has the state-of-the-art facilities and offers intramural leagues, dance classes, personal training, first aid and CPR certification courses, swim lessons and martial arts, just to name a few. With a fitness centre, squash courts, running track, swimming pool, hot tub, climbing wall and aerobic studios you can achieve your fitness goals and have some fun at Mount Royal Recreation.

Student Clubs

Students with similar academic, social or representational interests can become part of a Club. These groups hold regular meetings throughout the year and accomplish many things, including hosting social events and activities, fundraisers, graduation celebrations and participating in Students’ Association (SA) initiatives. For a listing of MRU’s existing student clubs, click here.

Mount Royal University (MRU) is a public undergraduate focused post-secondary institution in south-west Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1910 as a primary and secondary school, Mount Royal became a post-secondary institution in 1931 as Mount Royal College (MRC) offering transfer courses to the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. It was renamed Mount Royal University in September 2009 by Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach. MRU comprises thirteen schools, centres and faculties including the Bisset School of Business, the Faculty of Communications Studies, and the Conservatory (Music).

Mount Royal is located in Calgary, Alberta, a clean and vibrant cosmopolitan city surrounded by the rolling foothills, open prairies and within an hour’s drive of the spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountains and Banff National Park.

Mount Royal’s central location gives you easy access to all that Calgary has to offer, from shopping to sports events, from concerts to art galleries, from downtown’s hottest night life to an abundance of year-round outdoor activities. With more than a million people, Calgary is one of Canada’s fastest growing cities and is known for being a hub for international and national business, including oil and gas, information technologies and agriculture.

Whether you are interested in shopping, dining or recreational entertainment, Mount Royal’s central location means easy access to a variety of amenities!

From the time of its first campus affectionately known as ‘the barn’, to today’s high-tech and environmentally-friendly additions, Mount Royal has embraced change in order to meet the needs of the people and community it serves. We’ve expanded our facilities and programs since our founding in 1910, but our purpose remains the same — to provide personalized learning that fosters the success and satisfaction of our students.

Student Housing

Residential living at Mount Royal is a no-hassle way to get the most out of your post-secondary education. Living in Mount Royal residences offers all of the following and more:

• MRU services – Everything you need. You’re only a short walk from those 8 a.m. classes, the Library, computer labs, top-notch fitness facilities and on-campus special events — a campus built to serve students’ needs.
• No hassles – Mount Royal residences are fully furnished, have on-site laundry facilities and one payment covers utility bills for the semester. Check out Facilities and Services for all the details.
• Live-in staff – Trained professionals and student Resident Advisors live on-site, helping create a positive living and learning environment. They’re part of Mount Royal’s commitment to residence life — and your success.
• Safety – With 24-hour, on-campus security, an escorted SAFEWALK program and key card/coded building entry, Mount Royal works hard to ensure the safety of residents.

Athletics and Recreation

Cougar Athletics is the heart of Mount Royal’s team spirit. With an impressive track record, Cougar Athletics is a proud part of campus life and boasts 12 award-winning men’s, women’s and mixed sports teams in basketball, hockey, soccer, volleyball, badminton and golf.

The Cougars athletes, coaches, and staff are a testament to the team motto of tradition, leadership and commitment. They provide a positive educational and athletic experience for everyone involved with their programs and invite you to join the team. Or, if your backswing needs a little work, how about showing your support by cheering for your team at a game or joining the “adopt-a-Cougar” program — go Cougars!

Whether you crave activity to maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle or whether you use it to reduce exam stress and blow off some steam, or whether you simply to have some fun — Mount Royal Recreation has what you’re looking for.

Recreation has the state-of-the-art facilities and offers intramural leagues, dance classes, personal training, first aid and CPR certification courses, swim lessons and martial arts, just to name a few. With a fitness centre, squash courts, running track, swimming pool, hot tub, climbing wall and aerobic studios you can achieve your fitness goals and have some fun at Mount Royal Recreation.

Student Clubs

Students with similar academic, social or representational interests can become part of a Club. These groups hold regular meetings throughout the year and accomplish many things, including hosting social events and activities, fundraisers, graduation celebrations and participating in Students’ Association (SA) initiatives. For a listing of MRU’s existing student clubs, click here.

