| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.13 |
| Liaison | Ronnie Dorsnie |
| Submission Date | April 25, 2023 |
John Abbott College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.50 / 2.00 |
Shannon
Coulter-Low Student Life Counsellor Student Services |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
The Eco-JAC club is a group of students who work on sustainability projects, maintain the plants in the student lounge and contribute to sustainability events on campus (such as Earth Day). For example, in 2022 they taught themselves how to make seed bombs and homemade paper.
https://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/sustainability-at-jac/student-life-sustainability/
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:
The student-run JAC Harvest club grows seedlings, as well as plants and maintains the vegetable garden on our campus. Produce from the vegetable garden is donated to the College's Food Pantry.
https://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/sustainability-at-jac/student-life-sustainability/
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:
The "Sprout House" is a student-run initiative to grow micro-greens on campus. This initiative began in Spring of 2021 after the group won John Abbott’s entrepreneurship contest. The group was able to purchase hydroponic equipment with the funds won from the contest. The micro-greens are grown weekly and given to our food pantry. The group was selected as a winner in the "Environment" project category by Quebec's provincial "Forces Avenir" program, which aims to recognize, honor, and promote students and their projects that contribute to the development of socially conscious, responsible, active and persevering citizens. For more information about the Sprout House, their Forces Avenir interview is available via the link (1:48:00). The interview is in French and English. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EbiZIoxbUg&t=8657s
More information on our website: https://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/sustainability-at-jac/student-life-sustainability/
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:
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:
- On April 21 2021, the college hosted a virtual inter-collegial talk given by Professor Charles Hopkins, the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability. This presentation focused on the role of higher education institutions in the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals.
- The Indigenous Climate Justice and Action speaker series took place over the course of Winter 2021. It sought to allow a space for participants to re-imagine how we conceive of, envision, and tackle the climate crisis. The series opened with Sheila Watt-Cloutier exposing the impact of climate change on Inuit life and culture, while celebrating the strength of an Inuit worldview as a reason for hope. Marlene Hale then brought the discussion to the ongoing realities of Wet'suwet'en opposition to the Coastal GasLink pipeline, before Iako'tsi:rareh Amanda Lickers taught us to see the violation of the land as a violation of the body. Finally, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson exemplified the power of storytelling practice in re-imagining the roles of Indigenous blockades through their parallels to the vital ecological role of our cousin, the beaver.
https://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/sustainability-at-jac/student-life-sustainability/
- The Forward Momentum speaker series took place during the Winter 2021 term. Four speakers joined us from across North America. Overall, the theme was how to go beyond individual action and lend our voice to collective efforts seeking large-scale change. Seth Wynes, a post-doctoral fellow at Concordia University shed light on how to effectively push our representatives to change laws. Tzeporah Berman of Stand.earth told us about the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that is making waves around the world. Durwood Zaelke and Romina Picolotti of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development in Washington talked about the how we can make fast reductions in our emissions by targeting some of the more powerful non-carbon greenhouse gases, building on the success of the Montreal Protocol banning CFCs.
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:
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:
The Rock Climbing club is a student-led club that organizes outdoor rock climbing sessions on a regular basis. The club organized a trip to nearby Mount Rigaud in April 2022 and in September 2022 they went rock climbing at the Montagne d'Argent, which is north of Montreal. The club is mentored by a physical education teacher, who teaches the students about the Leave No Trace principles.
https://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/sustainability-at-jac/student-life-sustainability/
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:
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:
Every year, Makers’ Week is held in the Fall semester. In 2022, approximately 300 students participated. The students were enthusiastic about learning to knit, crochet, darn and sew, even when they found these activities more challenging than they expected. Students repeatedly mentioned that they enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the chance to decompress. According to event organizers Tom Young and Candis Steenbergen (Humanities), one of the goals of Makers’ Week is to build a community based on a different vision of connection – where there is a spirit of camaraderie as we all pursue activities that might seem outdated, tedious or pointless, but which connect us to a long history of crafting and débrouillage. Knitting a few rows is not going to save the world but learning to knit could shift your outlook so that you see the things you wear differently, with more respect for the work that goes into creating something.
https://www.johnabbott.qc.ca/sustainability-at-jac/student-life-sustainability/
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
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:
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.