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Graduate Residential Colleges are communities of scholars existing within universities with, typically, the dual goals of providing an exceptional academic experience for their members and pursuing targeted visions or goals as defined by the college. At its core, such colleges have a community of resident and non‐resident members, supplemented with more senior members from the academy and the broader community, in order to create the academic community that defines such a college. Thus although such colleges do provide residence facility options for their members, they are much more than simply graduate student residences. Information on existent Canadian Graduate Residential Colleges are provided in the Background section (page 2).
The College @ UCalgary is the University of Calgary’s initiative to create a Graduate Residential College at the heart of the University campus that is created by Calgarians unique to the goals and needs of the University and our city. A more extensive discussion of the motivations for the creation of The College is provided in the Motivation section (page 3) o. The full vision for The College @ UCalgary is provided in the Vision section (page 5), which focuses on three foundational themes for The College: Connect, Enrich, and Energize.
The College is currently being developed based on this vision by the, Graduate College Steering Committee (page 12), which is charged with developing the vision and overall concept for the creation of The College through a phased approach starting in 2015‐16 with a College pilot project (pages 6‐9), which will be housed on the 11th floor of the new Crowsnest Hall graduate residence. The pilot project is designed to be a three‐year initiative, with the goal of moving towards a full‐fledged graduate college at the end of this time period. The goals of the pilot project thus include (a) development of college programs and initiatives through engagement with the pilot project membership of the college, (b) establishment of The College as a valued member of the communities it serves, and (c) identification and securement of a sustainable funding program for a full‐fledged college. Applications for membership in The College are currently open, with more information on application requirements and timelines available on pages 13‐15. More information about The College initiate is available throughout the remainder of this website, or through contacting The College Steering Committee leadership using the information on page 16 (Contact Us).
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Background
Background: What is a Graduate Residential College?
The Oxbridge tradition of college‐based education within larger university settings is intended to enhance the academic and collegial experience of Updates
students by placing them in a small community of like‐minded scholars. Graduate Residential Colleges (GRCs) have been developed at select leading Vision
Canadian Universities as academically elite and yet congenial and supportive Pilot Project communities within their respective Universities. These three colleges –
Toronto’s Massey College and UBC’s Green and St. John’s Colleges, are used as Whitepaper recruiting flagships for top national and international graduate student candidates. With two of the top‐five research‐intensive Canadian Universities Steering Ctte
boasting high‐profile GRCs, the University of Calgary is exploring the value and possible concepts for a future GRC at the University of Calgary, not a clone of Application
the existing UBC and University of Toronto GRCs, but a College tailored to the
goals and vales of the University of Calgary, City of Calgary, and Province of Contact Us
Alberta.
Motivation
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Motivation: Why Should the University of Calgary Establish a Graduate Residential College?
As described above, GRCs take a range of forms and offer a range of different opportunities to the institutions in which they operate. However, the justification for a University of Calgary GRC (the College) must be specific to the goals and aspirations of the University, as outlined in our Eye’s High Strategy, Academic Plan, and Strategic Research Plan. This vision identifies four specific motivations for the establishment of the College:
 The College would serve as one element of the global intellectual hub envisioned in the Eyes
High strategy, serving as a temporary home for distinguished visitors, bringing them in close
daily contact with our best and most highly motivated graduate students.
 The College would offer a unique and powerful opportunity to engage our exceptional
graduate students with each other and with the University for the benefit of these students
and of the University.
 The College would provide a potent tool for the recruitment of outstanding graduate
students, offering them a benefit unavailable at many competitor institutions.
 The College would provide exceptional prospects for connection to the Calgary Community,
providing a place to bring together community leaders with some of our most outstanding
graduate students in an interdisciplinary environment.
Each of these motivations, and in fact the entire concept for the College, are in excellent alignment with the priorities outlined in the University’s Academic and Research Plans.
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Recent News and Historical Timeline about The College @ UCalgary
Apr. 15, 2015
Applications for resident and non‐resident graduate scholar
positions open with a closing date of May 3, 2015. Full application information can be found on pages 13‐15.
