February 28 is the first day of voting for the new AUSU council. This will be the group that represents you to AU and to the government for the next two years, including the pivotal 2019 year when both Alberta and the Federal government will have their elections, possibly profoundly affecting the course of post-secondary… Read more »
One drawback of studying online is the lack of student interaction. AU has tens of thousands of students, yet few of us ever meet or speak to another student. We study in our silos, often struggling along without the peer support system that other university’s students enjoy. There are supports for AU students, but they… Read more »
There’s no doubt about it, educational expenses are high and you want to get the most for your dollars. Achieving success in your education involves not only putting effort into studying and reading, but also demanding valuable guidance from your tutor. Therefore, you must be comfortable reaching out to your tutor on a regular basis…. Read more »
Spend some time on social media or send a text message and it’s pretty much guaranteed you will come across some little faces and symbols. Ah yes, it’s the emoji. Like them or loathe them, these little visuals are not only augmenting an online conversation, they often are the conversation. They express laughter, tears, and… Read more »
“We live on an island surrounded by a sea of ignorance. As our island of knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance.” — John Archibald Wheeler (1911-2008), American theoretical physicist. Should every university program require mandatory indigenous-content courses? That’s a question I pondered in 2016 after reading Tamra Ross’s article, “Truth and Reconciliation—Will… Read more »
As I child, I would talk about the lunar new year instead of Chinese New Year. My father would correct me. “You mean Chinese New Year”. He corrected me not because he wasn’t aware the festivities were shared with many Eastern Asian cultures, but that the way our family celebrated the new year was particular… Read more »
Despite my name, I’m not of Asian descent at all. I’m a mixed bag of eastern European and Germanic elements. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get targeted by telemarketers that are only able to speak in some asian language I can never recognize. Still, I’m always interested in the cultures and celebrations people have… Read more »
Embracing a major life change late in life is no easy task. Perhaps a marriage did not turn out the way you expected and you found yourself single after envisioning a long life together with one person. Perhaps your job ended unexpectedly and options remain scarce to continue in the same field. Or perhaps where… Read more »
Submitting my first essay for my first graduate level course was stressful; it was probably similar to the first essay I submitted for my undergraduate course. I spent a lot of time preparing quotes, editing, editing, and then a bit more editing. I used a trick taught by The Voice Magazine’s editor and worked through… Read more »
