| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 86.18 |
| Liaison | Chris Adam |
| Submission Date | Dec. 30, 2024 |
Dawson College
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Chris
Adam Coordinator Sustainability Office |
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
1st campaign
A brief description of the campaign:
Update 2024: A climate action day was organized by students in 2023 and took place in Montreal. The student union joined many other colleges and universities in this effort.The college did not close but did ask all of faculty not to schedule any assessments that day and not to record an absence from class. For the second time in several years, the College supported student climate action. Teachers were asked to join the march.
https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/news/no-classes-sept-27-as-dawson-college-mobilizes-for-climate-change/
Background: The Dawson teachers union, support staff union and Student Union all planned and participated in a Climate Action Campaign that included the Climate March in September 2020. The College was asked to consider closing that day in support of sustainability and defer classes to an extra day later in the semester. For the first time in Dawson's history, the Board of Governors agreed to a climate action "day-closure", as this initiative mirrored the College mission and values.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
Students organized another march in the Fall of 2023, but they did not want the college to officially close as the disruptive nature of their protest was deemed important. It demonstrated the meeting point of knowledge and action and inspired many in the college network within the province to do the same. Media features increased awareness of climate action and concern to the college population and the greater community. Dawson has declared itself carbon neutral forever and has since created a databank with all of its approximately 20,000 purchased items last year evaluated for GHG emissions. This GHG emission calculation has also taken place now for our digital footprint, capital goods, food services, travel, commenting, home stay work, investments, waste, and events like our golf tournament. As of 2023, Dawson is fully Scope 3 carbon neutral, and the initial public commitment to climate action was a driving force behind our present actions as an institution.
Dawson's student and staff action has influenced not only colleges in Quebec, but nationally as well, and recieves many unsolicited communication demonstrating this influence.
if reporting an additional campaign, provide:
2nd campaign
A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
A campus wide awareness campiagn was created will targeted wall displays in all sectors of the college showcasing waste reduction metrics, and scope 1,2 and 3 GHG emission sources. The displays also validated staff and volunteers for their commitments. Over 25 dedicated display areas were created that increase awareness of these initiatives and help promote a sense of pride leading to still more motivation to express positive change.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Having staff involved has contributed to a college-wide climate action awareness and suggestions for behavioural and operational changes that reduce our climate impact. Linking climate to such themes as waste generation or water use or management helps create change in other areas perhaps not obvious to some students and staff. Examples of climate action data: Hallway composting 1.1 mt/wk with a reduction of 19 mt in GHGs; water reduction of 54% in 2022-23 from a 2018-19 benchmark (less operating pumps, treatment proceducures); increased snowmelt and rainwater held on campus grounds (influencing cooling effect); recycling stations used in hallways and all waste bins removed from hallways and offices (recycled material 43 mt).
Optional Fields
Living Schools documents and attribute chart continue to be used as a reference for all levels of the educational styles (Primary, high school and institutes of higher education).
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Living Schools report (2019): https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/Livind-School-Report-2019.pdf
Living Schools Report (2018): https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/sustainable/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/LIVING-SCHOOLS-SYMPOSIUM-REPORT1-1.pdf
Living Schools article/newspaper: https://www.pressreader.com/canada/sherbrooke-record/20180608
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.