March 9, 2015
The Vision for The College is adopted by the Graduate College
Steering Committee following feedback from APPC. The full vision
for The College can be found on page 5.
Dec. 11, 2014
Whitepaper entitled “Concept White Paper: A Graduate Residential College at the University of Calgary” is approved by GFC enabling development of a full concept proposal and launch of a pilot project. The full whitepaper is discussed on page 10.
March 2013
Comprehensive Institutional Plan (CIP) first identifies 2014‐15 as the Academic Year to develop a graduate college proposal and 2015‐16 for the launch of a college or college pilot project..
April 2012
The University of Calgary’s 2012 Academic Plan, which includes a strategy to develop a graduate residential college, is adopted. Pilot Project
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College Vision
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The vision for The College focuses on three
foundational themes: Connect, Enrich, and
Energize.
It aims to bring together a
community of like‐minded scholars with a
desire to build communities, enrich the world
around us, and enable solutions to challenges
of the 21st Century.
Vision
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Steering Ctte At the core will be a select group of graduate
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students scholars, who will work with post
doctoral, academic, and community scholars to
build the College and pursue its vision.
The full vision, as developed and adopted by
the Graduate College Steering Committee is
shown to the right or can be downloaded in
PDF form from the College website.
(http://grad.ucalgary.ca/current‐student‐services/college)
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The College @ UCalgary Pilot Project
The long term goal of the Graduate College Steering Committee (page 12) is to establish a permanent, self‐sustaining graduate residential college at the University of Calgary. In Vision
pursuit of this goal, a College Pilot Project is being launched for the 2015‐16 Academic Year. The Pilot Project is anticipated to include 25‐50 Graduate Student Scholars, 3‐8 Pilot Project
Postdoctoral Scholars, as well as senior Academic and Community Scholars, and last for Programs
approximate 3 years. During this three year project, the College will reside on the upper floor(s) of the new Crowsnest Hall graduate residence on the University of Calgary. Facilities
College membership will include both resident and non‐resident scholars, with the former Scholarships residing in accommodation within the College floor(s) at Crowsnest Hall. The goals of the pilot project will be (a) to establish the College as an organization within and serving the Whitepaper
University of Calgary, (b) to develop the initial programs and initiatives that will define The Steering Ctte College, and (c) to provide its members with a unique academic experience in a community of likeminded scholars. More details about The College’s programs, facilities, and scholarships for Graduate Student and Postdoctoral members are on pages 7‐9. Application
Individuals interested in becoming members of The College pilot project should consult the Application section (pages 13‐15), as applications are open now and due by May 3.
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The College @ UCalgary Pilot Project: Programs
As The College is just entering its pilot project phase, the programs that its members will lead and participate in are very much still under development. It is anticipated that these programs will fall into two general categories: (a) programs for college members and (b) programs for the broader community led by college members.
Programs for College Members
As a community of scholars, The College will exist both as a physical establishment on the top floor(s) of Crowsnest Hall and as a community defined by the programs and initiatives in which its members participate. On the simplest level, these programs will include informal interactions between college members, as facilitated by the College common room on the 11th floor of Crowsnest Hall, informal meals for College members, scheduled regularly at on‐campus dining facilities, and formal College Dinners, anticipated to be held on an approximately monthly basis. Other internal programs will be developed naturally through the Graduate College Steering Committee and through the membership of The College pilot project.
External Programs Led by College Members
On the basis of the Vision (page 5) for The College, it is expected that during its pilot project phase, The College will initiate programs led by its members for the benefit of the broader University or city of Calgary communities. These programs could be academic or service in nature, will benefit the communities to which they are offered, and will be allowed to develop naturally as the pilot project matures.
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The College @ UCalgary Pilot Project: Facilities
During its pilot project phase, The College will be established on the upper floor(s) of the new University of Calgary graduate residence, Crowsnest Hall. This physical manifestation of the College will consist of:
 A college Common Room, situated on the 11th floor of Crownest Hall and open to all College members.
 Accommodation for resident Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Members of The
College in the form of one‐ and two‐bedroom suites, with cooking facilities.
