In the ordinary university, students move from lecture theatre to massive hall. Scientists stay with scientists, educators with educators, philosophers with philosophers. Marketers share ideas with other marketers.

Concordia University of Edmonton was born to be different.

For almost one hundred years, our students came together through a shared belief, despite their varied interests and fascinations, their majors and minors. It created a unique culture, where we could learn and create with anyone. CUE is no longer a faith-based campus but it remains a gathering place — a place of spirit — no matter what drives us.

At CUE we apply what we learn, in and out of our formal programs of study, working together to solve problems on campus and beyond. We earn a broad education, intellectually and emotionally, even as we specialize. We live and work on a small campus, a river valley oasis, but Edmonton is our workshop.

CUE is a boutique university, small enough that every student is essential yet large enough for a global outlook. In and out of our classrooms and lecture halls, we translate what we learn into extraordinary hands-on experiences. We can sit in the back. But at CUE, someone will always invite us to the front.

If we’re scientists, we can follow our curiosity into drama. A business student can graduate with a foundation in history, philosophy, and Indigenous knowledge. We can all learn new languages and traditions. We can test our ideas with people from every department and course of study, from around the world. We can try anything. We can change directions. We can be our best selves.

At CUE a centre for innovation blends science and business with the liberal arts and Indigenous studies. At CUE the president might sit down at our table in the Tegler Centre with coffee and ask us why we chose this school, how it could be even better. The close friends we meet at CUE, the friends we remain with our entire lives, could be from five different faculties and five countries.

We’re constantly seeking the right balance between teaching and research, between specialization and adventurousness. But our ultimate goal has not changed since 1921: to be more than students and professors, to create a community of active citizens, of good and honourable people.