YouAlberta
This article was updated on August 24, 2021.
Whether your U of A experience is in-person, remote, or a mix of both, staying connected with other students is key. There are many groups you may join to help facilitate your university experience and connect with people with similar interests and goals as you.
How do you find a club?
The in-person and online Fall Clubs Fair happens at the beginning of September, and this is the best way to find clubs to join. If you miss out or need more time to decide which group you would like to join, you can always check BearsDen for a list of student groups available through the U of A. There are student groups and events available to both graduate and undergraduate students, so do not hesitate to browse the BearsDen and get involved!
Also, keep an eye out for the student digest emails that are sent out every Wednesday! I know sometimes they can be quite lengthy, but they contain a lot of gems such as clubs that are actively recruiting volunteers and activities happening across campus. You don't want to miss out on this information especially if you don't get to see the posters walking around campus. This is now your campus bulletin board so try and use it as such!
You may even wish to start by checking the student resources tab on your program's website. They usually have the student group for your program linked there! That is a great place to start and connect with people in your program and most likely taking similar classes to you.
If you are someone that thrives doing physical activities the Campus & Community Recreation center at the university also has some club sports and intramural sports that you can be a part of this semester,
For new and returning students, there are a number of orientations you can try out, and group workshops for strengthening your writing and research skills.
But, what about the time commitment?
If, like me, you find that due to other commitments you may not have the time to formally join a student group, I recommend participating in the one-off activities that appeal to you and engaging with groups on social media or by signing up for a newsletter. This makes it easier to be informed about upcoming events and opportunities. You can follow along with some great student work without a big commitment. Don't feel pressured to commit a lot of time, but feel inspired to explore the options available to you.
Personally, I am looking forward to following the work of groups such as the Black Students' Association (@uabsa) to see all the amazing work they have planned for this term, especially in light of the Black Lives Matter protest that took place around the world, and specifically at the Alberta Legislature building in Edmonton this past summer.
I am also looking forward to checking out the amazing events organized by Rehab Medicine Students Association (@ualberta_rmsa), which is also my faculty, in case you were wondering…
Whatever your workload looks like this semester, it is incredibly important to find some sort of community either by volunteering with a student group, participating in virtual events, joining a sports club, or even performing an extra-curricular activity (which is what I'm doing with writing with a great team at YouAlberta! We might need to practice physical distancing, but we don't need to cut socialization from our lives!
