"It is the duty of a Senate to inquire into any matter that might benefit the University and enhance its position in the community." 

The Post-Secondary Learning Act, 2003






Who We Are
Chaired by the Chancellor of the University of Alberta, the Senate is an advisory body of community volunteers and university representatives which meets in plenary session four times each year.  The Senate serves as a bridge between the University and the communities it serves, and also provides a forum in which issues about post-secondary education may be discussed.

The mandate of the Senate is to inquire, promote and connect.

What We Do
Committees and working groups of the Senate undertake various initiatives in support of this mandate and in support of the Chancellor, who is elected to represent the public interest in the University of Alberta.  The Chancellor represents the University at ceremonial occasions, presides over all degree-conferring ceremonies of the University and confers the degrees, including honorary degrees.

Members of the Senate serve in dual roles as community representatives and University ambassadors, building relationships and advancing the reputation of the University through advocacy and celebration.

Current Activities and Initiatives

  • Spring Convocation - Chancellor Ralph Young will confer 11 Honorary Degrees to inspiring people this June. The Senate is responsible for selecting honorary degree recipients and the chancellor confers them. To learn who this spring's honourees are, click here. 
  • Nominations for Honorary Degree Recipients - nominations are welcome year round for the University's highest honour.
  • Emil Skarin Fund - an endowment fund created in March 1976 from a donation from Mrs Ada Skarin in memory of her late husband Emil Richard Skarin.  Projects with an emphasis on the arts and humanities and of interest or value to the public may apply for assistance from the fund every two years.  Applications for 2013 will be accepted until June 21, 2013. 
  • U School - a program that offers elementary and junior high students from the inner city and other communities with socio-economic challenges a full week on campus to explore life and learning at the University of Alberta
  • Community Conversations with the Chancellor - a series of informal discussions on post-secondary education with leaders in communities across Alberta
  • Senate Committees and Working Groups - focus on areas such as student recruitment and retention, Aboriginal issues, and University of Alberta contributions to learning, discovery and citizenship.