The Ethnography of the University project was founded at the University of Illinois by Professor Nancy Abelmann. See the website for a rich archive of past student projects. For readings and methods follow this link. EUI researchers in anthropology and other disciplines have pursued hundreds of research projects over the years.

On a visit to Toronto in 2010, Professor Nancy Abelmann encouraged me to start a parallel project, and produce ethnographies of the University of Toronto. Work produced by U of T students in 2011 and 2013 can be found here. Sadly, Prof Abelmann died in 2016. I knew her only briefly, but loved her enthusiasm for teaching and research, and her generous collegiality. Her legacy continues to inspire our explorations of the university as a rich field for ethnographic inquiry.

For a PDF of my course syllabus from 2015, focusing on power, click here: ANT 473 Ethnographic Practicum The University2015

For PDF of my course syllabus for 2016, focusing on work, click here: ant-473-ethnographic-practicum-the-university2016

Dr. Tania Li