Mount Royal University (MRU) is a public undergraduate focused post-secondary institution in south-west Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1910 as a primary and secondary school, Mount Royal became a post-secondary institution in 1931 as Mount Royal College (MRC) offering transfer courses to the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta. It was renamed Mount Royal University in September 2009 by Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach. MRU comprises thirteen schools, centres and faculties including the Bisset School of Business, the Faculty of Communications Studies, and the Conservatory (Music).

Mount Royal is located in Calgary, Alberta, a clean and vibrant cosmopolitan city surrounded by the rolling foothills, open prairies and within an hour’s drive of the spectacular Canadian Rocky Mountains and Banff National Park.

Mount Royal’s central location gives you easy access to all that Calgary has to offer, from shopping to sports events, from concerts to art galleries, from downtown’s hottest night life to an abundance of year-round outdoor activities. With more than a million people, Calgary is one of Canada’s fastest growing cities and is known for being a hub for international and national business, including oil and gas, information technologies and agriculture.

Whether you are interested in shopping, dining or recreational entertainment, Mount Royal’s central location means easy access to a variety of amenities!

From the time of its first campus affectionately known as ‘the barn’, to today’s high-tech and environmentally-friendly additions, Mount Royal has embraced change in order to meet the needs of the people and community it serves. We’ve expanded our facilities and programs since our founding in 1910, but our purpose remains the same — to provide personalized learning that fosters the success and satisfaction of our students.

Student Housing

Residential living at Mount Royal is a no-hassle way to get the most out of your post-secondary education. Living in Mount Royal residences offers all of the following and more:

• MRU services – Everything you need. You’re only a short walk from those 8 a.m. classes, the Library, computer labs, top-notch fitness facilities and on-campus special events — a campus built to serve students’ needs.
• No hassles – Mount Royal residences are fully furnished, have on-site laundry facilities and one payment covers utility bills for the semester. Check out Facilities and Services for all the details.
• Live-in staff – Trained professionals and student Resident Advisors live on-site, helping create a positive living and learning environment. They’re part of Mount Royal’s commitment to residence life — and your success.
• Safety – With 24-hour, on-campus security, an escorted SAFEWALK program and key card/coded building entry, Mount Royal works hard to ensure the safety of residents.

Athletics and Recreation

Cougar Athletics is the heart of Mount Royal’s team spirit. With an impressive track record, Cougar Athletics is a proud part of campus life and boasts 12 award-winning men’s, women’s and mixed sports teams in basketball, hockey, soccer, volleyball, badminton and golf.

The Cougars athletes, coaches, and staff are a testament to the team motto of tradition, leadership and commitment. They provide a positive educational and athletic experience for everyone involved with their programs and invite you to join the team. Or, if your backswing needs a little work, how about showing your support by cheering for your team at a game or joining the “adopt-a-Cougar” program — go Cougars!

Whether you crave activity to maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle or whether you use it to reduce exam stress and blow off some steam, or whether you simply to have some fun — Mount Royal Recreation has what you’re looking for.

Recreation has the state-of-the-art facilities and offers intramural leagues, dance classes, personal training, first aid and CPR certification courses, swim lessons and martial arts, just to name a few. With a fitness centre, squash courts, running track, swimming pool, hot tub, climbing wall and aerobic studios you can achieve your fitness goals and have some fun at Mount Royal Recreation.

Student Clubs

Students with similar academic, social or representational interests can become part of a Club. These groups hold regular meetings throughout the year and accomplish many things, including hosting social events and activities, fundraisers, graduation celebrations and participating in Students’ Association (SA) initiatives. For a listing of MRU’s existing student clubs, click here.

King’s University College is a Christian university college committed to academic excellence, development of the whole person, high employment potential, and vibrant student life. But what is Christian university education?

Is King’s a Bible College? No. A seminary? Again, no. King’s University College offers fully accredited bachelor degrees in the arts and sciences from a Christian perspective. At King’s, the curriculum begins, not with a desire to prove the existence of God, but with the conviction that God exists. All disciplines fall under the sovereignty of God, whether science, art, history or philosophy. Knowledge enhances faith, and faith enhances knowledge.

Additionally, at King’s the curriculum is intentionally interdisciplinary, meaning that all fields work together and nothing is studied in isolation. This stems from the belief that this reflects the Creator’s design. Activities inside and outside the classroom are designed to encourage students to examine real world issues from a Christian perspective and to become agents of social transformation.

History

Located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, The King’s University College is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) and of the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada (AUCC). The King’s degrees are accredited under the Post-Secondary Learning Act of Alberta.

