University Community Care
Care and conversations during crises and across differences
Current affairs, crises and tragedies impact the university’s diverse communities and people—and the communities and people we care about—in many and very different ways. Students, alumni, faculty members, staff members, donors and community partners have a tradition of coming together during trying times, finding ways to support each other and our greater communities. At the same time, navigating learning, teaching, working and global research environments during crises can be challenging.
On this page, you can find:
- U of A services and resources available to support students, faculty and staff
- Pathways to engage on crises and across differences
- What the university community is doing
- Relevant policies and procedures
Supports available during a crisis
U of A students, faculty and staff do not have to navigate difficult situations by themselves. If you have been affected by a crisis at home or abroad resources are available to support your health, safety and well-being.
The services listed here are available and welcoming to all members of our diverse community.
Personal safety | Academic support | Online safety | Mental well-being | In the classroom | Travel emergencies
Community Support
Various on and off campus community resources and groups support U of A community members. These resources are compiled and updated in response to emerging geopolitical events and community needs.
Quick links to:
- Support for Palestinian, Arab or Muslim community members
- Support for Jewish or Israeli community members
- Support for Iranian community members
Do you need help navigating U of A services and resources? Contact the Student Service Centre, Staff Service Centre or Access, Community and Belonging services.
Our Commitments
The university community is a diverse group of 65,000+ individuals who belong to many different community groups on campus and beyond. Our community groups are important to us. They help define who we are as human beings and as academic community members. They are part of our learning, teaching, and research successes. Even when they challenge us. Our differences play a significant role in expanding academia and finding innovative approaches to shared challenges and solutions—which are all fundamental experiences on university campuses.
The below U of A commitments guide our communities in navigating differences and impactful events:
- Timely support to U of A community members experiencing emergency crisis events
- Safe, respectful and welcoming university environments for all members of the U of A’s diverse community while we study, work and learn
- Open inquiry, dialogue and debate through freedom of expression and academic freedom
- Community care and conflict resolution approaches that are developed by or in partnership with the communities they are servicing
- Protections against discrimination, harassment and hate
- Taking action to support Indigenization and decolonization
- Institutional positions that reflect our mission of teaching and learning, research and creative activity, community involvement and partnerships, as well as the diversity of U of A communities
Community-led pathways to learning, collective care + conflict resolution
In July 2024, the University launched “Moving through Conflict,” which describes six pathways to learning, collective care and conflict resolution. The initiative was developed through conversations led by members of the access, community and belonging office and network and with campus partners. Read more about Moving through Conflict.
These recommendations and dialogues have informed the university community’s activities and engagement opportunities including the actions in Trajectory 1 of Changing the Story: An Integrated Action Plan, “Supporting Uncomfortable Encounters.” Read more about Changing the Story.
Opportunities to Engage
Are you interested in taking part in conversations around free expression, protest and debate on university campuses? Contact vpacb@ualberta.ca
Learn more about How we Come together
- Support services are available to members of the university community according to their needs.
- Teaching During Global and Geopolitical Crisis is a public-facing resource for educators seeking to support students equitably and compassionately.
- Universities in Times of Crisis is an event series for you to participate in discussions that address the role post-secondary institutions play in times of crisis and societal transformation.
- Mutual Aid Project Micro-grants are available to U of A groups to foster imagining and learning about ways through conflict, harm and grief together.
- Student bursaries + emergency funding are available to assist those experiencing financial shortfall. See other academic supports for current students.
- Fundraising for students affected by civil war, persecution or other life-threatening situations through bursaries and the David Turpin and Suromitra Sanatani Award for Refugees and Displaced Persons.
- The university is supporting displaced Palestinian students and scholars and the rebuilding of Gaza’s universities.
- The University of Alberta is committed to providing safe and secure environments for learning, living, working and activities on our campuses.
- A Culture of Care is the University of Alberta's three-year safety action plan to embed health and safety as a core value within the university community.
- The university community is exploring ways of building capacities and seeking opportunities for transparent and non-hierarchical paths to conflict resolution. Contact vpacb@ualberta.ca to learn more.
- The U of A community is committed to being a place of open inquiry, dialogue and debate, as captured by our Statement on Freedom of Expression. Academic freedom is also a post-secondary foundational right unique to academic staff and postdoctoral fellows, realized within the AASUA collective agreement. If you think your freedom of expression rights have been violated, submit a disclosure here.
- Facilitated by the Office of the Provost, the university community is currently exploring ways and resources to foster pluralism, respectful dialogues and free expression awareness on campuses. To connect with someone on this topic, contact vpacb@ualberta.ca.
- Facilitated by the Office of the Provost and External Relations, the university community is currently exploring additional ways and resources to:
- ensure university crisis support information and paths are accessible and equitable; and,
- build awareness of the roles, responsibilities and activities of the university, university leaders and university community support offices in times of collective tragedies and geopolitical crises.
- As directed by the Board of Governors, an independent review of the May 2024 encampment was finalized in December 2025.
- As part of our commitment to responsible investment, a list of the University Endowment Pool (UEP) investment holdings is disclosed every year.
- The Board of Governors recently reviewed and updated the university’s responsible investment policies and practices. As part of this complex and comprehensive review process, the Board worked with industry experts and consulted extensively with the university community. Learn more »
Policies + Procedures
University community care is supported by the university’s full suite of policies, procedures, statements, agreements and codes of conduct.
General sources of university-wide regulations and standards include UAPPOL, the University Calendar, staff agreements, university governance policies, standards and codes of conduct. Below are direct links to the policies, procedures and agreements that come up most often in conversations around university community care.