| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 92.73 |
| Liaison | Emmanuelle Jodoin |
| Submission Date | Oct. 24, 2022 |
Université de Sherbrooke
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Luc
Sauvé Director General Student Services |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Campus durable (https://www.facebook.com/udesdurable?_rdr=p) is a student organization whose mission is to promote and oversee student initiatives in sustainable development at the Université de Sherbrooke. Campus durable is actively involved in raising awareness about sustainable development by coordinating and facilitating peer-to-peer education through the events it organizes and the campaigns it runs.
It supports the many student groups (https://www.usherbrooke.ca/etudiants/vie-etudiante/associations-et-regroupements-etudiants/regroupements-etudiants) recognized by the Université de Sherbrooke and interested in sustainable development by helping them coordinate and promote their activities. Campus durable also takes part in the various committees of the Office of the Vice-President, Administration and Sustainable Development, and plays a communication role between the university's management and the committees it represents.
Does the institution have a garden, farm, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery program, or an urban agriculture project where students are able to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems?:
A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
Each of the three campuses of the Université de Sherbrooke has a garden. There is a collective garden on the main campus, a community garden on the Oasis (green roof) of the Longueuil Campus, and a medicinal and fruit garden on the Health Campus.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/campus/amenagements/jardins/
- Launched in 2009, the collective garden on the main campus covering an area of approximately 150 m² is accessible to students and staff. Season planning, seed purchasing, tilling, and harvesting are done as a group, encouraging positive interactions between members. It is the result of a collaboration between the Fédération étudiante de l'Université de Sherbrooke (FEUS) [EN: Student Federation of the University of Sherbrooke], the Regroupement des étudiantes et étudiants de maîtrise, de diplôme et de doctorat (REMDUS) [EN: Student Grouping for Masters, Diploma and Doctoral students], the University, and the Fonds conjoint pour les initiatives de développement durable [EN: Joint Fund for Sustainable Development Initiatives].
- The community garden that is reborn each spring at the Oasis of the Longueuil Campus allows registered students and employees to plant and harvest fruit, vegetables, and herbs of their choice. The area is divided into plots and each person is responsible for their own section.
- Thanks to a student initiative, the Jardin Zen 7 was inaugurated in September 2016 near the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (Health Campus). This space includes about twenty fruit trees (apple, pear, and hazelnut trees) and more than a hundred shrubs and 650 perennials, all organized around the themes of fruit plants and medicinal plants.
Finally, it is important to mention the contribution of Ruche Campus [EN: Campus Beehive], a student initiative that plays an important role in urban agriculture and in maintaining the surrounding ecosystems through the development of beekeeping on the main campus.
Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
Located on the Main Campus of the Université de Sherbrooke, La Déraille (https://www.laderaille.ca/) is a cooperative initiated by a student group. Its main mission is to facilitate the practice of utilitarian cycling by developing the autonomy of its members in the maintenance and repair of their bikes. Created in 2013, La Déraille has nearly 900 members and a team of ten volunteers per semester.
While allowing the students who work there to develop their managerial skills, La Déraille offers its members access to a fully equipped bicycle workshop. In 2015, it also installed the first self-service repair station on the Main Campus. Since 2018, it has been working to professionalize its activities, notably by developing a diversified and quality training offer, targeting both its members and the general public. In addition to the services mentioned above, La Déraille also offers workshops to other student groups such as the regroupement étudiant Club plein air Altitude [EN: Outdoor Club Altitude], which organizes outdoor activities in an environmentally friendly manner.
To take advantage of the many services offered by La Déraille, one can become a lifetime member of the cooperative by paying the modest sum of ten dollars.
For more information about La Déraille, please see the attached document.
Does the institution have a sustainable investment fund, green revolving fund, or sustainable microfinance initiative through which students can develop socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible investment and financial skills?:
A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
STUDENT INVESTMENT FUND OF THE UNIVERSITÉ DE SHERBROOKE
The Fonds d’investissement étudiant de l’Université de Sherbrooke (FIEUS) [EN: Student Investment Fund of the Université de Sherbrooke], a responsible fund for close to one million dollars for the benefit of the University, includes two Canadian equity portfolios, the one of the Fondation de l’Université [EN: University Foundation] and the one of the Bureau des Gouverneurs de l’École de gestion [EN: Board of Governors of the Business School]. It is managed by some 60 students from the Business School who have the opportunity to benefit from the mentorship of Professor Mario Lavallée.
