Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.48
Liaison Allison Maxted
Submission Date Jan. 22, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Mohawk College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Kayla LaChance
Sustainability Programs and Services Coordinator
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Published Plans That Address Sustainability 

Strategic Plan

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
Yes

A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
The Mohawk College's Strategic Plan provides the strategic foundation for all the operations of the College. It is an accountability framework for management and a guide for developing new initiatives, for budgets and other key approvals. Sustainability is a key pillar of Mohawk College along with Quality and Innovation.

A copy of the strategic plan:
mohawk-college-strategic-plan-2016 (3).pdf

The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
http://strategicplan.mohawkcollege.ca/

Sustainability Plan 

Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
Yes

A copy of the sustainability plan:
emp-environmental-management-plan-2.0 (8).pdf

The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/about-mohawk/sustainability/environmental-management-plan-20

Climate Action Plan 

Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
No

A copy of the climate action plan:
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The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
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Other Published Plans 

Does the institution have other published plans that address sustainability or include measurable sustainability objectives (e.g. campus master plan, physical campus plan, diversity plan, human resources plan)? :
Yes

A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):
Sustainable Landscape Plan Energy Conservation and Demand Management 2014 2017-20 Strategic Mandate Agreement: Mohawk College

Measurable Sustainability Objectives 

Curriculum

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Mohawk College supports sustainable education by offering courses containing sustainable learning outcomes across various departments. Academic programming at Mohawk is designed to respond to global industry trends which require employees entering the workforce to have a working knowledge of economic, social and/or environmental sustainability. Mohawk College looks to prepare students by providing an education which exceeds industry standards through academic and experiential learning. Mohawk Strategic Plan 2016 • By 2021 Mohawk College aims to have 1st year learning outcomes related to sustainability linked to students’ co-curricular records • By 2021, Mohawk College aims to be #1 in Ontario for graduate employment (90+%), see a measureable increase in graduates with career-relevant & paid-coop experience and have global competencies fully embedded into curriculum. Mohawk College looks to continually update sustainable curriculum, exploring all facets of sustainable learning. • By 2021 Mohawk College aims to offer a graduate certificate in Indigenous Education. 2017-20 Strategic Mandate Agreement Mohawk will focus its efforts on successful transitions to employment by the creation of a pilot initiative of job guarantees in select programs and the embedding of key job-related competencies in the curriculum for all students. This would include financial literacy, Mohawk’s institutional learning outcomes, entrepreneurship, sustainability and global experiences and linkages. This would be complemented by Mohawk’s aspirations to indigenize its campus and curriculum. • By the 2019-20 academic year, have 3060 students graduate with activity on the co-curricular record. Aims for 10% growth annually from 2016 baseline of 2,300. • By the 2019-20 academic year, have 665 students graduate with relevant inter-professional experience. This would represent a 10% annual growth rate from the 2016 baseline of 500.

Research 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Mohawk College supports sustainability research through initiatives such as iDeaWORKS. iDeaWORKS is an applied research centre where staff, students and faculty members collaborate with industry partners to research, design, develop, test and commercialize new products and technologies. Collaborative projects specialize in three main areas; e-health and m-health, energy technologies and advanced materials. Mohawk Strategic Plan 2016 • Included as one of the top 10 Canadian colleges for applied research by dollar value by the year 2021 • Measureable increases in social research by the year 2021. 2017-20 Strategic Mandate Agreement Under the Strategic Manadate: Mohawk College apsires to be a leader in training strudents to be ready for a low-carbon economy and in climate change management and will extend its applied research focus in key areas aligned with industry demands, including data analystics, medical imaging, cyber security and sustainability. Mohawk College will build on its existing research platform to measure and report on programs and services that address access, retention, graduation and transferrable skills. By 2020, this will be supported with a College Student Success Research Centre, which will leverage existing research partnerships and lead the design, implementation, assessment and evaluation of innovative interventions throughout the student lifecycle. • By 2019-20, rank in the top 10 Canadian Colleges for applied research as measured by Research Infosource. • By 2019-20, have 400 students and 28 faculty engaged in applied research in the areas of cyber security, sustainability, energy systems, medical imaging and data analytics.

