Dawson College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Well-being for all, sustainably, is a core College value and as part of the mission and specifically goal #7 of 9 College strategic goals is: “Be a leading Canadian post-secondary institution in promoting and practising sustainability in all its endeavours”. Dawson's bold strategic plan has launched a major initiative within the College and has influenced the college network provincially and nationally. Sustainability program background, goals, strategies and success indicators are in the attachment supplied, page 39.

Waste Management: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/Waste-Management_Guidelines_2017_2020.pdf Landscape Guidelines: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/Landscape_Management_Guidelines_July_2020.pdf Climate Action: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/Climate-Action_Guidelines_August_20202.pdf Responsible Investment Strategy: Voted unanimously by the Dawson Foundation Board, a minimum of 60% of all funds will be invested in socially responsible investments. An investment management partner (CLL Inc.) will supervise the process. Human Resources: Policy to Stem Violence, Discrimination, Harassment and the Abuse of Power: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/wp-content/external-includes/spdocs/documents/bog-hr-01-stem-violence-discrimination-harassment-and-abuse-of-power.pdf Health Services: Nurses, doctors, counsellors: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/health-services/ Meditation & realization: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/blog/meditation-realization/ Collaboration Room: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/blog/collaboration-room/

Every guide/plan has links to the sustainability Plan which has separate sections for each category yearly Annual Reports are submitted to the Board of Governors regarding these sustainability objectives. The Objectives are public information and specific sector-specific content is reviewed with staff in each sector. Dawson Academic Strategies: p.13 https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategies: • Increase the amount of sustainability-focused or related courses offered to students • Develop a Sustainability Certificate program • Pursue funding for development of sustainability-focused or related courses and projects • Deliver a minimum of two sustainability-focused or related immersive experiences for students • Increase sustainability literacy among students and staff • Increase the use of College grounds and building as a living lab • Create an open-access web-based platform for Dawson research Success Indicators: • The disciplines of French,English, Humanities and Physical Education all offer at least one sustainability-focused or related course • 90% of all programs offer at least one sustainability-focused or related course • 20% of all courses at Dawson are sustainability-focused or related • Funding for development of sustainability-focused or related courses and/or projects has been secured • 10% of all research is sustainability-focused or related • A minimum of two sustainability-focused or related immersive experiences for students are delivered • An increase in student and staff sustainability literacy • An increase in the use of the College campus for teaching and learning • A DawsonCollege, open-access platform for information about sustainability-related research,has been established

• Increase the amount of sustainability-focused or related research at the college p.13 - https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Mexico/Dawson Partnership - Sustainable campuses: This on-going program link Dawson Students with universities in Morelos, Mexico. Dawson's Sustainable Campuses program supports student research in sustainability, often benefiting Dawson's ability to understand major environmental and social impacts of operations (e.g. climate action, indigenous perspectives, water capture & management) https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable-campuses/ Student research in water management, solar panels and economic impact of technologies on schools: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable-campuses/our-research/student-research/ Thesis - Dawson's Carbon Footprint: https://issuu.com/sustainablecampuses/docs/sergio_garc__a_bahena Thesis - Comparison of Dawson's Carbon FootPrint to UPEMOR: https://issuu.com/sustainablecampuses/docs/tesis_final_mitzy_1 Thesis - Rainwater Management - Dawson: pending...

p. 15, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategies: • Develop and deliver student orientation activities related to sustainability • Develop a minimum of five co-curricular sustainability activities for students yearly • Implement a minimum of two outreach campaigns • Implement an annual, subsidized sustainability workshop or course for staff • Develop a student peer-to-peer and a staff peer-to-peer sustainability education program • Produce a recurring sustainability newsletter • Develop a comprehensive website explaining Dawson’s sustainability efforts • Sign sustainability-related cooperation agreements with at least two Canadian and one international non-governmental organizations • Promote inter-campus collaboration by sharing best practices in sustainability, with at least five post-secondary institutions • Offer a certificate in Sustainable Happiness to Dawson staff and external community through Dawson’s Centre for Training and Development • Involve students and staff, where feasible, in operations that improve the campus’s sustainability efforts (p.17) Success Indicators: • Orientation activities for new students and new staff include a sustainability component • Increase in the number of sustainability-related outreach initiatives and campaigns for students • Awareness of sustainability initiatives has increased among staff and students • An increase in social media interaction to promote awareness of sustainability initiatives • An increase in the number of visits to the Dawson sustainability website • An increase in student and staff participation in sustainability-related events • Increase in the number of staff who have obtained a Sustainable Happiness Certificate p. https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf The Waste Management Guide uses both student research and waste audits done by volunteer groups that involve in the Dawson volunteer program and mentions student engagement on pages 3, 6, 8 and 10. Special extra-curricular projects are also encouraged and volunteers are recruited from a a designated home page on the Sustainability web site to work on landscape projects, waste management or climate action projects. Facilities Management has made great efforts to engage students and staff, as listed in the Sustainability Plan strategies for operations which states: Involve students and staff, where feasible, in operations that improve the campus’s sustainability efforts.

