Volunteer with Unitea
Sip. Chat. Connect.
Connection starts with a conversation, and what better way to connect than over a cup of tea or coffee? The Unitea program, open to all students at the University of Alberta, strives to boost student connection in three key ways:
- One-to-one conversations
- Group conversations
- Fun and meaningful broader campus activities and events
By engaging with students in these three ways, Unitea volunteers can connect with their peers in supportive, respectful, safe, and meaningful interactions while developing their skills as stellar conversationalists and community connectors.
Unitea Mission + Vision
Mission: Building community one tea at a time.
Vision: Fostering open communities where voices are heard, well-being is promoted and social interactions flourish.
Unitea is strengthened by the diversity of its volunteers. We strive for inclusion that reflects a variety of lived experiences, identities, perspectives and beliefs of our hosts.
Why Volunteer with Unitea?
If connecting with peers over a hot beverage or organizing fun activities that bring students together sounds like your cup of tea, we would love to hear from you! Our volunteers receive training in supportive listening, group facilitation skills, and a variety of other topics to help you in your role.
Unitea encourages applications from all students and is pleased to support accommodations for volunteers and participants. Feel free to connect with Unitea unitea@ualberta.ca should you wish to discuss accommodations.
Opportunities (North Campus)
Are you interested in one-to-one interactions? Or are group conversations your thing? Do you love organizing and carrying out broad-base activities or events that bring people together? Check out our three volunteer opportunities, requirements, and more.
Please check our volunteer opportunities during our Unitea Host Recruitment in January 2027.
You can also sign up here to receive updates on our volunteer recruitment.
Unitea Hosts must meet the following volunteers requirements for September 2026:
- Have turned 18 years of age by September 1, 2026 or will be turning 18 years of age by December 31, 2026.
- Enrolled as a part-time or full-time student at the University of Alberta for the academic year at the North Campus.
- Completed the Community Helpers Program before July 1, 2026.
- Submit a Police Information Check/Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check from the location of their main address (i.e. the address on the candidate’s government-issued ID)
- Complete 22 hours of in-person and asynchronous training, including Host Training and Orientation in August & September.
- Approachable: empathetic, compassionate, non-judgmental, genuine, and demonstrates active listening skills.
- Openness: committed to learning, building skills, and demonstrating equity, inclusion, and diversity principles.
- Motivational: enthusiastic, creative, takes initiative, and dedicated.
- Collaborative: adaptable, flexible, and works well in a team environment.
- Professional: respectful of others, upholds boundaries, confidentiality and privacy.
- Accountable: reliable, timely communication, and displays sound time-management practices.
- Community-minded: foster a sense of belonging, inclusion, and connection.
We require those applying as Collective Hosts to have strong group facilitation skills, and Outreach Hosts should have strong interpersonal skills. Project management experience is an asset for the Outreach Host role.
Commit to at least one (1) academic year (i.e. Fall and Winter terms) with the Unitea program.
Important: All Unitea Hosts are stewards of the Unitea program and, by extension, the University of Alberta. All volunteers are expected to uphold confidentiality and provide assistance to peers (within capacity).
Boost student mental health and well-being through social connection by 1) planning, organizing and carrying out meaningful activities and interactive events for U of A students while engaging, connecting, and supporting them, and 2) supporting campus community dialogue and program-related activities.
No volunteer opportunities at this time.
Boost student mental health and well-being through social connection by 1) meeting with U of A students for one-to-one conversations, including discussions that may be casual/lighthearted and/or meaningful/supportive, and 2) supporting campus community dialogue and program-related activities.
No volunteer opportunities at this time.
Boost student mental health and well-being through social connection by 1) facilitating group conversations with U of A students and specialized student groups, and 2) supporting campus community dialogue and program-related activities.
No volunteer opportunities at this time.
Unitea Volunteer - Danielle
"My favourite part of any conversation is when we touch on a subject that the tea time guest is really passionate about. There's a light that goes on in their eyes and a brightness that spreads across their face when you find something you both have in common or a shared experience. I remember one conversation in particular about childhood pets that helped a guest and myself to connect, not only through our shared love of our past pets, but also the connections these memories have to our childhood homes, which we both no longer live near."