Verna’s Vlog is a series in which Verna Yiu, Provost and Vice-President (Academic), sits down with some of the incredible people who are a part of the U of A community to share their stories and learn more about what they do.
In this episode, Verna sits down with three members of the People Strategy Steering Committee to discuss the recent launch of new institutional values, guided by Forward Together: The University of Alberta People Strategy 2024–2034. The four values — unwavering curiosity, shared accountability, a spirit of community and impact through excellence — are rooted in the vision of the university’s first president, Henry Marshall Tory, who conceived of an institution concerned with “the uplifting of the whole people.”
As a large, complex and diverse institution, the values provide a guiding light that directs both action and behaviour. They can serve as an invaluable lens for decision making, affirming that the paths we take as a university are the right ones. Leighton highlights the value of unwavering curiosity as particularly critical from an academic perspective, allowing the values to function as a mindset that governs how researchers undertake collaborative discussions and innovative projects in their fields. And, for the many staff, faculty and students who make up the U of A community, they offer a sense of alignment, demonstrating that the university’s larger institutional goals mirror each individual’s academic and personal pursuits.
The values are represented visually through four individual icons that are brought together as a shield. The design choices highlight how each value stands alone as a distinct pillar, while also emphasizing the way they work together as a cohesive whole to lead the university forward.
Watch previous episodes of Verna’s Vlog.