| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.02 |
| Liaison | Rochelle Owen |
| Submission Date | July 21, 2021 |
Dalhousie University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Dalhousie Student Union Sustainability Office is a student-run organization that strives to create a culture of sustainability within Dalhousie Student Union (DSU) operations thereby improving our university community by making the DSU an ecologically aware, economically responsible, and socially equitable institution.
Dal Bike Center offers a space to learn about cycling maintenance and promotes cycling. Their mission is to establish Dalhousie University as a community leader in active and sustainable modes of transportation. They also offer free bike loans for up to a week for all Dalhousie students.
The Loaded Ladle Food Co-op: The Loaded Ladle is a non-profit, open cooperative of students and community members dedicated to providing affordable, diverse, fresh, and healthy food to as many people as possible. They aim to tackle the unjust global food system by providing a local alternative.
Dal Environmental Law Student Society: The ELSS is a student-run society that focuses on environmental issues as they relate to the law.
Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group (NSPIRG): NSPIRG mandate is to link research with action for social and environmental justice within an anti-oppression framework. Divest Dal is a working group of NSPIRG urging Dalhousie University to divest its endowment fund from the fossil fuel industry.
Your Environment Sustainability Society (YESS) is a student society for people in the Environment, Sustainability, and Society undergraduate degree program.
The Society of Undergraduate Planners (SUP)is the student society for the Community Planning major at Dalhousie. The group organizes or supports events that promote sustainable, liveable, vibrant communities.
The Green Chemistry Initiative (Dal GCI) is a student-run organization that was established in 2017 with the purpose of introducing the formal education of green chemistry to the Dalhousie Chemistry community. Undergraduate and graduate students from chemistry, biochemistry, and physics come together to develop interdisciplinary solutions to improve hazard awareness and environmental responsibility in day-to-day scientific research at the university level.
Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Dalhousie Urban Garden Society : The garden operates as an educational space for students, staff, and community members to learn about the possibilities of urban agriculture, with the produce going to volunteers and the Loaded Ladle.
Students can gain experience in organic agriculture are the Chef's garden and the Agricultural Campus community garden.
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Halifax Dump and Run: The Halifax Dump and Run is an annual event, that is student-organized and community run through Saint Mary's University Environmental Society (SMUES) and Dalhousie's Office of Sustainability. Our goal is to divert waste from local landfills by collecting items people no longer have use for and selling them at a gymnasium-sized indoor yard sale in order to raise money for charitable organizations that support Halifax's social and environmental well-being.
DSU Farmers Market: The Dalhousie Student Union Famers Market is a student-run farmers market that is committed to providing fresh, local, and whenever possible, spray-free produce available to students and the Halifax community at an affordable cost. They have a network of local farmers that brings seasonal produce, fresh baked bread, homemade jams to the community.
Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
The Dalhousie Student Union Sustainability Office (DSUSO) offers grant funding to student sustainability initiatives. DSUSO also provides a green events fund that helps to offset additional costs incurred by student event organizers who choose socially and environmentally sustainable products or services.
Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
Elizabeth May chair research symposium: The annual Sustainability and Environmental Research Symposium (SERS) provides a forum for exchange of ideas on recent advances in research, theory and practice in environment and health research.
https://www.dal.ca/faculty/science/emaychair.html
Other sustainability related conferences and events includes:
Dalhousie sustainable oceans conference, Environment, Sustainability and Society lecture series, Green Week events organized by Dalhousie Student Union Sustainability Office
https://www.dsu.ca/sustainability-office
https://www.dal.ca/faculty/sustainability/ess-lecture-series.html
Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
Local artist and Manager of Indigenous Students at Dal AC, Art Stevens, created a mural marking the history of the Mi’Kmaq which has a large presence in the SLC and acknowledges the campuses student diversity.
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Dalhousie Outdoors Society: The Dalhousie Outdoors Society promotes and facilitates adventuring and wandering in Nova Scotia’s beautiful wilderness with the aim of inspiring all to build a community that enjoys and respects nature.
https://www.facebook.com/DalOutdoors/
https://www.facebook.com/events/602503367090286/?ref=newsfeed
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
The Dalhousie College of Sustainability hosts a weekly lecture series throughout the semester on various sustainability-related themes.
The Dalhousie Student Union chooses a different theme each month (climate justice, food sovereignty etc.) and hosts a book club, with books that fit different themes each month. They also host events and educate students via social media about that theme.
The Residence Ecolympics is a first-year experience focused on the sustainability-related theme of resource reduction (heat, electricity, and water) as well as general sustainability goals.
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
The Green Residence Forum (GRF) is a group open to students living in any building who are interested in living more sustainably in residence. This group is also the main organizing body of Ecolympics.
The Dalhousie Student Union Office of Sustainability hosts workshops on social issues organizing, food preparation, and budgeting.
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Office of Sustainability offers sustainability-focused student employment opportunities throughout the academic year and summers.
Research assistants: Students who work as research assistant on sustainability focused research.
Dalhousie Student Union Sustainability Office: https://www.dsu.ca/sustainability-office
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
Other co-curricular programs include Earth Week, Bike Week, Commuter Challenge, , Instant Sustainability Awards and Ecolympics. All these programs are geared towards promoting sustainable behaviors on campus
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.