A Christian undergraduate university founded in 1979, The King’s University College offers three and four-year Bachelor degrees in the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and commerce, as well as a two-year Bachelor of Education after-degree. Students can enrol in over 300 courses in 20 disciplines, with 12 major concentration areas.

Currently The King’s University College has over 630 students enrolled in Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Education programs. The King’s accepts academically qualified students of all faiths into its programs. Thanks to the University College’s size, classes are relatively small and students are able to interact on a personal level with professors. Students also have the opportunity to participate in faculty research projects. In recent years, The King’s commitment to a culture of research has resulted in a number of student presentations at national and international academic conferences, as well as student-authored academic publications.

The King’s has an active intercollegiate athletics program, competing in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference in men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and outdoor soccer. Club sports include hockey and indoor soccer.

Located in Alberta’s dynamic capital city, just minutes from downtown Edmonton, The King’s 21,000 m2 modern campus occupies over eight hectares. Facilities include: 34 classrooms, eight science labs, three computer labs, a greenhouse, fine arts studios, a performance hall with pipe organ, 1,200 m2 library, 900 m2 gymnasium, spacious cafeteria, student activity centre, drama space, bookstore, conference rooms, atrium assembly space, outdoor sports fields, and two student residences.

The King’s attracts students of all ages from a variety of backgrounds. Its educational philosophy is rooted in the historic Christian faith and its teaching and research are influenced by a Christian worldview. The University College stresses academic excellence within a caring environment.

The Simona Maaskant Library

The Simona Maaskant Library is dedicated to the memory of a special person in The King’s University College community. Simona Maaskant, the librarian between 1981 and 1998, provided extraordinary leadership in building the library into a beautiful and functional resource for students, faculty and staff. Simona passed away on April 26, 1998 from cancer. She will be remembered by the community at King’s for her cheerful personality, her faithful friendship and her generous and gentle spirit.

The Simona Maaskant Library on The King’s University College campus features over 100,000 books, periodicals, CD-ROMs and other material available on site, and over 5 million items are available through the NEOS Consortium.

The NEOS Library Consortium includes 19 academic, government, hospital and special libraries in Alberta, among them the University of Alberta and The Alberta Government Libraries. Students have borrowing privileges at all NEOS libraries and are able to request items for delivery to King’s. The Library is also a member of the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL), comprising 19 libraries in Western Canada.

Our library provides study carrels and tables for quiet study and reading, facilities for viewing/listening to audiovisual resources, interlibrary loans, and photocopiers. The library also has curriculum materials for use in the elementary classroom, online indexes/databases and electronic full-text journals. In addition we provide general and course-specific instruction in information research and use.

Athletics

The King’s University College Eagles compete in the Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference. Their team sports include, basketball, soccer, and volleyball.

Student Housing

The King’s University College offers two residence options for full-time students during the academic year (September through April): The Tower residence and the Apartment residence.

Tower Residence

Intended for first and second year students, the Tower provides a safe, convenient, reasonably priced housing option. All first year, out-of-town students are strongly advised to take advantage of the unique educational and social opportunities provided through residence life.

• Rooms are large and fully furnished (including bed, desk, chair, bookshelf, wardrobe, and telephone service) for two students.
• Each room has its own four-piece washroom.
• Subject to availability single rooms may be rented for an additional charge.
• Internet access via the King’s network is included in the cost of the room.
• Common lounge areas and prepaid laundry facilities are available.
• Students are responsible for their own bed linens, task lighting and accessory furnishings.

Tower residence students access food services in the cafeteria by establishing a prepaid food services account.

Apartment Residence

Our five-story apartment residence is intended for senior and returning students.

• Self-contained suites with kitchen, living area, two bathrooms and six bedrooms in each suite. One suite is available which contains a washroom designed for students with disabilities. In this suite, there are only five bedrooms.
• Suites are fully furnished with appliances, dining table and chairs, living room furniture, bed, desk, chair, wardrobe and telephone service.
• Prepaid laundry facilities.
• Food services accounts are also available, though not required, for Apartment residence students.

The University of Alberta’s vision since its inception more than 100 years ago has been to be one of the world’s great universities for the public good. In the words of our first president, Henry Marshall Tory, the U of A is an institution directed toward the “uplifting of the whole people” in Alberta, across Canada, and around the world. This vision endures in the university’s current vision document, Dare to Discover, and our academic plan, Dare to Deliver.

