Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 49.78
Liaison Herbert Sinnock
Submission Date April 20, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Sheridan College (Ontario)
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Anna Pautler
Sustainability Data Assessment & Reporting Officer
Office for Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have one or more co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that fall into the following categories?:
Yes or No
Active student groups focused on sustainability Yes
Gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, or urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems Yes
Student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes Yes
Sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills No
Conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience Yes
Cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience Yes
Wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles No
Sustainability-related themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences Yes
Programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills No
Sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution Yes
Graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions No
Other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives Yes

The name and a brief description of each student group focused on sustainability:

Sheridan Business Council (Davis Campus)
The Sheridan Business Council (SBC) is a student-run club that connects students to opportunities, events, news, and activities that help build their career. The SBC’s first project was creating a social enterprise community through a vegetable garden. Members built two garden plots in the Davis campus and planted various fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Members take turns watering and weeding the garden. The SBC’s next steps for Fall 2014 is to utilize the vegetable garden for a sustainable project to benefit the Sheridan community.

ENACTUS (HMC Campus)
ENACTUS is a community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world.
The student –run club’s main project is Project HEGON (Helping Entrepreneurs Generate Opportunity Now) which is a framework that can be applied to any existing business or NFP to optimize operations in a way that leaves them with a fully functional and sustainable organization. ENACTUS conducts a situational analysis and takes into consideration the companies’ needs and competitive activity. By understanding the company, ENACTUS is able to develop a strategy, brainstorm tactics and implement an action plan. The company’s sustainability is ensured by being provided the knowledge and tools to prosper without ENACTUS. ENACTUS has been working with the Lion Club of Mississauga to revitalize the Farmer’s Market as part of Project HEGON. By doing so, the club believes sustainability can be created within the community’s local products market while decreasing the overall carbon footprint and incorporate healthy locally grown food for the city.

Social Justice Club(Trafalgar Campus)
This club aims to educate, engage and empower college students world-wide to become active local and global citizens. The Sheridan Social Justice club runs several awareness-raising campaigns each year in hopes of making all students at Sheridan think “we” instead of “me” and become agents of change. The club explores issues such as homelessness, poverty, human rights, etc. in an engaging and exciting way. The Social Justice Club carried out a campaign to make Sheridan a plastic bottle free campus.

http://enactussheridan.com/about/
http://businesscouncil.sheridanc.on.ca/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheridan-Social-Justice-Club/734037763288585


The website URL where information about student groups is available:
http://enactussheridan.com/
+ Date Revised: May 7, 2015

A brief description of gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and urban agriculture projects where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems:

The Sheridan Business Council (SBC) spearheaded the first vegetable garden at the Davis campus. The Sheridan Community Garden was the first step in SBC’s “Be the Change Project” in which they wanted to create a social enterprise among students. The student-run club called on students from various programs to help build the garden beds and plant the vegetables, fruit, and herbs.

The Textiles department is preparing their Natural Dye Garden initiative. With the use of synthetic dyes, the textile industry is one of the largest polluters worldwide. The department hopes to grow and harvest their own natural dyes with the organic dye garden. By lowering their reliance on ordering and purchasing dyes from third parties, the Textiles department will reduce their carbon footprint.


The website URL where information about the organic agriculture and/or sustainable food systems projects and initiatives is available:
---

A brief description of student-run enterprises that include sustainability as part of their mission statements or stated purposes:

The Sheridan Student Union (SSUI) is an organized student run corporation of 252 students and 15 full-time staff. The SSUI represents the full-time and part-time students. The SSUI’s mission statement states that is exists so that “that the quality of life of students at Sheridan College is improved.” They have done so by uniting students through various programs and services. The SSUI have held sustainability-related campaigns which include area clean-ups, tree planting, and the promotion of the Zero Waste bins.


The website URL where information about the student-run enterprise(s) is available:
A brief description of the sustainable investment or finance initiatives:

N/A


The website URL where information about the sustainable investment or finance initiatives is available:
---

A brief description of conferences, speaker series, symposia or similar events related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

On April 5, 2012 Peter Garforth, Principal at Garforth International, llc spoke to Sheridan faculty and students. Peter Garforth is an expert in providing context for the importance of energy planning to corporations, municipalities and academic institutions as they begin to infuse sustainability and energy into course curriculum and research. Peter is presently working with Sheridan on its 30-year integrated energy plan. Students and Faculty of all disciplines were encouraged to attend this valuable learning opportunity to build knowledge and campus leadership in advancing environmental, social and economic sustainability at Sheridan College.

On October 6, 2014 Sheridan College participated in David Suzuki's Blue Dot Tour about sustainable food, food safety, and human health. The live stream event was broadcast at each of Sheridan's campuses. It featured David Suzuki (founder of the David Suzuki Foundation), 100-Mile Diet co-author J.B. MacKinnon and food justice expert Utcha Sawyers. The event was attended by faculty, staff, and students.


The website URL where information about the event(s) is available:
A brief description of cultural arts events, installations or performances related to sustainability that have students as the intended audience:

In September 2013, ten display windows in a major campus wing were installed with Mission Zero messages and displays to support the launch of the initiative. The displays incorporated the graphic elements of the Mission Zero posters and props and objects were incorporated to support the theme.

A similar display was done specifically about Sheridan's Zero Waste program in the Fall 2014 semester.


The website URL where information about the cultural arts event(s) is available:
---

A brief description of wilderness or outdoors programs for students that follow Leave No Trace principles:

N/A


The website URL where information about the wilderness or outdoors program(s) is available:
---

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

The President’s Challenge for Sustainability (2011-2012) encouraged students from all programs to envision and develop innovative solutions to climate and sustainability challenges at Sheridan and in the communities it serves. Successful teams were awarded $5,000 towards the implementation of their ideas.


The website URL where information about the theme is available:
A brief description of program(s) through which students can learn sustainable life skills:

N/A


The website URL where information about the sustainable life skills program(s) is available:
---

A brief description of sustainability-focused student employment opportunities:

The Office for Sustainability offers co-op positions to students who will have an opportunity to work on sustainability issues and initiatives. Additionally, they assist in the promotion Mission Zero’s sustainable initiatives within the Sheridan community such as students, faculty, and staff.
In 2013, a student of the Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design was hired to create graphic design and a video for Mission Zero.


The website URL where information about the student employment opportuntities is available:
A brief description of graduation pledges through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions:

N/A


The website URL where information about the graduation pledge program is available:
---

A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives:

Sheridan’s Office for Sustainability recruits students to join the Zero Waste Volunteer Team. Students on the Zero Waste Volunteer Team earn a co-curricular record when they volunteer for at least 12 hours a semester. The volunteer description is as follows:

“Zero Waste Volunteers provide support to the Office for Sustainability by assisting in the promotion and implementation of the Zero Waste initiatives that take place on campus. Working in a team, Zero Waste Volunteers increase the awareness of the Zero Waste program through a variety of activities, including talking to the members of the Sheridan community during busy times to inform, educate and guide students, faculty and staff on how to sort waste at the Zero Waste stations as well as providing support for various community events. Training is provided to all Zero Waste Volunteers. The minimum participation hours is 12.”


The website URL where information about other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

This credit spans many departments at Sheridan. Questions about a specific program identified in this credit can be directed to Anna Pautler, who will point you to the appropriate person.


This credit spans many departments at Sheridan. Questions about a specific program identified in this credit can be directed to Anna Pautler, who will point you to the appropriate person.

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.