The U4 League, Acadia, Bishop’s, Mount Allison and Saint Francis Xavier universities, are committed to a teaching model that puts undergraduate education first. Central to this mission are the fundamentals of teaching, including fostering a highly personal and supportive learning environment. A very high percentage of courses are taught by full-time faculty. This means that students have direct and constant engagement with accomplished scholars from the day of arrival until graduation. This frequent interaction translates into faculty taking a personal interest in their students’ academic success.
"A liberal education is at the heart of a civil society, and at the heart of a liberal education is the act of teaching."
A. Bartlett Giamatti, President, Yale University (1978-1986)
Engaging undergraduates in research and discovery is a cornerstone of the U4 experience.
U4 institutions provide exceptional opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in close and sustained interactions with faculty throughout their undergraduate careers. Many students at U4 institutions develop experience and expertise with research equipment and research methods that are normally encountered only at the graduate level.
Faculty members at U4 institutions understand the value in training the next generation of researchers and students become valued and integral members of our vibrant research communities.
The early pursuit of independent, curiosity-driven research by undergraduates at U4 institutions creates mature and well-trained candidates for graduate and professional programs.
The U4 institutions promote and facilitate active student engagement inside the classroom, in residence life, and in extracurricular activities. We consider that deep engagement in university life is a critical component of helping students to reach their full potential.