University of Alberta Marks a Century of Excellence
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Starting college can be nerve wracking. But it helps when the university you choose to attend has a background in excellence, a variety of programs and a community of students who love being there.
As the University of Alberta celebrates its 100th year, all of the school’s best attributes are being celebrated, but students have long known how well the school lives up to its reputation.
“It has an amazing atmosphere,” says Michael Gaultois, 21, a senior majoring in chemistry. “There are great opportunities for student involvement, amazing research opportunities, and incredible professors from what I’ve experienced. There are just so many chances to get involved, whether it’s in research, volunteering or special interests.”
With about nine other schools to choose from in the area, U of A needs to stand out to the more than 150,000 students who flock to Edmonton every year seeking education.
“University of Alberta offers students an enormous range of program options in an environment that fosters learning and research excellence,” says Indira Samarasekera, president of the U of A.
Programs unique to the school include polar research: It is home to the Canadian Circumpolar Institute and the Canadian International Polar Year secretariat. U of A also has established an interdisciplinary School for Energy and the Environment, is the first school of public health in Canada and has the only teaching facility devoted to rehabilitation medicine in Canada.
And when it came to student affairs, U of A stood out to Gaultois, influencing his decision to go to school there.
“I considered going to UBC and McGill,” he says. “But after I visited U of A, my mind was set on attending. Their campus tour was great, and the administration had plenty of people you could talk to.”
It’s these distinctions and more that bring students to the school and make them proud to be graduates of U of A.
“I feel the university has a proud history, with generations of proud U of A alumni,” says Ian Bushfield, 22, an engineering physics major. “The students make the university, and we have an incredible population of students at this school. I’m always proud to be a representative of the U of A.”
So what can future students expect from U of A over the next 100 years?
“We are in the midst of unparalleled expansion with more than $1 billion dollars currently invested in new amenities and facilities over the next five years,” Samarasekera says. “We are attracting professors with international reputations and connections. We have created important partnerships and leveraged our expertise to deliver education and research that matters.”
Story by Hollie Deese
Photo by Jeff Adkins
