| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 63.22 |
| Liaison | Jessica Russell |
| Submission Date | Oct. 17, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Mount Royal University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP) is a SAMRU student group at Mount Royal University comprised mainly of Environmental Science students. The group hosts networking opportunities, seminars, and movie nights related to Environmental Awareness and Protection.
The Healthy Campus Team at Mount Royal University is composed of three groups: Peer Health Educators, Peer to Peer Mental Health Educators, and Stepping Up Peer Facilitators. Peer Health Educators is composed of student volunteers who educate their peers about health topics and services and resources in Wellness Services and organize events and awareness weeks. Peer to Peer Mental Health Educators are student volunteers who engage in mental health training, plan outreach events related to mental health, facilitate classroom presentations, and promote mental health resources on campus. Stepping Up Peer Facilitators is a research-based program that focuses on prevention of dating violence. Students gain understanding about the issue and how it relates to university students as well as develop and lead modules on various aspects related to healthy relationships. http://www.mtroyal.ca/CampusServices/WellnessServices/WorkshopsGroupsVolunteer/Volunteer/index.htm
Peer Social Justice Educators raise awareness about topics that impact inclusion, equity, and the fostering of safe communities. The group hosts monthly events and weekly booths to teach students at Mount Royal about inclusion and social justice issues. http://www.mtroyal.ca/CampusServices/CampusResources/CampusEquityMeaningfulInclusion/PeerEducation/index.htm
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Mount Royal University has a community garden on campus. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to become members and help maintain the garden. Members have access to the garden and produce grown, gardening lessons, volunteering, and garden parties. Workshops are held each spring/summer to help transplant seedlings grown in the campus greenhouse. In the fall members can volunteer to join in the harvest and take home free organic produce. Everyone is welcome to the harvest which includes lawn games, food, and garden tours.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Barrow began as a student pilot project at Mount Royal University. It began as a small sustainable coffee shop in the Bissett School of Business and has added a second location in the new Riddell Library and Learning Centre at Mount Royal University. Barrow offers quality products from local vendors and the owner began by finding and refurbishing old coffee grinders, espresso machines, and coffee brewers to create the cafe products available. Barrow hires students as well as people from the greater community in both locations.
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
The Students' Association of Mount Royal University (SAMRU) offers the Experiential Learning Fund (ELF) to help students fund personal and professional development opportunities outside their academic experience at Mount Royal University. This money can be used toward sustainable initiatives and education. Applications vary for this funding.
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
Under Western Skies
Mount Royal University (MRU) hosts this conference every two years. Registration numbers exceed 700 participants. The conference initiates conversations on key environmental issues related to Environment, Community, and Culture in North America. The conference interacts with community and public, not only academics, including panels and events open to the public. The first conference was held in 2010 and was created to help identify, explain, critique and solve complex environmental problems. The conference crosses disciplines and curricula and is free to Mount Royal Students to register.
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
A major goal of Mount Royal Universities' Strategic Plan is to Indigenize the University. Many cultural events, installations, and performances occur as they relate to this strategic priority. Some of these include:
- Mount Royal's new tipi received a ceremonial blessing to symbolize the strength of Indigenous peoples and communities as well as Mount Royal's commitment to supporting the resurgence of Indigenous knowledge and culture as it related to education.
- Reconciliation: a Photographic Exhibition is a special photography exhibit on campus which illuminates the lasting effects of residential schools and the damage done to Indigenous cultures. http://mtroyal.ca/IndigenousMountRoyal/news/reconciliation.htm
Other events at Mount Royal University related to sustainability include:
- Student orientation is held at the beginning of each university semester. This program includes an Indigenous welcome and participation from Elders, dancers and drummers. It also has an accessibility program so provide options for students who require different types of learning styles. The event trains its volunteers by providing in depth cultural and diversity training.
- W: at MRU was a campaign that ran in 2016-2017 to bring awareness to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Paul Brandt helped bring attention to this campaign as well as became the Storyteller-in-Residence at Mount Royal University for two years. https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/fortney-paul-brandt-brings-storytelling-skills-to-mount-royal-university
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Mount Royal's Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership program offers students a Bachelor's program which focuses on becoming a champion of the Environment as it relates to outdoor adventure and tourism. This program teaches and follows Leave No Trace principles.
Outdoor Adventure Club is a student club at Mount Royal University. The club takes people outside and gets them on discounted guided courses. They host events and offer students outdoor experience while in school. These student led trips offer outdoor experiences for students who cannot afford the equipment required to go on these trips themselves. They run Avalanche safety courses, Crevasse rescue, etc, and follow Leave No Trace principles.
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
N/A
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Students Association of Mount Royal University offers financial skills workshops as part of New Student Orientation in conjunction with Student Awards and Financial Aid.
The Mount Royal University's Student Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (MRU CPANS) hosts networking nights and networking seminars that help teach students how to engage and build relationships for their future.
The Sustainable MRU committee hosts two sustainability fairs each year which include various events and seminars related to living and promoting sustainability for students.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Institute for Environmental Sustainability (IES) at Mount Royal University funds faculty research which includes student research assistant positions. The IES also hires research assistants each year to help work on specific projects within the Institute.
Currently the IES directly and indirectly funds more than ten student research assistants.
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
N/A
The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
BMO Peer Mentors Program at Mount Royal University provides peer-to-peer mentorship experiences for Indigenous students. This program empowers the mentor and the mentee to establish relationships and hone their academic skills through education, culture, community, and wellness.
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.