Cohort and Lifestyle Floors and Communities
There are many options available to customize your residence experience and live with like-minded peers in residence through academic cohort floors, lifestyle communities, and non-academic cohorts. Groups of students who share common academic programs, interests, experiences or lifestyles can live and learn together through these communities. They are a great opportunity for you to broaden your learning outside of the classroom, share experiences and connect with your peers.
We do our best to assign students who apply for specialty location-based communities to these floors. However, space is limited and not guaranteed.
In contrast, should interest in the communities below, applicants may be assigned to a faculty floor or lifestyle community even if they do not initially apply to one.
First Year Academic Cohort Floors
We offer academic program-based cohorts for first-year students in Lister Residence. This cohort is for students who want even more connection with their faculty. These communities are a great place to live if you want to connect with other students in your program outside the classroom, be surrounded by like-minded individuals and have more connection to your university.
Students in the science and nursing faculty floors will have access to supplies and materials to supplement their in-class learning.
- For the nursing faculty floor, these supplies include a stethoscope and anatomy diagrams.
- For the science faculty floor, these supplies include an Organic Chemistry Model Kit and models of the human brain!
Top three reasons to join your faculty’s academic cohort
- Live and learn together with students taking the same courses and who are passionate about the same program
- Participate in activities and events that will help you connect with fellow students in your program and foster your academic success
- Get connected to professionals, faculty members, resources and services outside of the classroom that will help you get involved on campus and achieve your academic and career goals
2023-2024 academic cohorts
In 2023-24, we will offer the following academic cohort floors:
Science academic cohort floor
- Location: Lister Residence (in Henday, Kelsey, Mackenzie or Thelma Chalifoux Hall)
The science academic cohort floor is for first-year Bachelor of Science students studying a general, specialization or honors degree. Participating in the science academic cohort enables you to connect with peers who are also interested in the broad field of science. Students looking to focus their studies in the field of computer science may wish to consider the computer science cohort instead of the science cohort.
Potential cohort activities include:
- Trip to the Telus World of Science
- Info sessions on how to get involved in scientific research
- Information sessions about professional programs or careers
Computer science academic cohort floor
- Location: Lister Residence (in Henday, Kelsey, Mackenzie or Thelma Chalifoux Hall)
The computer science academic cohort floor is for first-year Bachelor of Science students majoring in computer science or taking an honors or specialization degree in computer science. As a member of the computer science academic cohort, students will get to connect with other students in their faculty and participate in activities and events related to their field of study. They will also be connected to resources and services that will allow them to plan for careers in computer science and pursue extracurricular opportunities related to their degree.
Potential cohort activities include:
- Presentations on careers in computer science
- Programs that connect students to resources in the faculty
Nursing academic cohort floor
- Location: Lister Residence (in Henday, Kelsey, Mackenzie or Thelma Chalifoux Hall)
The nursing academic cohort floor is for first-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) students. As a member of the nursing academic cohort, you will be able to connect with others who have similar interests and goals, easily set up study groups and specific residence programming tailored to your studies, and participate in activities related to your nursing degree.
Potential cohort activities include:
- Info sessions on the different specialties in nursing
- Presentations from nursing faculty members
- Nursing-specific academic skills sessions
Engineering academic cohort floor
- Location: Lister Residence (in Henday, Kelsey, Mackenzie or Thelma Chalifoux Hall)
The engineering academic cohort floor is for first-year Bachelor of Science in engineering students. In collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering, this cohort is tailored towards students currently enrolled in engineering. As a cohort participant, you will get to connect with other engineering students who are on the same journey as you and build skills that set you up for success in the rest of your career.
Potential cohort activities include:
- Special presentations about opportunities within the Faculty of Engineering
- Attending engineering related programs and events with your cohort
- Information sessions to help students choose an engineering discipline
- Connection with upper year engineering students to help support your academic journey
Lifestyle floors
The following Lifestyle floors are currently only offered in Lister Residence Hall for first year students.
Quiet Floors
- Location: Lister Residence
Prefer a quieter floor environment that has the same academic, social and personal support of our other floors? Residents and student staff on quiet floors follow regular quiet hours, and a mutual understanding that everyone maintains a reasonably low level of noise at all times. Residents can also choose to make a community commitment together to establish extended quiet hours.
Substance-free floors
- Location: Lister Residence
Prefer an alcohol-free and/or cannabis-free environment that has the same academic, social and personal support of our other floors? Residents and student staff on substance-free floors can create a community commitment together to abstain from the use of alcohol and cannabis within their common areas and their own rooms!
Non-academic cohort floors and communities
Residence provides a variety of non-academic cohort communities to connect students in residence who have shared interests and experiences. These non-academic cohort communities feature specialised student staff dedicated to creating events and engaging programs that connect students with their peers and the greater campus community.
Top three reasons to participate in a non-academic cohort
- Share goals, interests and challenges with like-minded students
- Connect with campus and community resources that can contribute to your university experience
- Get involved in leadership opportunities and community events
2023-2024 non-academic cohort floors
Leadership cohort floor
- Location: Lister Residence (in Henday, Kelsey, Mackenzie or Thelma Chalifoux Hall)
This cohort floor is for first-year students who are passionate about leadership and want to make a difference in their community. Programs and events in this cohort will focus on building skills to grow as leaders, exploring current social issues and pursuing opportunities for community involvement.
2023-2024 non-academic cohort communities
Residence offers the following non-academic cohort communities that are open to students in residence no matter which residence they reside in. These cohorts allow students to live in the residence of their choosing, while participating in programs and events designed to connect students to one another.
Indigenous students cohort
This cohort connects students who self-identify as First Nations, Metis, or Inuit to on-campus events, resources and peers. This cohort focuses on community building within the Indigenous community and establishing an inclusive residence space for students to connect with peers, student leaders and staff. This cohort works in close collaboration with University of Alberta First Peoples' House.
2SLGBTQ+ cohort
This cohort connects our 2SLGBTQ+ students to on-campus events, resources and peers. This cohort focuses on community building within the 2SLGBTQ+ community and establishing an inclusive residence space for students to connect with peers, student leaders and staff. This cohort works in close collaboration with The Landing.
Undergraduate international student cohort
This cohort connects undergraduate students who identify as international students to on-campus events, resources and peers. This cohort focuses on community building within the international student community and establishing an inclusive residence space for students to connect with peers, student leaders and staff. This cohort works in close collaboration with University of Alberta International.
Graduate international student cohort
This cohort connects graduate students who identify as international students to on-campus events, resources and peers. This cohort focuses on academic support, career planning and community building. This cohort works in close collaboration with University of Alberta International.
Apply to live in a cohort or lifestyle community or floor
- Apply for your program and to live in residence
- Check your UAlberta email for a room offer
- Complete the cohort application section of your residence confirmation package