College Dean's Message

tân'si, nitôtêmak,

In my August 2025 public presentation for this dean and vice provost role, I spoke about "creating conditions for interdisciplinarity to thrive" (I believe that was the wording I used) through shared purpose, relationality, and structures that actually support how we teach and learn together.  Sometimes leaders and their teams “design toward” that kind of impact, and sometimes we get lucky and discover a program like the one in the story below — already in place and already doing that work. 

What’s striking to me about Teaching Squares is how it builds connections, makes cross-departmental and even cross-faculty teaching visible, and it plays a role in strengthening a culture of reflection and collaboration in ways that directly (positively) impact the student experience.

Pishshapmishko,

Chris Andersen

College Updates

Enrollment Open for Certificate in Politics and Democracy 

The Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy’s Certificate in Politics and Democracy — an embedded undergraduate program for all disciplines — equips students to:

• Understand how democratic systems function in Canadian and global contexts

• Analyze complex political and legal challenges

• Navigate disagreement and pluralism with confidence and respect

• Engage in meaningful dialogue across diverse perspectives

• Develop collaborative solutions to real-world policy problems

Help us spread the word to students and academic communities across campus by sharing this information. 

Office of Access, Community and Belonging & Indigenous Initiatives

2026 TRC Report to Community & Dashboard - Data Collection

2026 TRC Report to Community & Dashboard: Data Collection Now Open

Data collection is now open for the 2026 TRC Report to Community and Digital Dashboard, which highlights the U of A’s ongoing response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action. Faculties and units are encouraged to complete the online survey by May 31, 2026. A PDF of the survey questions is available in advance for reference. 

The survey is available HERE

For questions or support with completing the survey, please contact mvinod@ualberta.ca

Invitation to Join the University of Alberta Integrating Equity Group (IEG)

The IEG serves as both a forum for consultation on strategic university initiatives and a community of practice where members can:

• Connect across campus — share ideas, events, and approaches with colleagues 

• Act on institutional priorities — laid out in Changing the Story and aligned with Braiding Past, Present, and Future, and Shape 

• Build capacity — participate in sub-working groups shaping the IEG and drawing on collective expertise to inform key priorities

• Shape emerging initiatives — provide feedback on new models and approaches 

Membership is open to all members of the U of A community.  IEG meets approximately four times per year (Zoom or hybrid). 

Interested in joining? Complete the IEG Membership Opt-in Form by May 4, 2026.

Office of Research

Application Support: Insight Grant Competition 

CSSH and the Research Partner Network are pleased to offer applicants a set of resources to support applications for the Insight Grant 2026 competition, including internal peer review, a budget justification review and other forms of assistance.

The deadline to apply for these services is July 15, 2026. Head to this page to find out more and register.

2026 Applied Social Research Methods Institute

The Transforming Research for Social Impact Hub is pleased to announce a one-week in-person institute from May 25-29, 2026. 

Join in for this interdisciplinary and mixed-methods research institute that brings together learners from multiple backgrounds in an immersive experiential learning environment. Learn more and register here.

Research Administration Education Series

The Research Partner Network strives to support researchers and administrators in managing funds in accordance with all the many rules by providing education and training. Our Research Administration Education Series (RAES) continues with the following webinars:

Series 1, Session 4:  Amendments (via Zoom) 
Date: May 20
Time: 11a.m. - 12 p.m.
Register

Series 1, Session 5:  Subgrants & Service Agreements (via Zoom)
Date: May 26
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Register

Research Administration Pop-Up

Members of the Research Partner Network will be in-person to answer your research administration questions. These could include questions about different research policies, working in the Researcher Home Page, eligibility of expenses, applying for funding, etc. Come by to say hello, even if you don't have a question. Registration is not required.

Tuesday, May 12  11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.    265 Central Academic Building (CAB) 

Not able to attend this pop-up? We are happy to meet at your convenience in person, via telephone, or virtually. Please email rsoinfo@ualberta.ca 

Office of Education

Teaching Squares

Looking to connect with other instructors from our college to exchange ideas, refine teaching skills and explore pedagogical approaches? The Office of Education invites you to join the next cohort of Teaching Squares in Fall 2026, an initiative aimed at enhancing teaching development, strengthening collegiality and building interdisciplinary connections through structured peer engagement.

For those interested in learning more, reach out using this form by
June 1.

FURCA 2026

For the 2026 Festival of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, CSSH sponsored 4 awards in the Outstanding Early Career Research & Outstanding Creative Activity categories.

6 award winners this year were students from our college’s faculties. Congratulations to those recipients! 

Learn more and see a full list of winners here.

Performance Corner

Department of Drama:  FANTASIES IN TRASH: in eleven movements

This MFA in Theatre Practice performance piece is a trancepunk giant puppet symphony, collectively created by Edmonton’s transgender/gender-diverse community over the course of the last 9 months.

Date: May 7-9
Location: Second Playing Space, Timms Centre for the Arts
Learn More

Department of Art & Design: Residue | Senior Print Exhibition

Senior undergraduate printmaking exhibition of works that reflect on nostalgia and memory while sharing a yearning to envision new and alternative worlds.

Date:until May 9
Location: SNAP Gallery
Learn More

College News