| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.48 |
| Liaison | Allison Maxted |
| Submission Date | Jan. 22, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Mohawk College
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Kayla
LaChance Sustainability Programs and Services Coordinator Sustainability Office |
Does the institution have one or more active student groups focused on sustainability?:
A brief description of active student groups focused on sustainability:
Zero Carbon Ambassadors
A group of student leaders working to help the Mohawk College community meet its zero carbon goal in the Joyce Centre for Partnership and Innovation. Zero Carbon Ambassadors will be responsible for leading student outreach activities to educate their peers and increase the sustainability of our campus.
The website URL where information about the student groups is available (optional):
Does the institution have gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects 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:
Community Garden, Pollinator Garden, Three Sister's Garden
The Mohawk College community garden has 49 raised bed plots, including three accessible plots. The garden is used as a place for student, staff, and community members to learn organic growing techniques and the benefits of a local food system. Every week a Community Garden Newsletter is sent out to educate members on plant health, gardening tips and sustainable pest management. The community garden operates from May-November annually.
Our Rooftop Pollinator Garden was established in 2016 with the help of WWF. Located just out-side of our Learning Exchange (library), this garden is a green roof space that invites and sup-ports many types of pollinators like butterflies, hummingbirds, beetles and bees. Within the gar-den is a variety of native vegetation species including wild grasses, purple cone flowers, wild strawberries and sedums. Signs stationed throughout the garden educate users about pollinators and the features of the garden that support them. This space supports a diverse, healthy plant population while also creating teaching and learning opportunities that engages our students and community members.
Mohawk College’s Three Sisters Garden is an indigenous space used to promote Indigenous culture and traditions while teaching students and staff about sound agriculture practices with the planting of corn, squash and beans.
The website URL where information about the gardens, farms or agriculture projects is available (optional):
Does the institution have student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes (e.g. cafés through which students gain sustainable business skills)?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
N/A
The website URL where information about the student-run enterprises is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives 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:
Through the Sustainability Initiatives Fund (SIF) students can submit project ideas that promote campus sustainability. These projects are then approved by the Sustainability Initiative Fund Committee and funded through the SIF. Some examples of completed projects include installing a rainwater harvesting system in the Community Garden, installation of bike repair stands across campus, and improved waste management stations in the cafeteria.
The website URL where information about the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives is available (optional):
Does the institution have conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability:
Sustainability Leadership Workshop
Mohawk’s sustainability leadership program provided 30 students the opportunity to build their knowledge, skills and network, while adopting more sustainable practices in their personal, academic and professional lives.
This is an action-oriented program, with the goal of having every participant adopt a sustainability-related action or personal behavior change. Inspiring presentations and real-life examples of sustainability leadership on campus and in the community are given during the workshop.
https://twitter.com/SustainableMoCo/status/1046823277606227968
The website URL where information about the conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability is available (optional):
Does the institution have cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability:
Hoop Dance Gathering Place
The Hoop Dance Aboriginal Gathering Place at Fennell campus is an outdoor installment which is a showcase of diverse cultures present at Mohawk.
Social Inc - International Day of Pink
The Day of Pink is the International Day against Bullying, Discrimination, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Transmisogyny across the world. We invite everyone to celebrate diversity by wearing a pink shirt and by organizing activities in their workplaces, schools and communities.
The website URL where information about the cultural arts events, installations or performances is available (optional):
Does the institution have wilderness or outdoors programs (e.g. that organize hiking, backpacking, kayaking, or other outings for students) that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
Mohawk Sustainability, in collaboration with Student Life, hosting a Great Shoreline Clean Up with Cootes Paradise in Hamilton. We had over 25 volunteers come out to clean up and area of the Cootes Paradise and Red Hill Water Shed. More than 1300 pounds of waste was recovered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLulXlrrNPI&t=6m11s
The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors programs is available (optional):
Does the institution have sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences (e.g. choosing a sustainability-related book for common reading)?:
A brief description of the sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Mohawk College has started a Greening Orientation Program in partnership with the MSA. There is a set fund of $17,000 which can be placed towards a sustainable initiative each year, promoting sustainability at the campus.
A yearly sustainability theme is presented to all incoming students each year through the Greening Orientation Program. Last year the focus was on reducing the amount of single use plastics used on campus, transportation and local food. Over 2000 incoming students signed a pledge to go (disposable) water bottle free.As a reward students received a free Mohawk College reusable water bottle which can be used at the over 30 water refill stations throughout the college.
The website URL where information about the sustainability-related themes is available (optional):
Does the institution have programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Day One Student Leadership Training
Every year Student Life holds a training for Day One Student Leaders that are tasked being leaders for students during the school year. The Sustainability Office hosts a 30 minute workshop for the leaders on Sustainability at Mohawk and how they can empower students to learn, live and lead sustainability in their own lives. Topics included waste management, active and alternative transportation and community action on sustainability.
The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills programs is available (optional):
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
The Sustainability Office employs 10-12 students throughout the year. These students are employed through the campus student employment program or as a part of their schooling through a coop or placement. Example for job titles:
Sustainability Outreach Assistant
Community Garden Coordinator
Farmstand Assistant
Sustainability Graphic Designer (2)
The website URL where information about the student employment opportunities is available:
Does the institution have graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledges:
N/A
The website URL where information about the graduation pledges is available (optional):
Does the institution have other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives?:
A brief description of the other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:
Students have the opportunity to complete the "Climate Change Management for Business" course for free. Once completed, a certificate is awarded and the course completion is added to their CCR.
The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available (optional):
Estimated percentage of students (full-time and part-time) that participate annually in sustainability-focused co-curricular education and outreach programs (0-100):
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.