Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.29
Liaison Bonnie Dong
Submission Date Aug. 31, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

MacEwan University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Kerstyn Lane
Engagement and Outreach Advisor
Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?:
Yes

A brief description of the central sustainability website (optional):

The website for the Office of Sustainability is a resource for students, staff, faculty and community members to access sustainability resources, material, and general information about sustainability on campus (Green House Gas Emissions Inventory, Alternative Energy Report etc). This is where our Campus Sustainability Plan is hosted, along with upcoming events, opportunities to get involved, and resources for adopting sustainable behaviors on and off campus.


The website URL for the central sustainability website:
Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter:

The Office of Sustainability newsletter is developed by the Sustainability Communications Assistant. It includes stories featuring people and initiatives related to sustainability on campus, upcoming events, and opportunities or initiatives to join on campus and around Edmonton. There are 982 subscribers as of May 2018.

Another newsletter, "Sustain Abilities", was launched in January 2018 for a minimum 12-month period. It is the result of a professional development course that 2 MacEwan librarians attended. The newsletter is distributed via email to 50 librarians as well as other staff members who voiced interest. In addition to the newsletter, the two initiators create a monthly display highlighting library material on that month’s theme and a PPT slide that is shown on the monitors behind Borrower Services and the Reference desks.


The website URL for the sustainability newsletter:
Does the institution have social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, interactive blogs) that focus specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the social media platforms that focus on sustainability:

The Office of Sustainability's Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook feature events, initiatives, and resources that exist locally and around the globe. Our following for each account (#sustainmacewanu) as of May 2018 is:
- Facebook: 240
- Instagram: 332
- Twitter: 716


The website URL of the primary social media platform focused on sustainability:
Does the institution have regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper, either through a regular column or a reporter assigned to the sustainability beat?:
No

A brief description of the regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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The website URL for regular coverage of sustainability in the main student newspaper:
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Does the institution produce a vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:

Earth Common Journal (ECJ) is an international undergraduate peer-reviewed journal that provides a forum where students communicate a diversity of ideas and information on issues concerning conservation, sustainability, and climate change.

ECJ is published by the MacEwan University Bachelor of Communication Studies program. It is published annually each fall, with its inaugural issue released in 2011. The journal accepts articles from all disciplines, and includes research projects that are empirical, qualitative, creative, and interdisciplinary in content and approach. It also accepts articles from students internationally, to provide global perspectives and discussions on conservation, sustainability, and climate change.


The website URL for the vehicle to publish and disseminate student research on sustainability:
Does the institution have building signage that highlights green building features?:
Yes

A brief description of building signage that highlights green building features :

The Robbins Health Learning Centre (RHLC) was awarded LEED Silver certification on January 27, 2012. RHLC has signage communicating this certification, as well as key green building features such as:
- Energy Efficiency (efficient heating & cooling systems, energy efficient products, and reflective Energystar Cool Roof lowers energy consumption by over 35% saving 9.7 million mega joules/year)
- Indoor Environmental Quality (low V.O.C. paints, adhesives, and carpets etc.)
- Sustainable Site development (native and low impact landscaping, underground parking to reduce heat island effect, site was originally Canadian National Railyard and was remediated to strict residential standards)
- Materials selection (over 75% construction waste was diverted from landfill)


The website URL for building signage that highlights green building features :
Does the institution have signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:

The Urban Beekeeping Project handout provides a brief overview of the project and includes a call to action for how readers may support biodiversity and food security at home.


The website URL for food service area signage and/or brochures that include information about sustainable food systems:
Does the institution have signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:

A naturalization project was implemented at several ground spaces around campus. MacEwan became the first institution in Edmonton to take a naturalized landscaping approach. The goal is to have more native plants and species and to create a setting that is consistent with this region (consideration of plant hardiness zones, less water and maintenance required; additional synergies with the urban beekeeping project).

Prairie grounds were created by the 105 Street Building with the goal to create a garden that celebrates the natural prairie surroundings.
Some areas along 109 Street were reverted to a natural Aspen parkland landscape with plantings of Scotch pines, trembling aspens, wildflowers, snowberry bushes and Prairie Princess roses.

Around the University's City Centre Campus there are various signs displaying information about the institution's sustainable landscaping strategy.
Examples of signage messages include:
"This site is in the process of reverting to a natural prairie landscape similar to the short grass prairie."
"This site is in the process of reverting to a natural Aspen Parkland landscape indigenous to the Edmonton region."


The website URL for the signage on the grounds about sustainable groundskeeping and/or landscaping strategies employed:
Does the institution produce a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

The campus sustainability tour is comprised in a booklet that, after a short training, enables staff members and student volunteers to lead the tours themselves. Besides a brief introduction of MacEwan's history and Grant MacEwan's creed with regards to sustainability and environmental stewardship in particular, it mentions on several sustainability related programs, actions and initiatives on campus. Examples include, but are not limited to: endeavors and objectives by the Office of Sustainability, waste management, low-impact transportation, wellness and wellbeing services, naturalized grounds and green buildings, cultural diversion and inclusion, food security, specifically food sourcing and provision on campus.


The website URL of the sustainability walking map or tour:
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Does the institution produce a guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:

The MacEwan Transportation Services Website states information regarding the following information regarding more sustainable commuting options: Public Transit (U-Pass, ETS to Work); the local car share program; Wheeli (car pool program); shuttle services; bicycle routes, storage and maintenance.


The website URL for the guide for commuters about how to use more sustainable methods of transportation:
Does the institution produce navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians (e.g. covering routes, inter-modal connections, policies, services, and safety)? :
Yes

A brief description of the navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:

The MacEwan Transportation Services Website links to the a map of the Edmonton downtown bike network and to the City of Edmonton page, which includes information on the bike network, information for cyclists on how to use the bike routes as well as for drivers (in order to create more awareness for cyclists and pedestrians). Furthermore, an introductory video on the bike repair stand along with four SAMU produced maintenance tutorials on how to fix the air, the brakes, chain and tires can be accessed through the website.

https://www.macewan.ca/wcm/CampusServices/TransportationServices/SUST_NEWS_BIKE_NETWORK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6zqtyWQHDE&list=PLphcqfaWCkt89_blgdivYevY-lG99gXUm&index=5

https://www.edmonton.ca/transportation/using-downtown-bike-network.aspx?utm_source=virtualaddress&utm_campaign=bikedowntown


The website URL for navigation and educational tools for bicyclists and pedestrians:
Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
No

A brief description of the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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The website URL for the guide for green living and incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:
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Does the institution produce other sustainability outreach materials or publications not covered above?:
Yes

A brief description of these materials or publications:

Fair Trade Campus Outreach Materials: The Office of Sustainability and MacEwan Sustainability Volunteers have developed outreach materials (velcro boad informational pieces, various interactive games) to share the benefits of purchasing Fairtrade. These displays and handouts include where to purchase Fairtrade in Edmonton, how to tell the difference between Fairtrade certifications, and further information on the condiitions of producers around the world (primarily coffee and chocolate producers).


The website URL for these materials or publications:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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