Under the leadership of our 12th president, Indira Samarasekera, the U of A and its community have created a contoured roadmap for the future—a roadmap that guides this comprehensive, research-intensive university as one of the world’s most respected public universities. At its foundation lie talented people—students, faculty, and staff—who with their creativity, ingenuity, and drive will join in advancing human knowledge and pursuing scientific discovery for the benefit of all.

Neighbouring Presence

The U of A Calgary Centre is located in the heart of downtown Calgary and houses staff from Augustana Campus, External Relations, the faculties of engineering and rehabilitation medicine, and the School of Business. Its purpose is to engage the 20,000-plus Calgary-area alumni, as well as learners, prospective students, donors, and other university supporters.

Student Opportunities

Student groups: There are more than 300 student groups active on campus for nearly every area of student interest: academic, cultural, recreational, and political. The largest, the Dance Club, has been going strong since 1957 and has 1,800 members.

Students’ Union and Graduate Students’ Association: Undergraduate students and graduate students are represented in theovernance process and are served by the Students’ Union and Graduate Students’ Association respectively.

Study Abroad: The University of Alberta strives to enhance opportunities to study internationally through traditional study-abroad programs at dozens of partner institutions. Exchanges are also possible with fellow members of the Worldwide Universities Network, a consortium of 18 top research universities established to facilitate international research and teaching collaborations.

Undergrad research opportunities: It is only natural that a research-intensive university such as the University of Alberta would be nurturing the next generation of researchers through the integration of undergraduate research and teaching. Research is an important theme that threads its way through the undergraduate experience from the first year through to graduation.

Teaching Excellence

The University of Alberta is home to Canada’s largest academic staff association and leads the country with 30 professors who have received national 3M Teaching Fellowships, Canada’s highest award for undergraduate university teaching excellence. All told there are more than 9,000 faculty, librarians, graduate assistants, and other academic staff. Another 6,300+ employees work in a supporting capacity.

Alumni

The University of Alberta has more than 210,000 alumni worldwide and has alumni branches or branch contacts in 46 areas around the world. Of the 151,703 graduates for whom the university has current addresses:

• 141,535 live in Canada
• 116,160 live in Alberta
• 79,887 live in Edmonton and area
• 5,150 live in the United States; California is the state with the largest number (1,072)
• 5,020 live in other countries, with the largest concentrations in east and southeast Asia

Campus Life

Students at the U of A have year round access to many student clubs and organizations, cultural activities and athletics on and off campus. Edmonton’s park system has more “green space” than any other North American city, and its extensive trail system is a joy for bikers, runners, walkers and cross-country skiers. The city is celebrated for its theatre and arts communities, and restaurants and nightlife are only a short walk from campus. The downtown core is minutes away by LRT (Light Rail Transit).

Arts and Culture

On campus and around the city, U of A students will find a rich variety of cultural events. Explore art exhibits at the Fine Arts Building Gallery; visit one of the 35 collections on campus at the University of Alberta Museums, watch musical performances at Convocation Hall or Studio 27, enjoy a show at the Horowitz Theatre; discover fresh talent at Studio Theatre, the Department of Drama’s resident theatre company. The Augustana Campus’s Theatre Centre was the original Camrose Lutheran Church, and seats 100 people. Adjacent to the main campus, the Jubilee Theatre offers ballet, musicals, stand-up comedians, theatre productions, bands, orchestras, dance festivals, awards ceremonies and more.

Edmonton is celebrated for its festivals, arts community, and sports franchises. A short walk from campus, students will find historical Old Strathcona and Whyte Avenue, with their boutiques and coffee shops. Downtown’s Jasper Avenue, home to high-quality restaurants and nightlife, is a few LRT stops away, and, just a few more stations down the line, the Arts District boasts the Winspear Centre of Music and the Citadel Theatre. The Art Gallery of Alberta is currently housed in Enterprise Square, along with several U of A faculties. The West Edmonton Mall is one of the biggest malls in the world, complete with water park, skating rink, arcade and pirate ship, while Rexall Place is home to the Edmonton Oilers and holds all the city’s biggest rock concerts.

Sports

Students at the U of A excel in athletics as well as academics. In fact, the U of A is the only university in Canada to win national collegiate championships in all 11 team sports, most recently men’s volleyball in 2008-09.

The U of A varsity teams compete in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport conference. There are 11 women’s teams, known as the Pandas and 10 men’s teams, known as the Golden Bears.