p. 15, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategies: • Sign sustainability-related cooperation agreements with at least two Canadian and one international non-governmental organizations • Promote inter-campus collaboration by sharing best practices in sustainability, with at least five post-secondary institutions Success Indicators: • Offer a certificate in Sustainable Happiness to Dawson staff and external community through Dawson’s Centre for Training and Development p. 14 https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Page 14 of the Sustainability Plan mentions engagement of our external community. The on-site daycare is a Living Daycare based on the activities and attributes shared with the sustainability office, we give sustainability tours to senior groups and other college staff, work with a Living Church that integrates Nature topics within its regular work, and support sustainability projects in Mexico and with other partners. Page 15 of the Sustainability Plan clearly states a goal of 1) Sign sustainability-related cooperation agreements with at least two Canadian and one international non-governmental organization and 2) promote inter-campus collaboration by sharing best practices in sustainability, with at least five post-secondary institutions (page 15). Dawson has held the first two annual Living School Symposiums, attracting representatives from NGOs, universities, primary schools and student services personnel and volunteers that work in various capacities to further this concept.

p. 16, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategies: • Create more parking areas for bicycles • Offer priority parking for staff with electric cars • Install energy efficient lighting • Install energy efficient HVAC systems • Install recycling and composting centres Success Indicators • 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions • Reduction in pollutants originating from outdoor equipment • Landscaping and pest management plan developed for College grounds and biodiversity zones • 50% of all electronics purchases are energy efficient, end-of-life management (EPEAT) certified • 70% of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is diverted from landfills • Composting and recycling stations are installed • 40% reduction in waste delivered to landfills • Increase in student and staff involvement in operations that improve the campus’s sustainability efforts Student university partners in the sustainable campuses partnership of published thesis' about Dawson's GHG emissions, stormwater management and carbon footprint. This information is used with the information obtained by the sustainability office, college student projects and existing literature to direct Dawson's climate action. The Sustainability Plan (page 17) goal states: 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2021. The Climate Action Guide reviews the Colleges current status with regards to GHG reduction measures, the Waste Management Guide refers to reduction goals related to GHGs and the Landscape Guide also refers to landscape-related climate action. In minuted minutes of the Dawson Board of Governors meeting in the Fall of 2018, Dawson College was declared "carbon neutral forever".

p, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf The Sustainability Plan (page 16) states: The Dawson Facilities team is at the forefront of resource conservation and the battle against climate change. Building construction, energy consumption, waste management, procurement of goods, the use of sustainable dining services and modes of transportation influence the environment which affects human and ecological health. Dawson is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, diverting waste from landfills, conserving water and managing landscape in a way that benefits biodiversity and contributes to well-being for all, sustainably.

p. 17, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategies: • Install energy efficient lighting • Install energy efficient HVAC systems Success Indicators: Install energy efficient lighting • Install energy efficient HVAC systems • Install recycling and composting centres • 50% of all electronics purchases are energy efficient, end-of-life management (EPEAT) certified New chillers, over 7000 LED light fixtures and an approximate 88% EPEAT purchase rate of electronic equipment has helped reduce energy consumption.

p. https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf No specific goal in the sustainability plan target food & dining specifically and this is a gap in the present plan.

p. 17, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategy: • Develop a landscaping and pest management plan for College grounds and biodiversity zones Success Indicator: • Landscaping and pest management plan developed for College grounds and biodiversity zones The grounds have micro-habitats and trails within them for class and teacher use. The Sustainability Office tracks the number of classes using the grounds each year to warrant human resource allocation. 25% of a full-time position and a team of volunteers maintain the gardens and biodiversity areas for three seasons. Sixty-five classes used these areas in 2018, including the following programs: Biology, Fine Arts, French, English, Civil Engineering technology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Community Recreation & Leadership Training, Geography, Social Science-Environmental Studies, Physical Education, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Methodology, Humanities, Nursing, Journey's (First peoples), and Photography. The Sustainability Plan (page 17) states 1) to develop a landscaping and pest management plan for College grounds and biodiversity zones and 2) to involve students and staff, where feasible, in operations that improve the campus’s sustainability efforts.

p. 17, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategy: • Review procurement procedures Success Indicator: • A procurement screening process that identifies environmentally and socially preferable products and services is established A Sustainable Purchasing Guide was created for staff in various sectors involved in selecting products and for the purchasing department.

p. 17, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategies: • Create more parking areas for bicycles • Offer priority parking for staff with electric cars Climate Action Guide (page 10) reviews our college transportation data and how it relates to GHGs. The GHG emissions were then verified by a 3rd party (Ecometrica Inc.) and offset by a leading not-for-profit in the offset industry in Canada (Taking Root Inc.).