Campus Engagement 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
EMP 2.0 Mohawk College has committed to continued Campus Engagement through student-facing programs such as the Sustainable Initiatives Fund. This fund provides funding to realize crowd-sourced ideas for sustainability-related projects. Projects which are realized yield valuable metrics of success. An example of a project realized through the SIF campaign was the creation on the Fennell Campus Community Garden. • The EMP 2.0 reports that 50+ staff and students participated in the community garden during launch. That number continues to grow as the garden expands. Currently, students are able to apply to have volunteer experience added to co-curricular records. • By the year 2021, Mohawk College aims to have demonstrable engagement activities stated on all student co-curricular records. Energy Conservation and Demand Management 2014 • Increase “Sustainability IQ” of the College Stakeholders through engagement and awareness. Estimated operating costs can be reduced 10% through sustainable habits and education. This correlates to an estimated $900,000 in savings between 2012 and 2020.

Public Engagement 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Strategic Plan Mohawk College looks to redefine the traditional relationship between campus and community. One such way Mohawk College does this is through the Bundled Arrows Initiative outlined in the Strategic Plan. The Bundled Arrows Initiative is a regional collaboration between Mohawk College and Aboriginal communities. Through collaborative research rooted in Indigenous Knowledge, The Bundled Arrows Initiative looks to create a pathway for Indigenous learners from secondary to post-secondary education. • By 2021 Mohawk College has set goals to increase funding 10-15%, adopt and implement the Colleges and Institutes Canada Protocol, and see measurable growth in Indigenous student enrollment and graduation rates.

Air & Climate 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The Environmental Management Plan 2.0 • Reduce carbon emissions 30% below 2007 levels by 2020 Originally Mohawk aimed to reduce carbon emissions 20% below 2007 levels by the year 2020. In 2012 Mohawk reached 24% reduction. Mohawk has revised the original goal, targeting 30% reduction below 2007 levels by the year 2020.

Buildings 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Sustainable Landscaping Plan 2016 Through the Sustainable Landscape Plan and the EMP 2.0, goals for building a sustainable campus are stated. Mohawk College has made the commitment to focus on making sustainability a visible priority through renovating and building to LEED standards. Mohawk College has committed to the Fennell Campus Renewal Plan (August 2014), and the Stoney Creek Campus Renewable Plan (July 2014). Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan 2014 • Continue LEED development • 2 LEED buildings constructed due to the Fennell Campus Renewal Plan operate 40% more efficiently conventional buildings found on campus. • HVAC Upgrade - target of 5-10% reduction in energy consumption due to ongoing fine tuning of systems • Upgrade to Digital Controllers - target of 5-10% energy reduction due to ongoing campus initiative to upgrade pneumatic controllers to digital controls

Energy 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Energy Conservation and Demand Management Plan 2014 • Reduce energy and natural gas consumption 6%/m2 from 2012 baseline measurements by 2020 • This reduction is estimated to save $550,000 in operational costs.

Food & Dining 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:
The EMP 2.0 reports on intiatives which combat food insecurity and poor nutrition such as the Good Food Box program. Some objectives include: - Increase local food procurement by developing campus farmer's market, developing local food purchasing policy and maintainin good food box program - Increase local food production and education by establishing the Fennell Orchard, expanding the community garden and hold workshops and demonstrations ** Community Garden expanding in 2016** ** Mohawk Farmstand created in 2016** ** Local Food Procurement project conducted from 2016-2018 to help increase local food within Ontario's 24 Colleges**

Grounds 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Sustainable Landscape Plan 2016 Development of the grounds is guided by the Sustainable Landscape Plan 2016. This plan works to identify key areas where the landscaping can become more sustainable through actionable objectives. This landscape plan contains a number of objectives and goals including; • create an inventory of underutilized rooftops to expand green rooves and solar arrays • plant infill trees across campus to reduce urban heat island effect • purchase sustainable, durable furniture for student use on grounds • create a working inventory of native species found on campus

Purchasing 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:
EMP 2.0 • Create a sustainable procurement and purchasing policy • Offer sustainable procurement training sessions and workshops to all staff • Establish departmental and college-wide targets which will guide purchasing • Design and implement a universal purchasing tracking and reporting system

Transportation 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Mohawk College partners with Smart Commute, a joint initiative between Metrolinx and municipalities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area. Through collaboration with students from transportation-based programs, Mohawk College conducts transportation audits to determine modal splits. The EMP 2.0 • Reduction of 850,000 km/yr in single-occupant vehicle travel from baselines measurements in 2007. Mohawk College continues to work with ride share partners, municipal transit, and the campus community to support sustainable methods of transportation in order to each the GHG reduction goal of 30% below 2007 levels by the year 2020

Waste 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Strategic Plan • Reduce overall paper consumption by 20% below 2012 audit levels by 2021. EMP 2.0 The EMP 2.0 outlines a number of accomplishments relating to reduction of tons of CO2e between the baseline year of 2007 and 2012. Notably… • Reductions in landfill waste and paper usage lead 15 t CO2e, and 628 t CO2e reductions between reporting years

Water 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Water?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:
EMP 2.0 States that the 2 LEED building found on Fennell campus reduce water consumption by 40%. Sustainable Landscape Plan 2016 Mohawk College made a commitment to manage stormwater on campus. Bioswales were one tool proposed. • Today, two bioswales can be found on Fennell campus. Each bioswale is roughly 200 metres long and is instrumental in diverting stormwater from municipal sewers.

