Arts Co-Curricular Enhancement

Arts Co-Curricular Enhancement (ACE)

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About ACE

About ACE

The UCalgary ACE Program encourages (and recognizes) students to pursue five different arts experiences as part of their education at the University in Calgary, in addition to their academic programs.

Collect all 6 ACE Cards

Two quick steps to document each Arts Experience:

1. Gather and upload two pieces digital evidence (e.g., ticket PDFs in your name, selfies in front of event posters, playbills, gallery programs, etc.) for each ACE.

2. Write a short, 1-paragraph connection between the ACE and your experience!

Ace of Hearts

Attend a performance as an audience member (e.g., a play, poetry slam, reading, etc.) and think about how it made you feel.

Ace of Spades

Participate in arts creation as an artist (e.g., exhibit in a student gallery, create an installation piece, participate in a flash performance, etc.) and consider your perspectives of creative work.

Ace of Diamonds

Attend or participate in an event with cultural/historical significance (e.g., Making Treaty 7, a Shakespearean play, Mexico Days film, etc.) and reflect on how it connects to you.

Ace of Clubs

Join and participate in an arts-based club, community organization, or extra-curricular class for one semester, and think about the social aspects of the arts.

Wild Card

Another experience that relates to any of the above, or a new idea that is creative/productive (up to you!) and reflect on how it contributed to you living a creative life.

Written Reflection

Once you've completed all five experiences, submit a 1-page response describing how the overall ACE experience enhanced your undergraduate education in some way. 

Arts Co-Curricular Enhancement

Ready to start?!

Log on to Elevate using your IT username and password. 

Select "View" under the Courses/Programs section

Click "Apply" for the ACE program.

Follow the directions on each of the steps!

Questions? Email arts.experience@ucalgary.ca

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Program Learning Outcomes

  • Articulate how specific experiences contribute to their growth as an educator
  • Develop cross-cultural competencies related to language, culture, and place
  • Develop stronger connections to the professional community and specific organizations
  • Examine how programming fosters inclusion and personal growth
  • Examine how teaching and learning take place in other contexts
  • Identify specific opportunities for you to contribute to program communities in a positive, professional manner
  • Lead or co-lead the component of at least one project within the program

Experiential Learning Check-In & Reflection Opportunities

All participants in Experiential Learning programs are welcome and encouraged to attend at least two of the check-in & reflection sessions below as part of their program. Reflection is an incredibly important part of experiential learning. It encourages students to consider their experience so far and to adjusted as needed as they go forward through the rest of their program, or into the next step of their career.

Fall Check-In & Reflection Sessions

More information for Fall 2025 coming soon!

Winter Check-In & Reflection Sessions

More information for Winter 2026 coming soon!