Connecting communities: Flixbus @ Augustana

There’s an exciting, new (and free!) bus service available between Augustana Campus in Camrose and North Campus in Edmonton through a project led by the U of A Students’ Union (UASU) with support from the U of A Deputy Provost (Students and Enrolment)'s Office, the Augustana Dean’s Office and the Augustana Students' Association. I reached out to the UASU to learn more about the service, how it came about and how the U of A community can take advantage of it.

Renson Alva

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Renson Alva and I am the vice president of student life at the UASU. We represent over 30,000 students across all campuses. My portfolio addresses all non-academic student advocacy, including mental health, residences and UASU programming, as well as engaging the student communities at Augustana and Campus Saint-Jean (CSJ). This is my first year in the role; prior to this, I lived and worked in residence for nearly three years.

What can you tell me about this initiative?

This initiative stems from the Student Experience Action Plan (SEAP). I've heard from our students at Augustana that they want to be more connected with the rest of the U of A. To follow the shared purpose of the SEAP in enhancing the student experience, we reached out to FlixBus—a company expanding across Canada—and inquired about their interest in establishing this route.

We then collaborated with the Provost's Office, the Augustana Dean’s Office and the Augustana Students' Association. Together, we were able to bring this project to fruition!

This aligns with Goal 16 in SEAP and is a collaborative effort. Why is this important?

The SEAP was co-created through collaboration between students and university administration. This project follows the same trajectory, with all parties coming together to enhance the student experience by fostering connections and reinforcing relationships between our campuses and communities.

This year, we decided to align the UASU executive goals with SEAP. The SEAP represents the university's objectives for improving the student experience, and the UASU wants to demonstrate our commitment to these goals. We believe that collaboration between students and university administration is key to creating a better student experience, and we aim to hold ourselves—and the university—accountable for reaching these goals.

What should the U of A community know about this initiative?

This is a six-week pilot project open to students, employees and community members. It provides transportation between North Campus and Augustana Campus as the main stops, with additional stops at downtown Edmonton, Southgate Mall and Duggan Mall in Camrose. This service is accessible to the U of A community and the wider public, including Camrose residents looking to access services in Edmonton.The future of this project depends on usage and we hope to see enough demand for FlixBus to make the route permanent. It has a broader impact than just connecting two campuses—it's about connecting communities.

I’ve heard students can access free or subsidized tickets on this service; how does this work?

Any person with a valid University of Alberta CCID can create an UASU Perks account, available through the website or the app. Through this platform, you can obtain a voucher code to use during checkout on the FlixBus website. There are 35 free tickets available per bus ride for U of A students. If all the free tickets are claimed, the cost is $14.99 per ride.

To access the voucher, go to the "Shop" tab and then the "Offers" section within the app or website. The voucher is also available through the UASU Instagram account. 

Students can submit their feedback on this project by emailing vp.studentlife@su.ualberta.ca.

What are some of your favourite things about Augustana Campus that U of A students from Edmonton might want to check out? What should Augustana students check out at one of the U of A’s Edmonton campuses?

I've visited Augustana both for work and to see friends. I love the Hesje Observatory (note: the observatory is not located on the Augustana Campus) and the experience of seeing wildlife roaming around the campus. The close-knit community feels great; you really get a sense that it's a special place within the broader U of A community.

For Augustana students visiting Edmonton campuses, I recommend checking out the Bears and Pandas games—students get free tickets to everything, including hockey, football and basketball. There are plenty of events at the Students' Union Building (SUB), including free movies at the Horowitz Theatre that all Augustana community members are naturally invited to. The "Green for Good" markets take place regularly. Also, be sure to visit Room At The Top (RATT) to get a great view of North Campus!