| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.24 |
| Liaison | Alicia Gowan |
| Submission Date | June 18, 2024 |
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Alicia
Gowan Sustainability Specialist Campus and Community Planning |
Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
The Mandate of KPU's Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC) is to facilitate, advise, advocate and enable the implementation of integrated environmental sustainability activities at KPU. The Committee provides an advisory role to the Executive while recognizing that the accountability for planning and delivery of environmental sustainability initiatives rests within the Academic and Service areas. The approval of environmental sustainability strategies and initiatives for the University rests with the University Executive. The Committee provides two way sharing, engaging and problem solving while being advocates to champion the advancement of integrated environmental sustainability strategies for KPU.
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:
Members of the ESC include:
-President & Vice Chancellor of KPU
-Executive Director of Facilities Services
-Vice President of External Affairs
-Dean of Science and Horticulture
-Associate Vice President of Campus and Community Planning
-Director of Ancillary Services
-Director of Maintenance and Operations of Facilities Services
-Director of Planning, Development, and Sustainability of Campus and Community Planning
-Director of Procurement Services
-Manager of Procurement Services
-University Librarian
-Faculty members
-BCGEU (support staff) Member
-Kwantlen Student Association Representative
Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent employee?:
A brief description of each sustainability office:
Who we are: The Sustainability Office (OoS) within Campus and Community Planning was conceived of through the KPU2050 Official Campus Planning process, and its preparation of a Sustainability Framework, to support the delivery of a more sustainable KPU.
Our mission is to improve KPU's relationship with the planet through its physical campuses, operations, academics, and governance. Our role is to connect, coordinate, communicate, support, and foster collaboration to advance sustainability at KPU.
What we do: Our Sustainability Team is collaborating across the University to achieve the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Accord by supporting the assessment of KPU’s strengths in advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in fulfillment of the eventual reporting requirements stemming from the SDG Accord as well as our implementation of the Sustainability Framework. In partnership with the Facilities Department, we are working to ensure KPU reaches its’ 2050 carbon neutrality goal. Although not an exhaustive list, we are also working collectively across KPU to reduce building energy emissions; report on our sustainability performance through the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Ranking System (STARS); provide more sustainable transportation options for students, faculty, and staff; re-imagine how outdoor spaces can be utilized for teaching and learning; and explore how KPU can support diverse communities and advance the University’s goals around Truth and Reconciliation.
Full-time equivalent of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Does the institution have a mechanism for broad sustainability coordination for the entire institution?:
A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
The Office of Sustainability was created upon hiring both the Sustainability Specialist and Manager of Planning and Sustainability. As they were both hired in early 2023, the Office of Sustainability is brand new. The Environmental Sustainability Committee was created in 2013. This Committee, KPU's Executive, and other advocates on campus (students, staff, and faculty) have successfully achieved the following over the past three years at KPU:
-In 2022, KPU became a signatory of the Sustainable Development Goal Accord and published its first ever SDG Mapping Report and Environmental Scan Report in 2023 to help streamline the process of advancing the SDGs at KPU and beyond.
-KPU is continuing working towards its commitment to achieving 100% reduction of its building-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (targets based on 2007 base year emissions). This is both an institution-wide commitment and a province-wide requirement.
-In March 2021, KPU's Official Campus Plan was approved and published which included its first ever Sustainability Framework. The overall goal of the Sustainability Framework is that, by 2050, KPU's campuses are carbon neutral, and that sustainability is visible, celebrated, and ubiquitous across KPU’s campuses, operations, governance, and academics.
-The university's Executive directed the establishment of the Anti-Racism Taskforce and with this, the establishment of a report on recommendations to advance anti-racism at KPU. A key outcome of this report was the establishment of the Office of Anti-racism in 2022.
-KPU has and continues to participate in the 50:30 challenge to increase diversity at the senior leadership and board level. The 50:30 Challenge is "an initiative between the Government of Canada, Canadian businesses and diversity organizations. The goal of the program is to challenge Canadian organizations to increase the representation and inclusion of diverse groups within their workplaces, while highlighting the benefits of giving all Canadians a seat at the table". KPU examined its executive using the 50:30 Challenge in October, 2022. Results show that although there is some diverse representation from equity-denied groups (e.g. BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, having or experiencing disabilities), there is still much work to be done of which KPU is committed to advancing. https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en/50-30-challenge-your-diversity-advantage
Job title of the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Job title of the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job title of the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Note: The Manager of Planning and Sustainability and the Sustainability Specialist report to the Director. The Sustainability Specialist's first report is the Manager of Planning and Sustainability.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability coordination is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Website for the Environmental Sustainability Committee at KPU: https://www.kpu.ca/sustainability/kpu_environmental_sustainability_committee
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.