McGill University
EN-2: Student Orientation

In 2019, Campus Life and Engagement (CLE) hired a Sustainability Intern using funds acquired through the Sustainable Projects Fund (SPF). The intern's responsibilites included:
- significantly reducing the number of plastic water bottles distributed at orientation events
- coordinating waste diversion at orientation, including packaging, compost, etc.
- compiling educational material to be integrated into leader training for events
- recruiting event volunteers passionate about sustainability to help with waste sorting and logistics at events
- working with the Off-Campus & Commuter Student Support program to ensure sustainability and accessibility of programming
- otherwise implementing CLE's Unit Level Action Plan.
A link to the initial funding application for the intern is below, under "Optional Fields."

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, sustainability measures were to be incorporated into various aspects of Fall 2020 Orientation Week at McGill, as follows:
- Orientation Week volunteers were to receive sustainability training from Campus Life & Engagement – topics such as proper waste sorting, safer spaces training.
- A majority of new students were to receive free reusable water bottles.
- There was to be extra water carts available this year to ensure re-filling of water bottles throughout Orientation Week.
- McGill’s Office of Sustainability were to set up tables throughout the week to promote sustainability on campus.
- Grads Connect (for graduate students specifically) and Off-Campus Connect (for students living off-campus) was to have a sustainability stop during the downtown tour
- Waste educators were to be stationed at compost bins during Orientation Week
- Pizza boxes were to be composted
- Pre-arrival communications to new students were to include the importance of sustainability at McGill

Graduate students and Transfer students were invited to Orientation and had special sessions to which they were invited.

Transfer students orientation sessions and related information: https://www.mcgill.ca/cle/services/orientation-transition-undergrad (under "Transfer students, Commuter Students" tab)
https://www.mcgill.ca/occss/ocx

Graduate students orientation sessions and related information: https://www.mcgill.ca/cle/services/orientation-transition-grad

Despite the challenges associated with COVID-19, Campus Life and Engagement demonstrated their commitment to sustainability by obtaining Sustainable Event certification for their Virtual Orientation event. Virtual events receive their Sustainable Event certification when they reach 80% of the available points or above.
For more information about Sustainable Event certification, see: https://www.mcgill.ca/sustainability/get-involved/sustainable-events
For more information about McGill Virtual Orientation, see:
https://www.mcgill.ca/firstyear/undergraduate/orientation-week/fall