Diversity & Affordability 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Mohawk College recognizes the strength that diversity brings to the entire college community. Mohawk Strategic Plan 2016: • By 2021 Mohawk College aims to increase funding to Indigenous programs and services by 10-15%, increase visibility of Indigenous cultures on campus, and see measurable growth in Aboriginal enrolment & graduation rates Mohawk College strives to be a leader in social inclusion through initiatives such as Social Inc. Established in 2012, Social Inc. is an award winning drop-in positive space provided by the Mohawk Students’ Association. Social Inc. promotes social inclusion and diversity through a variety of student-led campaigns and outreach events. • By 2021 Mohawk College has set a goal to have The Social Inc. model adopted by outside organizations and other colleges. Mohawk College has made commitments to increase access to information about bursaries and scholarship information by 2021 by revamping online tools. • By 2021 Mohawk has set a goal that over 50% of graduating students will have completed a financial literacy course. 2017-20 Strategic Mandate Agreement • Increase number of staff trained in diversity and cultural competencies by 300% by 2019-20 in relation to 119 in the 2016 baseline year.

Investment & Finance 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Wellbeing & Work 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Strategic Plan • Target to be recognized as a choice employer by the year 2021 • By 2021 obtain higher Key Performance Indicator (KPI) scores in student experience and employer satisfaction.

Other Impact Areas 

Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Technology Strategic Plan • Measurable increase in access and networking with industry partners by 2021 Sustainable Landscape Plan 2016 • Incorporate Low Impact Development such as; more green rooves, stormwater catchments, permeable paving, bioswales. Energy Conservation and Demand Management 2014 • Achieve energy reductions through facilities upgrades such as; efficient LED lighting across campus, chiller replacements, replace boilers with efficient or electric models, update HVAC handling equipment. Arts and Culture Strategic Plan • By 2021 increase visibility of indigenous culture on campus • By 2021 have a college international student community which is more diversified by country-of-origin

Optional Fields 

Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body (e.g. a mission statement that specifically includes sustainability and is endorsed by the Board of Trustees)? :
Yes

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The Mohawk Sustainability Commitment Mohawk college is committed to the long term economic, social and environmental resilience of our college and community through education, research and governance. Our Vision: Learning , Living and Leading Our Mission: Mohawk College is dedicated to be a regional leader on climate change, fostering partnerships and collaboration that inspire transformational change toward a resilient, low carbon economy .

The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):
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Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No
The Earth Charter ---
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) ---
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter ---
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment ---
The Talloires Declaration (TD) ---
UN Global Compact ---
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) ---

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
Mohawk College Strategic Plan Commitment to lead in environmental sustainability Commitment to reduce or eliminate observable, wasteful energy consumption Commitment to be a recognized thought leader in sustainability, with the Smart Commute for Transportation & Parking Demand Management and campus modal split Commitment to providing education on leading-edge environmental technology Outcomes include: - 30% reduction in carbon emissions (CO2e) - 20% reduction in paper consumption, over 2012 audit - Measurable increase in awards and invitations to present at conferences - 1st year learning outcomes related to sustainability linked to co-curricular record - Graduates with environmental sustainability competencies

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Investment and Finance Mohawk College looks to provide the best educational experience for students while maintaining financial sustainability 2017-20 Strategic Mandate Agreement Under the Strategic Mandate: The Ministry and Mohawk recognize that finanical sustainability and accountability are crticial to achieving institutional mandates and realizing Ontario's vision for the postsecondary reducation system. To this end, it is agreed that: it is the responsibility of the Board of Govenors and senior administrators of Mohawk identify, track and address finanical presures and sustainability issues. The Ministry and the College agree to work collaboratively to achieve the common goal of financial sustainability and to ensure that Ontarians have access to a full range of affordable, high-quality postsecondary education options, now and in the future. It is agreed that Mohawk College provides information on the financial sustainability of the institution. Leveraging its Mo’Money Resource Centre and developed course modules, Mohawk College will measure and work toward its goal of having a majority of students complete a financial literacy module prior to graduation by 2020.

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.