The university boasts the most national championships in major sports in the past 26 years and third all time with 58 national titles, including seven by Pandas volleyball teams, 13 by Bears hockey, and six by Pandas hockey (which became a varsity sport in 1997). As well, 12 coaches have won CIS Coachof the Year awards.

Sports are a big part of student life beyond the varsity ranks, however, with thousands of students participating in intramural and recreational sports each year.

The U of A’s love of sport stretches to the classroom as well: the renowned Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation was the first university faculty of physical education in the Commonwealth (1964).

The U of A has celebrated more than 1,700 Academic All-Canadians (student athletes who maintain an 80 per cent average or better since CIS started keeping track in 1990-91). When compared to the U of A’s sporting excellence over that period, this mix of athletics and academia is unequalled anywhere in Canada.

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The University of Calgary is a comprehensive research university, ranked one of Canada’s top seven research universities, combining the best of long-established university traditions with the city of Calgary’s vibrant energy and diversity.

The U of C campus occupies a beautiful, park-like setting covering more than 200 hectares, an area larger than Calgary’s entire downtown. The university is home to scholars in 17 faculties (offering more than 100 academic programs) and more than 30 research institutes and centres.

More than 27,600 students are currently enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. The U of C has graduated 135,000 alumni over its 43-year history, including the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper.

The university’s four academic priorities are prevalent in all the university’s work.  The four pillars include leading innovation in energy and the environment; understanding human behaviour, institutions and cultures; advancing health and wellness and creating technologies and managing information for the knowledge society.

The U of C is pursuing the biggest single capital expansion in its history. Fuelled by Alberta’s nation-leading economic growth, the university has embarked upon a plan to add capacity for more students and a host of new teaching and research activities. These major developments, including the Taylor Family Library (TFL), a downtown campus and the new Energy, Environment and Experiential Learning building, are fulfilling distinct academic strategies and creating progressive learning environments.

The main campus features over 20 academic buildings—many of which are interconnected by enclosed walkways. The MacEwan Student Centre is a hub of activity at the university, with a food court, wellness centre and large concert hall. There is also a museum and art gallery, four performance theatres, two childcare centres and residences for single students and students with families.

The U of C has 2,761 academic staff actively engaged in research, scholarship and teaching in Canada and around the world, and more than 3,000 staff, making it one of the four largest employers in Calgary. The university produces an economic impact of $1 billion in the Calgary area alone.

Academics

The University of Calgary has a full complement of academic programs ranging from pure science to social science in areas such as psychology and economics, to several options in the field of health sciences. With access to several professional schools, including the Haskayne School of Business, the Schulich School of Engineering, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, students keep their options open, and discover their own personal passion. The U of C also encourages multi-disciplinary programs, meaning students can combine their interest areas and create an education that suits them.

The University of Calgary has 17 faculties with more than 60 departments and more than 30 research institutes and centres. The 17 faculties are: Law; Nursing (Calgary); Nursing (Qatar); Social Work; Communication and Culture; Education; Environmental Design; Fine Arts; Haskayne School of Business; Humanities; Kinesiology; Medicine; Schulich School of Engineering; Science; Social Sciences; Veterinary Medicine; Graduate Studies; and Continuing Education.

The university recently opened a campus in Doha, Qatar, offering internationally accredited nursing degrees to students in the Middle East. University of Calgary-Qatar will work with the Hamad Medical Corporation to offer world-class clinical nursing education to educate nurses for clinical specialties and to develop a sustainable nursing workforce. Graduates from the Qatar program will meet the same Canadian and international standards for nursing as students from the Calgary campus.

Canada’s fifth veterinary school and the first newly created program in more than 20 years-the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-opened its doors to students in September 2008. This innovative four-year doctor of veterinary medicine program leverages the principles of integration, collaboration and technology to offer a multi-species/multidisciplinary core as well as four areas emphasis: Production Animal Health, Investigative Medicine, Equine Health and Ecosystem & Public Health.

The Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are located on the south campus adjacent to the Foothills Hospital. The Kananaskis Field Station, located a short drive from the city on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, located in the foothills south of the city, represent satellite institutes of the university.

Education

The university offers quality undergraduate education characterized by the synthesis of research, teaching and learning. We enhance the undergraduate learners’ experience by using a student-centred focus that maximizes opportunities to provide a distinctive learning experience that fully integrates the features of a research university. The university is broadening opportunities for students to take inquiry based courses that lead to greater critical thinking skills, increased exposure to research methods and greater access to leading edge scholars. Students also participate in opportunities for experiential learning, including international study, co-op programs, internships, undergraduate research and community service learning.

