Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.26
Liaison Stephanie MacPhee
Submission Date Dec. 9, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.50 / 4.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

Ryerson’s Academic Plan for 2020-2025 emphasizes the importance of sustainability, and makes a commitment to behaving in ways that reflect our responsibility to future generations as an institution. The Plan states the following:
sustainability means taking meaningful action to protect the environment and being fiscally responsible while ensuring a high-quality, student-centred experience.
Ryerson is committed to pursuing environmental, social and economic sustainability through its academic programs, scholarly, research, and creative activities, built environment, operations and policies.
Ryerson recognizes its individual and collective responsibility for our campus, our community and our planet.


A copy of the strategic plan:
RU_academic_plan_FINAL-2020-2025.pdf

The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
https://www.ryerson.ca/provost/strategic-plans/academic-plan/

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

A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
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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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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):

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:

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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:

Ryerson’s energy conservation target for the coming ECDM cycle from 2019 to
2024 is a 10% reduction in EUI from the baseline value, with an average of 2% annual reduction per year for the next 5 years. Progress toward this target shall be reviewed on an annual basis.


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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:

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

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:

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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:

As a signatory to the Dimensions Charter and a selected pilot institution, Ryerson is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and access. Ryerson’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan, Leading Research through Diversity, reflects the university’s core values and forms the basis for our commitment to these principles. In the EDI Action Plan, Ryerson aims to hire at minimum:
Three women Canada Research Chairs (CRCs), with at least two in the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science and/or the Faculty of Science;
Three racialized CRCs, with at least two who are not in the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science and one who is a woman;
One Aboriginal CRC;
Two CRCs who identify as having a disability; and Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion 6
Two CRCs who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, with one in either the Faculty of Science or the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science
View the the EDI plan here: https://www.ryerson.ca/content/dam/research/documents/crcallocation/CRCEquityActionPlan_final_12.15.2017.pdf
Ryerson has also developed a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan since 2004. The 2016 - 2019 Access Ryerson Accessibility Plan is underpinned by the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and Access Ryerson’s principles and values. Access Ryerson is a university wide initiative with a goal of removing barriers to the full participation of all community members with disabilities. Our mandate is to transform Ryerson into a leader of excellence in accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities, and in so doing, fulfill and exceed the requirements of the AODA.
View the Multi-Year Accessibility Plan here: https://www.ryerson.ca/accessibility/plans-policies/2016-2019-access-ryerson-multi-year-accessibility-plan/


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

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

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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:

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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:

Sustainability, one of the values defined in Ryerson’s Academic Plan 2014 – 2019. As stated in our Academic Plan, “the university takes responsibility for its shared future with the broader community, and aims to pursue environmental, social and economic sustainability through its programs, SRC (scholarly, research and creative) activity, policies, built environment, and fiscally sound operations.”

It's also included as one of the key values in Ryerson's newly published Strategic Vision:

OUR VALUES
Unapologetically Bold
Intentionally Diverse & Inclusive
Dedicated to Excellence
Respectfully Collaborative
Champions of Sustainability


The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):

Sustainability means taking responsibility for a shared future with the broader community, and aiming to pursue environmental, social and economic sustainability through our programs, Scholarly Research and Creative (SRC) activity, policies, built environment and fiscally sound operations.


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

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:

Ryerson is committed to a more sustainable future and supports the Ontario Universities Committed to a Greener World pledge.
The Council of Ontario Universities produces an annual environmental report highlighting the progress made by university campuses in environmental sustainability which demonstrate how universities’ environmental sustainability initiatives support students, communities, the province – and beyond. Sustainability initiatives are one way that universities are collectively taking action and responding to the needs and priorities of Ontarians. By greening campuses through efficiency projects, educating students for the greener workforce, or sharing knowledge and best practices both at home and abroad, they are instrumental in building healthier communities.
Ryerson also signed onto the City of Toronto’s Green Will Initiative and has committed to take steps to significantly reduce ghg emissions. Info here: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/business-operation-growth/green-your-business/better-buildings-partnership/green-will-initiative/


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:

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.