 Accommodation for one senior member of the
College in the form of a two‐bedroom suite.
 Visiting scholar accommodation.
In its initial form, the College will not have dedicated communal dining facilities or large scale
meeting facilities, but will instead use University
facilities as needed for these functions.
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The College @ UCalgary Pilot Project: Scholarships
Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars, both resident and non‐resident, will each receive College Scholarships associated with their membership of, and efforts towards the development of, The College. Resident Scholar award levels are higher than non‐resident awards in order to partially offset the cost of their residence fees for what are classified as premium rooms in the University of Calgary Residence Services room rates. Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars are otherwise responsible for the cost of their accommodations and meals, with the exception of official College Dinners, which will be subsidized by the College. Current College Scholarship and Residence Allowance rates are provided below:
Scholarships Graduate Student Scholars
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Resident College Scholarship:
$3000 p.a.
Non‐Resident College Scholarship: $1500 p.a.
Postdoctoral Scholars
Resident College Scholarship:
$1000 p.a.
Non‐Resident College Scholarship: $ 500 p.a.
Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholars may apply annually for renewal of their positions within The College.
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The College @ UCalgary Whitepaper
The development of a graduate residential college is identified in the 2012 Academic Plan and in the Comprehensive Institutional Plan as university initiative for 2014‐15. Therefore, during calendar year 2014, a document entitled “Concept White Paper: A Graduate Residential College at the University of Calgary” was developed to present a strategy to create the vision and structures of such an institution. This whitepaper was reviewed and endorsed by the University’s Academic Planning and Priorities Committee and General Faculties Council (GFC) in December 2014. This endorsement created the Graduate College Steering Committee with the mandate to develop a full proposal for consideration by GFC, engage with Fund Development on a strategy to identify potential long‐term funding sources, and launch a College pilot project on the top floor of Crowsnest Hall starting in Fall 2015. The full graduate college whitepaper is available for download from the graduate college website.
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The Graduate College Steering Committee
As mandated in the university’s graduate college whitepaper, a Graduate College Steering Committee (GCSC) has been established to develop a full proposal for a graduate college Vision
at the University of Calgary and launch a graduate college pilot project on the top floor of the new Crowsnest Hall graduate residence. This committee is lead by the Academic co‐
Pilot Project
Chair of the university’s Academic Planning and Priorities Committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies. The GCSC has been meeting throughout 2015, with a target date of Whitepaper
June 2015 for submission of a full graduate college proposal. Its membership includes Steering Ctte graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty members, community members, and representatives from university administration and administrative units. A full list of the Membership GCSC membership can be found on page 12. Any inquiries about the GCSC and its Application
activities should be directed to the GCSC Chair, R.I. Thompson through gradcollege@ucalgary.ca. Contact Us
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Graduate College Steering Committee Membership
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The full list of members of the Graduate College Steering Committee, including their representative groups is provided below. Any inquiries about the GCSC and its activities should be directed to the GCSC Chair (R.I. Thompson), through gradcollege@ucalgary.ca. Vision
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Name
Position
Representation
Rob Thompson
Committee Chair
APPC Academic Co‐Chair
Lisa Young
Committee Vice‐Chair
Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies
Susan Barker
Vice‐Provost (Student Experience)
Provost's Office
Clifton Cunningham
Department of Math & Stats
GFC/Academic Member
Trent Edwards
Brookfield Residential Properties
Community (Senate) Member
Juliet Guichon
Cumming School of Medicine
GFC/Academic Member
Colin Jackson
Rosebud Centre for the Arts
Community (Senate) Member
Anne Katzenberg
AVP Research, Dept. of Archaeology
Representative of Office of the VPR
Carolina Koutras PDF in Physiology and Pharmacology
Post‐Doctoral Community
Danica MacDonald
GSA Vice‐President Student Life
Graduate Student
Franco Rizzuti
MD Student
Graduate Studies Alumni
L.Sangaranarayanan
Housing Services & Residence Education
Ancillary & Residence Services
Jo Towers
Werklund School of Education
GFC/Academic Member
Michael Webster
GSA Vice President Finance & Services
Graduate Student
Kristine Williamson
AVP, Development
VP (Development)
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Applications for Membership in the Graduate College Pilot Project
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Applications are now being accepted for resident and non‐resident Graduate Student Scholar and Postdoctoral Scholar positions as part of the 2015‐16 Pilot Project for The College (pages 6‐
9). Application process inquiries should be directed to gradcollege@ucalgary.ca. The application package should be submitted by May 3, 2015 to gradcollege@ucalgary.ca. Review of applications will be carried out under the auspices of the Graduate College Steering Committee and is expected to be completed by mid‐May 2015. Details on selection criteria and application package required elements are provided on pages 14 and 15.