Starting this fall, the U of C was the first university in Canada to offer a four-year graduation guarantee to students embarking upon four-year degree programs in the faculties of Communication and Culture, Social Sciences, Science and Humanities. Through a mutual commitment on behalf of students and the university, the Graduation Guarantee program offers incoming students an agreement that ensures they will be able to graduate within four years, or the U of C will pay the tuition for any extra courses needed to finish.

Student involvement beyond the classroom will be recognized as part of a new initiative called the co-curricular record. The record, which will officially launch January 2009, is a first for Western Canadian universities. Funded through Quality Money, a unique partnership between the university and Students’ Union that puts money directly into the hands of students to invest in areas they deem priority, the co-curricular record will be maintained by the student.

Research

As one of Canada’s top seven research universities, innovation, discovery and learning are at the heart of all that we do. Our relentless pursuit of quality in our teaching and research programs is guided by our mission to contribute to the well-being of the people of Alberta, Canada and the world. U of C research funding has risen to $262 million. Research brings significant benefits provincially, nationally and internationally, and is the foundation of Alberta’s economic and social vitality. Multidisciplinary research is core to the university’s teaching and research mandate.

A research partnership between the university and the City of Calgary formed in 2007 called Urban Alliance creates an environment for researchers to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. The alliance aligns more research projects at the U of C with priority areas identified by the City. Through the Urban Alliance, both organizations pursue common interests in research, development and education, with the goal of finding solutions to the complex issues facing Calgary.

This year Samuel Weiss, PhD’83, director of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine, earned one of the world’s most prestigious medical science awards, a Gairdner International Award. Weiss is the first medical scientist to receive the award for work done at the University of Calgary. His explorations into the brain have changed the fields of developmental neurobiology and neural regeneration.

Seventy-four U of C researchers are part of a national strategy to make Canada one of the world’s top countries for research and development this year. The Canada Research Chairs improve Canadians’ depth of knowledge and quality of life, strengthen the country’s international competitiveness and help train the next generation of highly skilled people.

Capital Expansion

Hard hats and work crews are a common site at the U of C recently as construction on several projects continue. The projects are part of the university’s capital plan, a major endeavour that encompasses $1 billion in construction and planning activity currently underway.

The University of Calgary’s Child Development Centre is Alberta’s first—and Canada’s second largest—building designed and constructed to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, the North American benchmark for environmentally high-performance buildings. The facility, which houses the university’s second child-care facility and a full continuum of researchers, clinicians and frontline workers, is dedicated to child health. The building officially opened in October, 2007.

Construction on the Dr. Fok Ying Tung International House continues and is scheduled for completion by early 2009. The hotel-style building will create new meeting and living space for business leaders, scholars, students and international visitors.

Work on schematic designs for the new Energy, Environment and Experiential Learning building began in January, 2008. The new facility, which will house elements of the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environments and Economy and state-of-the-art science laboratories, will support experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.

Plans are moving forward for the university’s first High Density Library, a project being developed in tandem with the Taylor Family Library. Construction of both facilities began in the spring of 2008. The Taylor Family Library will create a learning hub on campus, offering students access to expanded academic support services in addition to access to library and cultural resources.

The West Campus Master Plan is a mixed-use concept aimed at transforming the U of C into the campus of the future—meeting more of the daily needs of university stakeholders. The next steps in the project include extensive research and detailed assessment of the implementation plan.

The Government of Alberta has given provisional approval for a downtown campus of about 100,000 square feet, subject to successful negotiation of a lease, creating new learning opportunities for thousands of post-secondary students. One in five University of Calgary students will have an opportunity to study downtown over the course of their degree.

The University currently expects programs offered downtown to include business and continuing education, as well as continued support for the existing pilot projects. The downtown campus will also facilitate the expansion of experiential education opportunities, particularly community-service learning. The U of C expects to complete the location review and have a recommendation by year-end.

U of C’s newest top priority capital project is the National Biomedical Engineering Centre. The centre, to be housed on our main campus, will be a world-class, multidisciplinary research and education facility. It will be a Canadian-first by bringing together university, government and private sector researchers and commercialization experts to accelerate the development and commercialization of biomedical engineering medical devices.

