Recovery on Campus
Recovery on Campus (ROC), and the campus recovery communities it supports across 26 Alberta post-secondary institutions, provides peer support, substance-free events, scholarships, research and education for students, staff, and faculty, meeting people wherever they are in their recovery journey.
About Recovery on Campus
Aligned with UCalgary’s commitment to well-being, inclusion and innovation, the UCalgary Recovery Community, Alberta’s first campus-based recovery program, launched in 2021. Its early success led to the creation of Recovery on Campus (ROC) in 2022, an initiative designed to scale the UCalgary model across Alberta and beyond. Founded by Dr. Victoria Burns, PhD, associate professor in the Faculty of Social Work, who brings both lived experience of recovery and extensive research expertise, ROC represents a best-practice, evidence-informed infrastructure for building and sustaining recovery-supportive campuses at scale.
What is recovery?
Recovery from addiction is about more than reducing or stopping problematic substance use and/or behaviours (e.g., gambling, gaming, eating). It is an active, non-linear process of change through which individuals improve their bio-psycho-social-spiritual health and well-being, build community and find a sense of purpose. Recovery is more than individual change; it’s about co-creating communities and environments that support people across all recovery pathways so they can reach their full potential.
Campus Recovery Programs
A Campus Recovery Program (CRP) is a college or university-provided, supportive environment for students, staff and faculty members that reinforces the decision to engage in a lifestyle of recovery from substance use and other addictive behaviours.
Recovering in Place Lab
Recovery science is led through the ROC’s Recovering in Place Research Lab (RIPL). RIPL examines addiction recovery through community-based, transdisciplinary action research grounded in the knowledge of people with lived and living experience.
Supports
We've curated an extensive list of resources and supports available to Albertans across the province, including addiction and recovery supports, crisis and counselling supports, mental health supports, and supports for family, friends and allies.
Scholarships
At their core, ROC scholarship awards aim to reduce stigma and increase visibility for recovery on campus. By celebrating Recovery Champions, ROC recognizes that students in recovery bring valuable insight, resilience, and community leadership — and that recovery belongs on campus.
Recovery Champion Awards
ROC is pleased to offer the Recovery Champion Award to students, staff, and faculty who demonstrate leadership, lived experience, and commitment to strengthening recovery culture on their campus.
This award honours individuals with lived experience of addiction and recovery who are contributing to recovery-supportive environments in post-secondary settings.
- Four (4) awards are available
- $2,500 CAD per recipient
- Distributed as:
- $1,250 after Fall semester service completion
- $1,250 after Winter semester service completion
The following dates are for the 2026-2027 award term.
- Nominations Open: April 15, 2026
- Nomination Deadline: May 15, 2026
- Recipients Notified: June 2026
Stay tuned for more information about the nomination process!
General:
- Have lived experience of recovery from substance use and/or behavioural addictions
- Be actively engaged in their recovery
- Demonstrate commitment to supporting recovery culture on campus
- Be willing to serve as a Recovery Champion for one academic year
Students:
- Must have at least one academic year remaining in their program during the 2026–2027 academic year
Faculty/Staff
- Must be employed (full- or part-time) at the institution during the award term
Previous recipients may reapply, though priority may be given to new applicants.
Recipients will complete a minimum of 10 hours per semester of recovery-oriented service during the award term. Service activities may include, but are not limited to:
- Attending ROC provincial programming (e.g., ROC Talks, Recovery Ally Training)
- Supporting campus recovery meetings or peer support spaces
- Participating in outreach (classroom visits, awareness activities, coffee carts)
- Supporting substance-free events
- Assisting with recovery-related committees or working groups
- Contributing to the sustainability of recovery programming on campus
Service commitments will be coordinated with the ROC Liaison at the recipient’s institution and may be adapted to align with the recipient’s strengths, capacity, and recovery needs. Award disbursement is contingent upon completion and confirmation of service hours each semester.
Following the completion of the service year, recipients will be invited to attend and be recognized at the annual Recovery on Campus & Healthy Campus Alberta Awards Dinner.
