Campus Sustainability Office - What we are doing

Academics

The University aims to encourage research and learning that support campus based sustainability initiatives and that address local, regional, national and global sustainability concerns. We are also committed to reducing the ecological impact of course delivery.  

The Academic Initiatives Working Group is responsible for coordinating and monitoring sustainability initiatives directly related to academics on campus. 

Since 2005, with the help of the working group and various campus departments, the University:

• Partnered with the student group SUNSET (Sustainable University Now, Sustainable Environment Tomorrow) to develop proposals for campus-focused sustainability research projects and posted these to the campus sustainability website.
• Developed a research proposal to investigate the ecological impacts of classroom delivery of instruction and identify ways of reducing these impacts and publishing a best-practices compendium for use by University of Winnipeg faculty.
• Developed various proposals and initiatives for reducing paper consumption by setting “paperless exams”, recommending “e-books” as course texts, and recommending shifting to on-line course and instructor evaluation processes and ethics submissions rather than using paper forms.
• Finalized a proposal for a Campus Sustainability Research Grant that would partially or fully fund short-term research projects that advance knowledge of issues, practices, or activities relevant to the practical implementation of campus sustainability projects. A request for an endowment to support this fund is currently included in the Academic Enhancements envelope of the general capital campaign as well as a request to the UW Foundation office to secure short-term project funding until an endowment can be secured.
• Developed and implemented a Campus Sustainability Recognition Award to be conferred annually at Spring Convocation both to a student and a faculty member / support staff employee who have made noteworthy contributions to the advancement of campus sustainability.
• Developed a proposal for an On-campus Carbon Off-Set Program which would involve submitting proposals for capital renovation projects with the potential to reduce GHG emissions to the provincial funding authority. The intent of the proposal would be to create a mechanism directly linking capital improvements and budgets to the GHG emission-reduction benefits using the concept of carbon off-setting to quantify the sustainability benefits obtained.
• Several research projects underway at the University have a strong sustainability focus.