About

Civil and Environmental Engineering + the School of Mining and Petroleum Engineering

In 2008, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the U of A both celebrated a century of teaching. Today, more than 900 undergraduate and 500 graduate students are building their future through studying with us. Our department and school are located in the Markin/CNRL Natural Resources Engineering Facility (NREF).

Central to our mission is a strong commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), which we recognize as vital for achieving excellence. A key priority for our department is enhancing demographic representation among our students, staff, and faculty through targeted recruitment, retention and support initiatives.

We are dedicated to continuous reflection and improvement, ensuring the department remains a leader in fostering equity and inclusion. We continuously review and revise our policies to eliminate barriers for equity-deserving groups. We also provide ongoing professional development and training in EDI for all members of the department. We hope to create an inclusive and vibrant environment that empowers individuals from all backgrounds to thrive, fosters a deep sense of belonging, and encourages social responsibility in serving diverse communities.

History

The University of Alberta’s Department of Civil and Municipal Engineering was founded in 1908, with professor William Muir Edwards as its first Department Chair. Edwards earned student respect both in the classroom and by teaching rugby and boxing. Professionally, he redesigned Edmonton's water intake systems, eliminating a severe typhoid epidemic.

This legacy established a tone of being both student and community-focused while pushing professional limits. Today, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the School of Mining and Petroleum Engineering proudly carry forward this 117-year history. We remain collectively committed to our students and the future engineers who will continue shaping Alberta, Canada, and the world.

Mission, Vision + Values

Mission

Our core mission is to lead collaborative innovation—fostering partnerships across academia, industry and government—to drive equitable societal advancement that addresses systemic disparities and improves the well-being of communities globally.

Vision

Interdisciplinary collaboration and the richness of varied research interests and backgrounds are at the heart of creating innovative, sustainable and impactful engineering solutions for our society.

Values

We champion equity and diversity by embracing different identities and experiences, fostering a culture of respect. We actively recruit diverse talent and improve policies to eliminate barriers for all to succeed.

Department Priorities

  1. Enhance demographic representation and inclusivity among our students, staff, and faculty through targeted recruitment, retention, and support initiatives.
  2. Review and revise our practices and policies to eliminate barriers for equity-deserving groups and promote an inclusive culture.
  3. Provide opportunities for professional development, training, and resources in EDI for all department members, fostering collaboration and communication across campus.

We understand that achieving our EDI vision requires ongoing effort, and we are committed to continuous reflection and improvement, ensuring that our department remains a leader in fostering equity, diversity and inclusion.

Awards + Recognition

176

Research + Teaching Excellence awards

The department's members have had the honour of being awarded numerous prestigious awards, including five NSERC Industrial Research Chairs, Royal Society of Canada, Killam Awards and multiple APEGA Summit Awards.