Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 51.59
Liaison Maria Mendes
Submission Date Aug. 4, 2022

STARS v2.2

Red River College Polytechnic
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.75 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Student groups 

Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Yes

Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
In 2019/2020, there was an active student club that hosted events such as a waste reduction event and supported the September 2019 Climate Strike. This club has been inactive since the beginning of the pandemic, however it is promoted to students through the Students' Association website (https://rrcsa.ca/clubs/) and will be promoted again at fall 2022 Club Days.

In addition, the RRC Polytech Students' Association has a sustainability committee. An adhoc sustainability committee is a requirement as per the Students' Association's by-laws and "shall be... struck for the purpose of reviewing the sustainability practices of the SA and working on joint sustainability goals with the College"
https://rrcsa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/RRCSA-Bylaws-Feb-24-Final.pdf

Gardens and farms 

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?:
No

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
---

Student-run enterprises 

Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
No

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
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Sustainable investment and finance 

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?:
No

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
---

Events 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
A list of the Sustainability Office's typical list of events can be found here
https://www.rrc.ca/redgreen/get-involved/. Some examples of events hosted by the Sustainability Office and others include:
- Going Green events with SA and Sustainability for Earth Hour/World Water Day - 2018 and 2019, cancelled in 2020 but still shared information
- Sustainability Office participates in back to school SA block party
- The annual Made by RRC Winter Market is a partnership between the Sustainability Office, Alumni Engagement, College and Public Relations, and the RRC Polytech Students' Association and features staff, student and alumni vendors
- Grow a Row: a garden grown by our Grounds team with most of the harvest donated to a local food bank. Students and staff and recruited to help with the harvest.
- Fall into Sustainability: movies in library, fairtrade trick or treating, scavenger hunt, winter cycling workshop, etc. (https://www.rrc.ca/redgreen/2019/10/20/fall-into-sustainability/)
- Truth and Reconciliation Week (https://www.rrc.ca/indigenous/truth-and-reconciliation-week-2021/)
- AquaHacking Lake Winnipeg 2020 Challenge Lunch and Learn (https://www.rrc.ca/ar/2020/01/24/aquahacking-lake-winnipeg-2020-challenge-lunch-and-learn/)
- Pride Week (https://www.rrc.ca/indigenous/2021/06/01/virtual-pride-events-explore-the-two-spirited-experience/)
- Stay the Course Speaker Series
(https://www.rrc.ca/indigenous/2021/10/27/stay-the-course-speaker-series-christine-merasty/

Cultural arts 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
Some examples include:
- 1,000 Crane Mobile: Creating by students in the EA program, the process of creating the 1,000 origami crane mobile actively involved students in an art form that links the principles of Reconciliation and understanding of the EA program course concepts. The mobile hangs in a prominent spot at NDC near a popular entryway for everyone to see. https://www.rrc.ca/library/2022/02/09/students-write-haikus-to-connect-a-1000-crane-mobile-with-course-content/
- Elders Lodge: virtual drop-in centre to build connections, hear stories, and learn more about Indigenous culture with our Elders-in-Residence and Indigenous Education staff and faculty. (https://www.rrc.ca/indigenous/2021/02/02/elders-lodge-winter-2021-term/)
Conversations with Authors
- Conversations with Authors: A Truth and Reconciliation Series (https://www.rrc.ca/indigenous/2022/01/04/conversations-with-authors-a-truth-and-reconciliation-series/)
- Every Child Matters Hand Print Project (https://rrcsa.ca/events/hand-print-project/?fbclid=IwAR1-aTIET-lgjXDVFvJ5GqcmplZKyx5DV0tXXQvQObj02lCH-lZ9A2NdoBw)
- Winter Solstice celebration
- Indigenous Supports Virtual Event: Live Painting with Gayle Sinclaire
- Free Fitness and Yoga Classes (https://www.rrc.ca/well-being/2022/02/01/february-fitness-classes-yoga-strength-and-movement/)
- Cooking for wellness: https://www.rrc.ca/well-being/2021/11/09/cooking-for-wellness-a-hands-on-virtual-workshop-2/

Wilderness and outdoors programs 

Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
No

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
---

Sustainability-focused themes 

Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
---

Sustainable life skills 

Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
No

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
---

Student employment opportunities 

Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
---

Graduation pledge

Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
---

Optional Fields

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:
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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.