| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 86.17 |
| Liaison | James Gordon |
| Submission Date | May 31, 2022 |
Thompson Rivers University
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Aaron
Wiebe Research Assistant Sustainability |
Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:
The Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) is dedicated to providing evidence-based advice with regard to environmentally sensitive policies and practices that foster a sustainable future and lead to health, social, and economic benefits for the university community. The ESAC will act to promote dialogue and discussion on issues related to the environment and sustainability. The ESAC is also committed to fostering environmental literacy, sustainable development, and environmental responsibility at Thompson Rivers University that can serve as a model for others.
http://www.tru.ca/senate/committees/esac.html
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role:
Appointed by the Board (3)
Dipesh Prema - Faculty of Science
Nicole Schabus - Faculty of Law
Peter Tsigaris - School of Business and Economics
Faculty (5)
Meng Sun - School of Business and Economics
Jana Noskova - School of Business and Economics
Bala Nikku - School of Socail Work and Human Services
Christine Miller (ESAC Chair) - Faculty of Education and Social Work
Carolyn Ives - Open Learning Faculty
Staff (2)
Karl Fultz (ESAC Vice Chair) - Database Administrator Enterprise Systems, Information Technology Services
Pete Hrkac - Integrated Planning and Effectiveness
Students (2)
Ziqing “Christin” Chen
Thamindu Widyaratne
JOHSC Committee Representative: Micahel Mehta
Director of Ancillary Services (or designate):
Robyn Hollas
Director of Facilities (or designate):
Warren Asuchak
General Counsel (or designate:
Scott Blackford
Deans Council representative:
vacancy
Director of Aboriginal Affairs (or designate):
Tina Matthew
Non-Voting Members
James Gordon - ESAC Support and Admin
Alana Hoare - Accreditation Liaison Officer
Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent employee?:
A brief description of each sustainability office:
The TRU Sustainability Office is located in a central part of the campus, and has a full time Director (VP of Campus Infrastructure, Sustainability and Ancillary Services), Energy Specialist, and Manager of Sustainability Programs. 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 of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Does the institution have a mechanism for broad sustainability coordination for the entire institution?:
A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:
The TRU Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) has accomplished, amongst other things, the following over the last three years (March 2018 to Feb 2021):
Sustainability in the curriculum initiative - a sub-committee was formed many years ago and work is on-going to research issues and take steps to entrench and infuse sustainability into the TRU curriculum.
Beginning at the ESAC meeting in December 2019, members of the ESAC advocated for TRU to sign a 'climate emergency letter', known as the Global Climate Letter for Universities and Colleges (https://www.sdgaccord.org/climateletter). Although the pace of this advocacy was slowed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, members of the ESAC were successful in having the TRU Senate and Board of Governors agree that TRU should sign it, and in January 2021 the TRU President finally signed it.
At the December 2019 ESAC meeting, it was agreed to start an ongoing Zero-Waste subcommittee to help with TRU's efforts to improve continuously improve its waste management program. The sub-committee started the next month and meets each month.
Campus Strategic Sustainability Plan (2020-2025)– After TRU's first five year plan expired (2014-2019), the ESAC helped with the development of the next five year plan. ESAC members helped with the plan by attending input and discussion sessions, as well as promoting the planning process throughout the campus.
After the committee approved a motion in 2017 to work with Reeve Consulting in order to pursue developing guidelines for a campus-wide sustainable purchasing guideline, the TRU Sustainable Purchasing Guide was approved in August 2019.
Job title of the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Job title of the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Job title of the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability coordination is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Website for the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC):
http://www.tru.ca/senate/committees/esac.html
Website for the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC):
http://www.tru.ca/senate/committees/esac.html
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.