Goal 14 - Institutional Stewardship Initiatives

Institutional Stewardship Initiatives

Campus Planning and Design Guidelines for Implementation

The Campus Planning and Design Guidelines provides guidelines to support the vision and principles of sustainability, urban design and smart growth. The implementation of the plan is crucial for establishing the future of innovative campus development at the University of Alberta.

Seafood Certifications

To help ensure that seafood served at the University of Alberta is sustainably harvested, Dining Services has chain-of-custody certifications from the Marine Stewardship Council and Aquaculture Stewardship Council through their contract with Aramark. Meals in Lister Hall and Peter Lougheed Hall may include certified basa, cod, haddock, pollock and sole.

U of A Water Management Plan

Through its Water Management Plan, the University of Alberta develops strategies for resource conservation, decreased production waste, a minimized ecological footprint, decreased greenhouse gas emissions, and for building a culture of sustainability at the university and in the wider community.

Water Resource Management Certificate 

The University of Alberta’s Continuing Education offers several specialized training courses for professionals and organizations to increase competencies and knowledge in the management of aquatic resources in our environment. Water resource management courses focus on the management, evaluation, and monitoring requirements of surface water and groundwater. These courses are short, flexible, and will stack into a renewed certificate in Water Resource Management. 

Source to Tap Training 

University of Alberta students and researchers involved in the forWater Strategic Network participated in the fifth annual Source to Tap Training event. Source to Tap Training dives into the complexities of watershed management connecting to rivers, lakes, and oceans. The Source to Tap Training program helps create a common language between the different stakeholders and fields involved in watershed management. 

Tracking Change

Tracking Change is a multi-year social science research network of Indigenous communities, universities, governments and other organizations building capacity for documenting and sharing local and traditional knowledge about changes in the Mackenzie River Basin. Free lesson plans for NWT and Alberta Secondary Science Classrooms are available through Tracking Change. These lesson plans draw upon Indigenous knowledge and focus on freshwater river systems and aquatic stewardship. 

Water Quality Treatment 

EPCOR treats all water discharged from the University of Alberta before it enters surface waters. The water treatment process ensures that water quality meets standards indicated in the EPCOR Drainage Services Bylaw and the Government of Alberta’s Environmental Quality Guidelines for Alberta Surface Waters. This ensures that water discharges maintain sufficient quality to protect ecosystems, wildlife and human health.