Dawson College
EN-8: Employee Orientation

New Faculty: All new faculty are presented with sustainability awareness sessions (highlights of the sustainability 5 yr plan), activities, or discipline specific projects when the director of the Office of Sustainability presents 2-3x/year at the mandatory New Faculty Orientation. New faculty are also made aware of the sustainability web site and where resources like guides for zero-waste events, volunteering, climate action and landscape maintenace can be found. This has taken place for 3 years. All new employees are invited to meet further with the sustainability team, and introductory videos specific to sustainability on compass through the lense of disciplines identified with staff. Tours are given to new staff at all levels.

New Employees (non-faculty): All employees are made aware of multiple sustainability programs, since a flipped format for some aspects of orientation and training has been implemented, short videos on waste, biodiversity, recycling, gardens, climate action, peace activities and a general introduction to sustainability at Dawson are on an internal SharePoint site for new staff. HR managers also organize orientation sessions for each new support staff, professional and manager.  As part of the orientation tours, they point out the Office of Sustainability, its team, and discuss the building and the types of sustainability students and staff participate in. These include wellness programs, waste sorting stations, vermicomposting and the food justice work such as the free meal program "Dawson Dining". 

New faculty review multiple facets of sustainability within their orientation. Universal design concepts are reviewed and support given to develop courses that include every type of learner. Policies on sexual harassment and student code of conduct are reviewed (mandatory on-line workshop), use of ombudspersons, financial support mechanisms for staff and students in need, the health services available for staff and students, wellness benefits and health insurance, and important sustainability projects on campus (e.g. waste reduction, waste sorting stations, zero- waste events, carbon neutral status) throufgh Living Campus tours for those interested..

Living Campus Tours that showcase largely student-driven projects on campus are available throughout the year.

New employees can also use their 1 hr of volunteers time to help in outdoor and rooftop gardens, and biodiversity projects on campus.