p. 17, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategies: • Install recycling and composting centres Success Indicators: • 70% of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is diverted from landfills • Composting and recycling stations are installed • 40% reduction in waste delivered to landfills • Increase in student and staff involvement in operations that improve the campus’s sustainability efforts The Waste Management Guide (page 10) reviews the composting program at Dawson and the waste reduction campaign, a 40% diversion rate goal in two years, and the installation of 99 sorting stations , including compost stations. It also includes benchmark and reduction figures over years. the Sustainability Plan (page 17) goals state 1) that composting and recycling stations are installed and 2) 40% reduction in waste delivered to landfills by 2021.

p.17, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategy: • Install low-flow toilets and faucets throughout the College • Prevent and identify water pipe leakage Success Indicator: • Decreased water consumption per user and/or per square metre The Sustainability Plan (page 16) States that the college objective will be to decreased water consumption per user and/or per square metre. Listed plan measures include 1) Installing low-flow toilets and faucets throughout the college and 2) preventing and identifying water pipe leakage.

p. 19, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategies: • Identify, evaluate and enhance initiatives that contribute to staff and student wellness • Benchmark and increase employee satisfaction and engagement to improve well-being • Review equity issues for external contractors Success Indicators: • The Sustainability Office, partners and collaborators coordinate college-wide efforts that advance well-being for all, sustainably • Student and staff wellness initiatives are implemented • External contractors hired by the College pay a living wage to their employees • An increase in the number of initiatives that contribute to staff and student wellness Dawson has a long-established Accessibility Center and Financial Aid Center that is not mandated by the government, but Dawson chooses to support. These centers have become a cornerstone of Dawsons committment to accessibility and diversity.

p. 19, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategies: • The Dawson Foundation committee establishes a screening process for sustainable investment Success Indicator: • 60% of the funds invested by the Dawson College Foundation are placed in sustainable investments Although the investments of the Foundation currently do not meet the minimum investments noted in the AASHE guidelines, we chose to implement the criteria and have an existing responsible investment committee and Foundation board approved decisions to invest a minimum of 60% of the funds in sustainability-related investments.

p. 19, https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/DawsonCollege-SustainabilityPlan_2016-2021.pdf Strategies: • Engage students and staff and community members in governance • Identify, evaluate and enhance initiatives that contribute to staff and student wellness • Benchmark and increase employee satisfaction and engagement to improve well-being • Review equity issues for external contractors Success Indicators: • The Sustainability Office, partners and collaborators coordinate college-wide efforts that advance well-being for all, sustainably • Programs that recognize student and staff sustainability accomplishments are established • Student and staff wellness initiatives are implemented • External contractors hired by the College pay a living wage to their employees • An increase in the number of initiatives that contribute to staff and student wellness • Engage students and staff and community members in governance • Identify, evaluate and enhance initiatives that contribute to staff and student wellness • Benchmark and increase employee satisfaction and engagement to improve well-being • Review equity issues for external contractors Staff satisfaction surveys were implemented and reviewed by directors and a comprehensive policy to stem violence and discrimination established.

It was moved by Alex McComber, seconded by Jean Nagy, WHEREAS THE OCTOBER 2018 UN INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE REPORT, WHICH STATES THE PLANET ONLY HAS UNTIL 2030 TO STEM CATASTROPHIC CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF INSTITUTES OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO MODEL POSITIVE CHANGE IN SOCIETY, THAT DAWSON COLLEGE DECLARES ITSELF CARBON NEUTRAL FOREVER, AND CONTINUES TO REDUCE ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT IN WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE AND MANAGEABLE. The motion was adopted unanimously with one abstention. Je certifie que cet extrait est conforme au procès-verbal de la réunion du 24 octobre 2018 du 495e Conseil d’administration du Collège Dawson et à laquelle il y avait quorum.

https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/governance/policies-and-bylaws/college-policies/

Dawson is a signatory to the Talloires Declaration, a member of the Quebec CEGEP Vert network and certifications (excellence level), has entered appropriate data for on the HESI participatory forms and is a member of the Pan-Canadian UN SDG Working group integrating SDGs at the college level and a member of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Canada also working on UN SDG integration. Alignment with Earth Charter criteria are reference in all Living Campus published case for support documents - link below.

Policy to stem violence, discrimination, harassment and abuse of power: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/wp-content/external-includes/spdocs/documents/bog-hr-01-stem-violence-discrimination-harassment-and-abuse-of-power.pdf Dawson has over 70 languages spoken in the hallways and prides itself as a diversity, multi-ethnic college in both the student and staff population. College education is free to all students that reside in Quebec and Dawson's Accessibility Center helps over 1000 documented special needs students per year while the financial aid service at the college has a full-time employee managing over $4M in interest-free loans and bursaries given to students in need (reference 2019).