Sustainability Strategy Discussion Paper for Community Review and Feedback

Saint Mary’s University
January 14, 2009

“Sustainability:
Meeting the needs and aspirations of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs and aspirations”
Bruntland Commission 1987

Sustainability at Saint Mary’s

Saint Mary’s University Context

In 2007, The Board of Governors mandated “the development and implementation of a sustainability strategy appropriate for the campus environment” (in Terms of Reference of its Property Committee).

Saint Mary’s aspires to be the University of choice for aspiring citizens of the world. In achieving its mission, the Saint Mary’s community is guided by core values of academic integrity, the pursuit of knowledge, responsiveness to community needs, openness to change, concerns for a just and civil society, a commitment to environmental sustainability and fiscal responsibility.

The University is committed to accessibility, diversity and the provision of a positive and supportive learning environment through the effective integration of teaching and research. Through promoting the importance of critical enquiry, leadership, teamwork and global awareness, we aim to prepare students for responsible and rewarding lives and to remain engaged with our Alumni worldwide. We recognize the importance of the contribution and growth of each individual in the University’s success. Saint Mary’s welcomes mutually beneficial partnerships and strategic alliances with all levels of government, with other educational institutions, non-government institutions and the private sector.

Sustainability is widely accepted to consist of environmental, social justice/equity and economic elements. The Sustainability Task Force is articulating this strategy based on the premise that the campus should be the “laboratory where we invent a sustainable future”. For Saint Mary’s, students, faculty and staff as well as the community and other partners have been creating sustainability initiatives on an ad hoc basis for many years.

Similar to the University’s Academic Plan, the Sustainability Strategy/Plan will build on existing strengths and initiatives as well as developing new areas where there is identified need and convincing opportunities for improvement. It espouses the fostering of collaborations within the University and with external partners. It intends to inform as well as encourage and invite participation.

The primary focus of this strategy articulation is environmental sustainability, interconnected with the University’s vision and values. It is intended to align the current sustainability activities and foster the development of new programs, with education and awareness being a cornerstone. Academics (teaching, research and service), Students (SMUSA, Societies) and Operations are all significant contributors to the ongoing evolution of the University’s sustainability commitment.

Vision:

INSPIRING A CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH

UNDERSTANDING…the impact of our choices on the world
ENGAGING …in rethinking, reducing, reusing, and recycling
TRANSFORMING…as individuals and as a community
COORDINATING…our work towards the creation of a sustainable future.

Mission:

To create a University culture where sustainability stewardship plays a key role in everyday commitments, practices and operations; to create and support initiatives and actions across disciplines that aim to embed sustainability understanding and practices throughout campus; to articulate, achieve, and measure progress toward living more sustainably environmentally, socially and economically, and to communicate these outcomes to the University community.

Principles:

1. Operate sustainably as a part of everyday practice.
2. Prepare students to lead responsible and rewarding lives in a socially and environmentally aware manner.
3. Achieve excellence in sustainability teaching, research, service, and operations, fostering growth of sustainability initiatives in each of these spheres of activity, and assisting in the creation of faculty, staff and student leaders who champion a “healthy, just, and sustainable future.”
4. Collaborate internally and externally to (i) promote sustainability partnerships on campus, (ii) raise awareness and increase dialogue between members and groups in the campus community, and (iii) promote connections related to sustainability stewardship with the larger community.
5. Communicate, foster awareness, and nurture participation and involvement. Be transparent to build credibility and enhance the exchange of information.
6. Adopt an approach to decision making that incorporates consideration of environmental, social justice/equity/health, and economic impacts.

This document has been prepared with extensive reference to the University of Calgary’s Office of Sustainability’s Mission, Vision, and Goals statement (May 2008). The document can be found at http://www.ucalgary.ca/sustainability/aboutus.

Goals

The Sustainability Task Force has identified the following three areas of activity that create the framework for collaboration in the development of sustainability goals, targets, objectives and action plans.

Academic Opportunities

Enhance and increase environmental and sustainability content in courses, programs, and research to give students and faculty the opportunity to gain knowledge of and contribute to the sustainability culture at Saint Mary’s and beyond.

Goals:
• Increase faculty and academic departments’ engagement in sustainability initiatives.
• Increase the number of environmental and sustainability-oriented courses at SMU.
• Increase the environmental and sustainability content in existing SMU courses.
• Increase the number of students engaged in environmental and sustainability-oriented courses.
• Expand the sustainability content in SMU research through encouragement and support.
• Reduce energy and material usage in the conduct of courses at SMU.
• Establish an inter-faculty hub/umbrella/network at SMU that would promote, develop and support new and innovative environmental programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Establish a joint Senate/Board Standing Committee on Sustainability

Learning and Working Environment

Reduce the University’s carbon footprint and solid-waste disposal, increase the sustainability of operations and the built environment, and engage the University community in the culture of sustainability at Saint Mary’s. Transform the campus into a “learning laboratory” for demonstration of sustainable initiatives.

Goals:
• Reduce SMU’s carbon footprint.
• Measure, monitor, and reduce the University’s ecological footprint.
• Reduce SMU’s energy consumption.
• Reduce material usage in departmental practices.
• Increase administrative departments’ engagement in sustainability initiatives.
• Expand the waste-separation program.
• Increase the percentage of local food purchased.
• Decrease food and solid waste output.
• Engage partners such as ISI in the creation of sustainable policies.
• Build to leading green building construction standards.

Awareness / Communication

Increase the University community’s awareness of sustainability issues and information, and increase collaboration and communication amongst operations, academic units, and staff to create a more sustainable University environment in order to foster a spirit of shared goals and journeys.

Goals:
• Increase the number of interested members and departments that contribute their ideas and plans for initiatives.
• Adopt a sustainability measurement or rating system for the University.
• Expand the educational and communication tools of sustainability available to the University community.
• Maintain or increase the number of events and venues for awareness of sustainability issues.
• Grow a culture of sustainability.
• Publish an annual sustainability report.

Action Plan - Academic Year 2008/2009

Strategic Plans

• Present Sustainability Strategy Discussion Document, and overview of sustainability activities and successful initiatives to date, to various University groups for feedback, buy in and eventual approval including EMG, Senate, Student Representative Council, Senior Administrators, Town Hall Meeting, Property Committee, and Board.

• Following approval of the Strategy, establish the appropriate sustainability governance and implementation committee structures to replace the Sustainability Task Force - the body responsible for implementing the Sustainability Strategy, including the establishment of terms of reference, new or updated targets, and development of an annual progress report.

• Under the auspices of the Sustainability Committee, prioritize goals and establish task forces /sub-committees for each goal, continuing the interdisciplinary participation format whenever possible. Develop targets, objectives, plans and timelines (in consultation with faculty, management, staff and other interested parties) to support the goals of sustainability at Saint Mary’s. Assign responsibilities for achieving these goals to pertinent persons, departments, and/or task forces and update them on a regular basis as part of the strategy

Direct Action Plans

• Establish methods for progress monitoring and reporting.
• Launch a sustainability website.
• Plan and advertise the Sustainability Conversations Speaker Series.
• Host the annual Sustainability Day/Week.

Indirect Action Plans

• Conversion of campus to natural gas.
• Expansion the 4 bin recycling program.
• Energy retro fit project.
• Exploration of the establishment of an inter-faculty hub/umbrella/network at SMU that would promote, develop and support new and innovative environmental programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Seek LEED silver certification for the Atrium Project
• Departmental Initiatives
• Student Initiatives