| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.80 |
| Liaison | Corey Peterson |
| Submission Date | June 2, 2022 |
University of Tasmania
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Sustainability
Team UTAS Infrastructure Services and Development |
Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
The University of Tasmania Sustainability Committee plays a key role in enabling the achievement of the University’s sustainability objectives through the University of Tasmania Strategic Framework for Sustainability. The Committee will perform this role through:
1. Providing high-level direction and advice on environmental, social and economic sustainability across the University, including assessing and developing advice on matters of policy, strategy and planning to achieve sustainable outcomes for the University and broader community, including in relation to:
- facilities and operations
- learning, teaching and research
- partnerships and engagement
- leadership and governance
2. Reviewing and monitoring progress against the objectives and goals of the University of Tasmania Strategic Framework for Sustainability and providing guidance on further actions and initiatives to achieve these objectives
3.Promoting a culture of continuous improvement in sustainability through identification and sharing of actions and initiatives that embed sustainability principles and deliver positive outcomes across Colleges and Divisions
The Sustainability Committee will consult with the relevant academic and research committees on sustainability initiatives that affect curriculum and research. The Sustainability Committee will also advise Colleges and Divisions across the University on internal sustainability matters and initiatives.
The Executive Sponsor of the Sustainability Committee is the Chief Operating Officer, who will notify the University Executive team of key initiatives (and forward to the University Council committees, including the Built Environment and Infrastructure Committee, as appropriate).
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:
• Chief Sustainability Officer (Chair)
• Deputy Chair (senior academic)
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or delegate
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or delegate
• Vice President Strategy Finance and Marketingr delegate
• Pro Vice-Chancellor (Aboriginal Affairs)
• Chief Financial Officer or delegate
• Chief People Officer or delegate
• Executive Dean/Chief Executive, College of Arts, Law and Education or delegate
• Executive Dean/Chief Executive, College of Business and Economics or delegate
• Executive Dean/Chief Executive, College of Health and Medicine or delegate
• Executive Dean/Chief Executive, College of Sciences and Engineering or delegate
• Principal, University College or delegate
• Executive Director, Student Experience or delegate
• Executive Director, Corporate Affairs or delegate
• Executive Director, Infrastructure Services and Development or delegate
• Executive Director, University Services Network
• Education for Sustainability Community of Practice representative
• Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA; 2 representatives, e.g., President, Environmental Officer, Equity Officer, Postgraduate representative, preferably one South, one North)
• Students for Sustainability working group Chair or delegate
Where delegates attend meetings on behalf of named member positions, in order to fulfill the mandate of the Committee to provide a conduit for reporting and oversight, the delegate should be in a leadership role within that organisational unit.
Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent employee?:
A brief description of each sustainability office:
The University of Tasmania Sustainability Team sits within the Infrastructure Services and Development section in the Division of the Chief Operating Officer.
Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Does the institution have a mechanism for broad sustainability coordination for the entire institution?:
A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
Both the Sustainability Committee and Sustainability Office operate at university level.
Some substantive initiatives and accomplishments in the last three years include:
- Maintenance of carbon neutral certification under the Commonwealth Climate Active Carbon Neutral Program (previously known as National Carbon Offset Standard) since 2016
- Achievement of a STARS Silver rating in 2020
- Green Gown Awards Australasia 2021 winner for Sustainability Institution of the Year and Student Engagement, and highly commended in Climate Action
- Development and implementation of the third University's Sustainable Transport Strategy 2022-2032
- Development and implementation of the Waste Minimisation Action Plan 2021-2025
- Development of the University's Strategic Framework for Sustainability
- Continuous growth and improvement of the Re-use Program for University's furniture
- Continuous commitment to sustainable ICT (e.g., video communications improvements, new procurement and contracting arrangements, policy governing computer lifecycle and disposal, implementation of online Shared Services forms and approvals solution and deployment of a new on-site Managed Print Service)
- Participation and leadership of the United Nations recognised Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (EfS Tasmania)
- Implementation of the Green Impact program for staff and student engagement
- Continuous growth and improvement of the award-wining Sustainability Integration Program for Students (SIPS)
Job title of the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) will be accountable for senior leadership in the development, implementation, promotion and management of institution-wide sustainability policies, strategies, plans, programs and initiatives. Specifically, the position will oversee the provision of efficient and effective sustainability management programs for the University. The position is required to take a whole of institution perspective and a focus on continuous improvement in all activities.
The CSO also is the chair of the University’s Sustainability Committee as well as providing expert advice and direction on all sustainability matters. The Sustainability Committee has a reporting and advisory role through to the University Executive Team (President/Vice-Chancellor, Vice President, Provost, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, Infrastructure Services and Development). The CSO also works directly with academics and professional staff at all levels to deliver active learning and research opportunities to students and academic staff while delivering operational sustainability outcomes. The CSO independently sources grant funding from various sources to assist in supporting initiatives.
The CSO also plays a key role in external community partnership and engagement activities through contract management, external stakeholder engagement, participation in local and state government working groups.
The CSO provides strong leadership to the Sustainability team and takes a proactive role in determining, developing and delivering sustainability initiatives for the University; engage with University communities including staff and student research and learning activities; engage with outside agencies in a high level capacity; establish and review policies, procedures, processes and programmes; recognise regulatory and legislative obligations and ensure compliance; undertake risk assessments and scenario planning; implement awareness raising and training programmes; and guide and apply sustainability principles as identified in University policies, plans, and strategies.
Job title of the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
The Senior Sustainability Officer is responsible for leadership in the development, implementation, review, evaluation and promotion of state-wide University of Tasmania sustainability projects and activities. The position is required to take a whole of institution perspective, a focus on continuous improvement in all activities, and an in-depth understanding of relevant sustainability rating and ranking systems. Tasks are performed under the broad direction of the Associate Director Sustainability.
The position also plays a key role in external community partnership and engagement activities through external stakeholder engagement and representing the University through participation in local, state, national and international organisations and working groups focused on sustainability. This includes a key role in the University’s involvement in EfS Tasmania: a United Nations-recognised Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development.
Job title of the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Senior Sustainability Officer/SIPS Coordinator:
The Senior Sustainability Officer / Sustainability Integration Program for Students (SIPS) Coordinator is responsible for co-ordinating and implementing a range of projects directly involving students to deliver on University sustainability policies and initiatives. The role also oversees implementation of the Green Impact engagement program institution-wide and participate in other projects as required as well as oversee communications and general engagement activities.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability coordination is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.