Thompson Rivers University
EN-9: Staff Professional Development

The TRU Human Resources Department (HR) offers training and professional development in sustainability to their employees. These programs are recognized by the institution as formal training and professional development. Participants carry event passports and they get them stamped by HR staff once they go to each event to demonstrate that they've attended. Over the last four years, the main professional development event available to all staff and faculty has focused primarily on issues to do with social sustainability and, in 2016, environmental sustainability. Social sustainability issues included diversity, equity, inclusiveness, gender/transgender issues, civility, kindness, mental health, Aboriginal experiences, bullying and harassment, respectfulness, cultural differences, and mindfulness. A broad array of topics regarding environmental sustainability were on the agenda at the 2016 event, including composting, progressive waste management techniques, and the issue of effectively using technology to promote environmental sustainability. A world-class futurist also presented in order to help people envision the possibilities of what a progressive future might look like. As an example of the social sustainability training offered, please see this site titled Intercultural Learning at TRU: https://www.tru.ca/intercultural/faculty-staff.html Workshops offered trough the training include: Building Intercultural Competencies Interculturalizing the Curriculum: A Learning Outcomes Approach Culture in the Classroom & Rethinking Multicultural Group Work Academic Integrity: Whose Culture is it?  Writing across Borders Culturally Diverse Learners: Examining Expectations, Assumptions, and Approaches An example of the sustainability training is found in this site from the all-staff and faculty in-service training day in February 2017 titled 'Sustainability: It's In Our Hands': https://inside.tru.ca/2017/01/30/sustainability-its-in-our-hands/ Here is the opening description from the site: "Cultural, social, economic and environmental sustainability are a priority for the people who work and study at TRU—which is why increasing sustainability is one of the five Strategic Priorities of our institution. InService Day 2017 explores this broad theme with talks, a keynote presentation, group sessions and display booths." This link shows the agenda for the day: https://one.tru.ca/sites/hr/HRFS/Document%20Library/Inservice%20Day/AGENDA%20Inservice%20Day%20February%2022,%202017%20-%20for%20website.pdf Finally, another example of the all-staff and all-faculty sustainability training is exemplified in the myriad training opportunities offered to anyone who wanted to participate in last year's International Days (IDays). Here is the schedule: https://www.tru.ca/internationaldays/schedule.html

The TRU Sustainability Office makes funding available to any TRU staff or faculty member for sustainability-related conferences, summits, courses, etc. each year. Staff or faculty members are expected to present a compelling case for their attendance at such functions to receive the funding. Examples of these types of functions include AASHE annual conferences, the International Sustainability Campus Network annual conference, and the Building SustainABLE Communities conference in Kelowna, BC.