MacEwan University
EN-10: Community Partnerships

The Student Refugee Program (SRP) combines resettlement with opportunities for higher education. Launched in 1978 with the placement of one student at Carleton University, the program has since grown to support over 130 students per year through active partnerships with over 80 campuses. As an official Sponsorship Agreement Holder in Canada, WUSC has a longstanding agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This agreement enables us to bring refugee students to study in Canada as permanent residents. WUSC identifies refugee students who are in need of resettlement and grants permission to WUSC Local Committees at universities, colleges and cegeps across Canada to sponsor in WUSC’s name. Crucial to the program’s success is its unique youth-to-youth sponsorship model which empowers young Canadian students to play an active role in the sponsorship of refugee students. They also play a critical role in offering day-to-day social and academic support to SRP students. Furthermore, current and former SRP students have a chance to share their experiences and get involved in the planning and implementation and improvement of the program. Financial support to WUSC scholars is granted through MacEwan Residence, by waiving a variety of deposits and application fees. Furthermore, MacEwan Resdence maintains a good relationship with SAMU in order to help orient students when they arrive. A variety of sustainability challenges are addressed through the partnership: Peace, Justice and Stong Institutions, quality education, reduced inequalities, decent work and economic growth, good-health and wellbeing WUSC: https://srp.wusc.ca/ SAMU: https://samu.ca/programs-services/student-refugee/ https://vimeo.com/85850149

The Earth Hour Race (EHR) is a community partnership between Offices of Sustainabiliy at MacEwan University and the University of Alberta. March 23, 2018 marked the 4th consecutive year of the EHR. Both offices coordinate student participation and the involvement of various community partners. In 2017, NAIT joined as a third post-secondary institution and co-host. The EHR is an Amazing Race style event, during which teams of two will race to complete a series of challenges around each campus. The goal is to expose participants to different issues dealing with environmental conservation, social justice, and economic sustainability as well as to local sustainability initiatives. The different challenges are hosted by community members who are committed to creating positive change for a healthy and resilient city. The event is generally open to anyone, no matter their color, religion, creed, physical sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or age. It is suitable for all bodies and all experiences with fitness. During the planning stage as well as for the day of, a variety of volunteers get involved (challenge hosts, set up, registration table, wayfinding, take down etc.). Volunteers span different age groups (18 to about 65 years), they are asked their preferred pronouns during volunteer orientation and safe space policies were made clear. A Treaty 6 Territory acknowldgement was delivered during the welcome announcements. The MacEwan Student Association and the UAlberta Campus Food Bank were involved in 2018 as a sponsor and challenge host. Statistics 2018: 9 staff, 31 (MacEwan) volunteers, 11 challenge hosts, 20 teams of two registered, 19 teams of two raced Statistics 2017: 42 volunteers across 3 campuses (12 UofA, 14 Macewan, 16 NAIT); 27 teams registered; 26 teams raced Earth Hour Race: https://www.macewan.ca/wcm/Administrative/OfficeofSustainability/News/STORY_EARTH_HOUR_2018 https://www.macewan.ca/wcm/MacEwanNews/SUST_NEWS_EARTH_HOUR_RACE_2017