University of Alberta
PAE-13: Staff Professional Development in Sustainability

Over the past decade, the University of Alberta's Health Promotion and WorkLife Services (HPAWS) team has offered professional development workshops during the noon hour, called “Lunch and Learns”, which are open to all staff members on our campuses. The program has evolved to a more holistic approach to health, wellness and personal development. In 2010, HPAWS partnered with the Office of Sustainability to offer a lunch hour professional development series relating to sustainability. The series included the following classes and workshops: - Don’t Clorox, Detox! A fun and informative class about green cleaning. Participants learn about the toxic chemicals found in everyday cleaners, how to improve one’s health in the home and expert professional cleaning techniques. - From Farm to Fridge. This class explores the options available in the grocery store: paper, plastic/re-usable; local/organic; bulk/packaged? What is the best choice? It examines some common choices one has to make every day surrounding the food we eat. - Flip a Switch to Save. The workshop explores “phantom or stand-by power”. It provides participants with information about the electricity consumption of common devices and appliances, and gives simple tips on how to be more energy efficient. - Be Green and Clean. The class explores the simplicity of green cleaning solutions. In 2008, as part of Canada’s Healthy Workplace Month, UAlberta had a week devoted to sustainability, providing information and resources on reducing our footprint. The week concluded with a garbage clean-up. In addition to these programs, the Office of Sustainability is currently piloting a program called ecoREPS that is designed to build sustainability champions across the institution. This program is open to all staff members and will help build sustainability leadership skills while providing tips for implementing projects across work units and in personal work space.

This credit does not apply to Academics, however, sustainability training is also offered to them. Staff Learning and Development (SLD) offer leadership development programs for senior administrative academics (Deans, Chairs, Directors, Administrative Professional Officers (APOs), and supervisors. Topics related to human rights, employment equity, and healthy workplaces are significant components of the Programs with the provision of at least a half day of theory and opportunities for discussion. In addition to the leadership programs, SLD offers a number of employment equity, human rights, and diversity-related information sessions and workshops. A sample of the many sessions include: duty to accommodate, employment equity and human rights in recruitment, working within diverse work teams, welcoming newcomers, and communication during conflict. In addition to these programs, the Office of Sustainability will be offering a pilot session to APOs on sustainability (ecoREPS) during the 2010-11 Academic Year. Emily Dietrich is the contact for the ecoREPs program at: emily.dietrich@ualberta.ca Visit: http://www.sustainability.ualberta.ca/en/Projects/ecoREPs.aspx