Student Services

Four-year graduation guarantee

Beginning in fall 2008, the U of C will launch a four-year graduation guarantee program that will ensure students from several faculties have the opportunity to complete their degree in four years, guaranteed, or the university will waive any additional tuition fees. For Bachelors of Arts and Bachelors of Science students in the faculties of Communication and Culture, Humanities, Science and Social Sciences, the university will increase spaces in all required courses, offer them more often, and make it easier for students to map out their own BA or BSc degree. For more information, visit www.ucalgary.ca/graduateguarantee.

$$$ for students

The University of Calgary is the only Canadian post-secondary institution to put money directly into the hands of students to spend on initiatives they deem priorities. In the past five years, the U of C has given the Students’ Union more than $6.5 million to invest as it wishes. This year’s slate projects include a campus bike initiative, undergraduate peer mentorship programs and a project called co-curricular records, which will acknowledge student involvement on and off campus in a formalized record for future employers.

Health and recreation

The University of Calgary features some of the finest athletic facilities in the country, featuring Canada’s only covered speed skating oval and home to the fastest ice in the world. The Oval also houses the Canadian Sport Institute, a high-performance training centre and two Olympic-sized rinks where the reigning women’s gold medal hockey team trains. There are also tennis courts, a triple gymnasium, a yoga studio, an Olympic-size swimming pool, weight rooms, jogging tracks and a huge indoor climbing wall. Nearby is the home of U of C Dinos football team, McMahon Stadium.

Wellness

Student Health and Wellness offers excellence in the provision of services and resources that are central to all students meeting their potential for well-being—mind, body and spirit. A new and improved Students’ Union Wellness Centre will combine University Health Services, the Counselling Centre, the Multi-Faith Chaplain’s Centre as well as other services into one location. The Wellness Centre will have increased medical capacity, with more part-time doctors, and expand its massage and chiropractic capacity. Dental services will also be offered.

Native Centre

The Native Centre at the U of C is an excellent resource for First Nations students, with staff providing ongoing academic, social and cultural support to First Nations students. Personal advising and career counselling is available, as well as peer support from graduate students. The centre organizes many recreational activities that promote awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal culture. It also provides outreach courses to First Nations communities in the Calgary area.

Athletics

The University of Calgary Athletic Department was created in 1964 with male teams named the Dinosaurs and female teams the Dinnies. Both genders eventually came to play under the Dinosaurs name until 1998 when the name was officially changed to ‘Dinos,’ a nickname familiar to athletes, students and fans. Since 1964, the Dinos have brought home 120 Canada West Conference Championships and 36 CIS National Championships. The Dinos consist of 22 teams competing in 12 varsity sports (men’s and women’s— basketball, volleyball, hockey, soccer, swimming, wrestling, track and field, cross county running, tennis, golf, men’s football and women’s field hockey).

Residence Services

For the U of C student the university experience is bigger, richer and more personal while staying in residence. Life in U of C residence offers a blend of academic and personal growth that makes a university education special. The goal is to provide a living and learning environment that promotes academic success, personal growth, leadership and responsibility. Experience shows that students in residence are more likely to continue their studies after their undergraduate years and they are more likely to pursue graduate studies and demonstrate excellence in their careers. Residence students’ close proximity to class, to faculty, to peers and to study groups facilitates an interactive, accessible and supportive university learning lifestyle. Student family housing, dormitory and apartment style residences are available to students. Residence Services offers all first-year students guaranteed residence if they apply between January 15 and April 30.

International Students & Study Abroad

In the 21st century, global challenges and issues are at the forefront of the forces that shape our world and our communities closer to home. The U of C’s commitment to internationalization reflects the growing importance that international efforts play in developing a world-class university and education. UCGlobal supports internationalization by recognizing it as an integral part of the economic, political and social realities of our campus and the wider community. There are over 2,100 international students from 100 countries at the U of C and, approximately nine percent of undergraduate international students are exchange students, here for only one or two semesters (terms).  Internationalization of the university is a priority for the U of C and international students add much to the life and diversity of the campus. The university is committed to offering more students opportunities for study and travel abroad and already has over 125 active student exchange agreements as well as a number of field schools and group study opportunities. Currently more than 1000 undergraduates per year include study abroad as part of their degree program.

Graduate Students

In striving to provide a world class scholarly atmosphere for its graduate students, the University of Calgary pursues the highest levels of excellence in research and teaching at the graduate level. The faculty provides leadership and support for excellence in graduate education and research to about 5,400 graduate students in 52 programs. For general inquiries, call 403-220-4938.