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Applicants must be intending to remain affiliated with the University of Calgary and The College
for at least the Fall 2015 and Winter 2016 academic terms. Individuals admitted as resident Graduate Student or Postdoctoral Scholars will be full members of The College pilot project and reside on the 11th floor of Crowsnest Hall. Those admitted as non‐resident Graduate Student or Postdoctoral Scholars will be full members of The College pilot project but will reside elsewhere on campus or in the city. All Graduate Student or Postdoctoral Scholars will receive College Scholarships, with resident scholarship slightly higher than non‐resident scholarships, which will partially offset the cost of residence fees in Crowsnest Hall. Individuals interested in joining the College as senior Academic or Community Scholars should contact the GCSC Chair, R.I. Thompson, via gradcollege@ucalgary.ca.
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Graduate College Admission Criteria
Although The College is envisioned as an organization whose programs are inclusive of the broad university community and engaging with the even broader range of communities that make up the City of Calgary, at its core will be a membership who envision, lead, and deliver these programs. This core community will be, by definition, elite, but the key to the success of The College and to its success in delivering on its vision for the University and the City, will be in the manner in which elite is defined and delivered. The College is envisioned as a select community, but the selection will not be based simply on classroom performance. Rather, the selection will be based on three broad criteria, developed from the Vision and Foundational Themes of The College. These broad admission criteria will be: Excellence, Leadership, and Breadth.
EXCELLENCE: As an admission criteria, excellence will be considered across a broad range of metrics, including but not limited to classroom performance, research, scholarly pursuits, teaching, and professional or volunteer activities.
LEADERSHIP: As an admission criteria, it is expected that members of the College would have demonstrated track record of leadership and/or initiative in their range of academic, professional and/or or community activities.
BREADTH: As an admission criteria, breadth will be a key determinant in the process. In this case, breadth applies both to the background of an individual member (breadth of interest, breadth of experience, breadth of training, …), but also to ensuring an ideal breadth of membership within The College (i.e. the overall membership would be selected to ensure diversity in academic fields, background gender )
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Application Package Requirements
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Applications are now being accepted for resident and non‐resident Graduate Student Scholar and Postdoctoral Scholar positions as part of the 2015‐16 Pilot Project for The College (pages 6‐9). Applicants must be intending to remain affiliated with the University of Calgary and The College for at least the Fall 2015 and Winter 2016 academic terms. Inquiries about the application process should be directed to gradcollege@ucalgary.ca. The application package should be submitted no later than May 3, 2015 to gradcollege@ucalgary.ca, and should consist of:
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For Graduate Student Applicants:
Cover Letter
Max. 750 Word Essay*
Academic C.V. or Resume
One letter of reference
Unofficial Transcripts
For Postdoctoral Applicants:
Cover Letter
Max 750 Word Essay
Academic C.V.
One letter of reference
* The Essay should address The College’s admission criteria (page 14) and provide a description of what the applicant would bring to The College as a member of this pilot project.
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For more information about the development of the College @ UCalgary, please e‐mail gradcollege@ucalgary.ca, or contact the Chair of the Graduate College Steering Committee:
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Prof. Robert I. Thompson, P.Phys.
Chair, Graduate College Steering Committee
e‐mail: rthompso@ucalgary.ca
telephone: 403 220‐5407