Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 71.58
Liaison James Gordon
Submission Date March 3, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Thompson Rivers University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 James Gordon
Environmental Programs and Research Coordinator
TRU Office of Environment and Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee, office, and/or officer that focuses on sustainability broadly and covers the entire institution?:
Yes

A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the committee(s), office(s), and/or officer(s) during the previous three years:

The TRU Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) has accomplished, amongst other things, the following over the last three years:
• Helped in the restoration of a disturbed natural area on campus
• Lead advocacy to ensure sustainability included as one of five priorities in TRU Strategic Priorities Plan (2014-2019)
• Strong advocacy role to ensure sustainability considerations accounted for throughout TRU Master Plan process (2013)
• Strong advocate to invigorate TRU Green Teams Program to become more active throughout campus
• Formed sub-committee to investigate options around the creation of a ‘TRU Sustainability Centre’
• Initiated annual student TRU Environmental Achievement Award
• Initiated annual student Tom Owen Environment and Sustainability Award
• Initiated The TRU Leadership in Environmental Sustainability Certificate, which any student can sign-up for regardless of their area of study
• Initiated plans for the TRU Paper Cut Challenge (paper reduction event)


Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
Yes

The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:

The Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) is dedicated to providing evidence-based advice with regard to environmentally sensitive policies and practices that foster a sustainable future and lead to health and economic benefits for the University community. The EAC will act to promote dialogue and discussion on issues related to the environment and sustainability. The EAC is also committed to fostering environmental literacy, sustainable development, and environmental responsibility at Thompson Rivers University that can serve as a model for others.


Members of each committee, including affiliations and role (e.g. staff, student, or faculty):

The Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) is made up of the following people:
• Director, Office of Environment and Sustainability: Jim Gudjonson
• Appointed by the Board: Hoberly Hove, Angelique Saweczko
• Faculty: Emma Bourassa, Crystal Huscroft, Sharman Learie, Dale Parkes, Wayne Singular
• Staff: Michelle Harrison, Linda Komori
• Students: Melissa Gordon, Jennifer Lam
• JOHS Committee Representative: Susan Purdy
• Director of Ancillary Services: Glenn Read
• Director of Facilities: Less Tabata
• General Counsel: John Sparks
Non-voting member: Note-taker, James Gordon


The website URL where information about the sustainability committee(s) is available:
Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent (FTE) employee?:
Yes

A brief description of each sustainability office:

The TRU Office of Environment and Sustainability is located in a central part of the campus, and has a full time Director, Energy Specialist, and Environmental Programs and Research Coordinator. The office also employs students at various times through work-study, cooperative education, and research programs.
The office performs four primary functions: 1) oversees installation and/or on-going operations of energy-related campus projects (improving efficiency of equipment; installing renewable energy equipment, monitoring energy use, etc.); 2) runs and administers several office sustainability-related events and out-reach activities (National Sweater Day, Earth Hour, TRU Orientation events, TRU Sustainability Grant Fund, etc.); 3) provides support and resources for any students, staff, and/or faculty who are interested in starting or running any sustainability-related initiatives; and 4) takes the lead on or assist with TRU sustainability-related reports and plans (TRU Campus Strategic Sustainability Plan, TRU Master Plan, BC Carbon Neutral Action Plan, etc.).


Full-time equivalent (FTE) of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
3.50

The website URL where information about the sustainability office(s) is available:
Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Yes

Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Jim Gudjonson

A brief description of each sustainability officer position:

The Director, TRU Office of Environment & Sustainability, is responsible for advising on policy with respect to the environment and sustainability on campus; working with TRU Oerations to implement sustainability measures; campus sustainability education; and campus involvement with sustainability issues in the community.


The website URL where information about the sustainability officer(s) is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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