Career Services

Students looking for help with their job search and career planning questions can access all the resources they need to succeed at Career Services. Career fairs, information and networking events provide students the opportunity to connect with potential employers and discover career options. The Career Services website www.ucalgary.ca/careers hosts JobLink, an online job board restricted to U of C students, and offers access to OptimalResume, a resume, cover letter and interview application specifically customized to help students create effective documents and develop strong interview skills. In addition to the variety of career related web resources, a team of advisors are available for personal appointments to help students develop resumes/cover letters, job search strategy and work through their career planning process, including co-operative and internship program requirements. Career Services is dedicated to helping students access the tools and resources they need to successfully land the job.

About Calgary

Nestled in the foothills of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, Calgary, labelled as the Heart of the New West, is a safe, clean and vibrant city that offers the best of all worlds: a cosmopolitan city of over 1 million people and breathtaking outdoor adventure in pristine wilderness.

Calgary boasts the fastest growing economy in Canada and is rated one of the top five cities in the world to live. It is estimated the city will generate more than 90,000 new jobs over the next five-years. Calgary has the highest personal income in Canada, the largest concentration of entrepreneurs and the highest per capita concentration of head offices in Canada.

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The University of Lethbridge is a non-denominational university established in 1967 at Lethbridge, Alberta. In 1968, the University awarded its first undergraduate degrees in the liberal arts. The U of L offers strong undergraduate and graduate degree programs in education, fine arts, health sciences, humanities, management, nursing, sciences, and social sciences.

They strive to meet your educational and personal needs through excellent teaching, exposure to research and close interactions with professors and instructors.

The U of L is also the only university in Alberta with campuses in three cities: Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge.

Campus Life

There are over 40 clubs on campus that provide social and athletic activities, travel, religious fellowship, and charitable and cultural support. Some clubs surf in California while others debate in Ottawa. Some have hosted speakers and sponsored conferences; some have presented art shows and music concerts.

Clubs provide opportunities to meet new people on campus, connect with other students in your program, or try out a new interest.

Examples of some clubs at the U of L:

• U of L Medieval Club
• U of L Surf Club
• Salsa Dance Club
• Management Students Society
• Philosophy Club
• Heads of Hip Hop
• New Student Club

The Students’ Union Clubs page has an up-to-date list of all clubs on campus. Find one that speaks to you, or try starting your own.

Sports and Recreation

Are you interested in becoming a Pronghorn? Tryouts are held at the beginning of each year, but you are encouraged to contact the coach directly about opportunities on the team as well. Find out how the recruitment process works!

If you don’t want to play for the Pronghorns, why not show your Pronghorn Pride? A variety of games take place throughout the year and admission to games is a discounted rate for students.

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorn athletics program consists of six varsity sports: Hockey, Basketball, Soccer, Rugby, Swimming, and Track & Field.

More than $40 million has been invested in campus athletics, providing the best opportunities for athletes to train and practice their competitive pursuits year round.

If you don’t want to play competitively at the University-level, there are intramural sports held every semester. Sign up for floor hockey, dodgeball, volleyball or any number of other sports to stay active (and hit people with flying objects)!

If team sports aren’t of interest, you can sign up for a fitness class or take advantage of our new facilities, which include a fitness centre, climbing wall, swimming pool and indoor running track.

Arts and Culture

Over 40 exciting theatre productions, dance recitals, improv shows, musical performances, exhibitions, and more take place on our campus every year. The University of Lethbridge Centre for the Arts brings together the departments of Art, Music, Theatre and Dramatic Arts, and New Media. This means that you will have the opportunity to see some of the best that Southern Alberta’s arts scene has to offer.

The Art Gallery, Recital Hall and performance theatres provide students with the audiences essential to learning in every fine arts discipline.

The Centre for the Arts also houses the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery. With over 13,000 objects, the collection includes works from Canada, America and Europe in a variety of media – from drawing, printmaking and painting to photography, sculpture and installation. The U of L Art Gallery maintains the collection, organizes on-campus and touring exhibitions, and provides access to the collection as a teaching tool for students and a valuable resource for researchers.

All students, no matter what their major, are invited to participate in fine arts activities by auditioning for a play, performing in a music ensemble, or joining student groups such as the Improv Club or Theatre Arts Society.

Want to see and learn more about the University of Lethbridge? Take a Virtual Tour.