At the beginning of each session, four teams, made up of a captain, two senior analysts and four junior analysts, work on eight securities and do in-depth work on each one: research, analysis, projections, and examination of the competition. At the end of the session, each security is the subject of a presentation that will allow the decision to be made as to whether it should be bought, held, or sold.
FIEUS already excludes fossil fuels and integrates ESG factors (environmental, social, and governance) to select its investments. A green shift that it intends to pursue in the future by integrating members from other disciplines than finance: “We want to invest in companies that are involved in the energy transition and companies that are well positioned to adapt to climate change (…)”, announced Professor Mario Lavallée. FIEUS also devotes a lot of energy to promoting the presence of women within its group, and more broadly in the field of finance.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/developpement-durable/actualites/nouvelles/details/46622
STOCK MARKET SIMULATION OBJECTIVE WALL STREET
Made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Trading Room of the Business School and the Desjardins Chair in Responsible Finance (http://chairedesjardinsfinanceresponsable.recherche.usherbrooke.ca/?org=chaire) of the Université de Sherbrooke, this stock market simulation tool is open to students from all faculties of the University. Objectif Wall Street is an interactive game that simulates the participants' career as a portfolio manager, in which returns are not sufficient to explain the success or failure of a career. It thus provides participants with situational scenarios that call for sound risk management as well as notions related to responsible finance and professional ethics.
Has the institution hosted a conference, speaker series, symposium, or similar event focused on sustainability during the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
The Centre universitaire de formation en environnement et développement durable (CUFE) [EN: Environment and Sustainable Development University Training Centre] organizes several conferences on sustainable development. For example, through the MIDI-MAD (Les MIDIS pour apprendre et discuter du CUFE) [EN: the CUFE's lunchtimes to learn and to discuss], a series of conferences are organized where a variety of issues related to sustainable development are addressed. They are free of charge and are intended for students and staff as well as the community at large.
(for example, https://www.usherbrooke.ca/actualites/evenements/details/46759)
In addition, a seminar is organized each year by the Association de la maîtrise en environnement de l'Université de Sherbrooke (AMEUS) [EN: Association of the Master of Environment of the University of Sherbrooke]. Under the theme of "Thinking about environmental justice for a more equitable society," the 2022 conference brought together many renowned speakers who highlighted the growth of environmental inequalities linked to current climate change. With more than 150 participants, the virtual symposium was a one-day event.
https://ameusherbrooke.wordpress.com/colloque-2/programmation/
Finally, on June 16, 2022, the Université de Sherbrooke held the event "L'UdeS, en vert et contre les changements climatiques" [EN: in green and against climate change], during which an honorary doctorate was awarded to Dr. David Suzuki for his exceptional contribution to the development of society, his fight against global warming, and his extraordinary contribution to sustainable development. A lecture by Dr. Suzuki, a press conference presenting some of Université de Sherbrooke's achievements and new commitments in the fight against climate change, a scientific poster exhibition, and a round table on climate change were also held during this large-scale event.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/actualites/nouvelles/details/47920
Has the institution hosted a cultural arts event, installation, or performance focused on sustainability with the previous three years that had students as the intended audience?:
A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
ABORIGINAL ARTWORK AT THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION
On September 30, 2021, the Faculty of Education of the Université de Sherbrooke unveiled a work of art on the theme of transmission created by a visual artist, storyteller, and Abenaki-Wendat poet Christine Sioui-Wawanoloath, in the company of representatives of the W8banaki Nation, students, and dignitaries from the Faculty and the University. The bright blue and vividly coloured work entitled "The Importance of Learning to Fly" captures the imagination at first glance. It shows children spreading their wings under the watchful eyes of adults - a symbol that will henceforth accompany all those who cross the main hall of the Faculty of Education.
In front of some 150 guests, the Dean of the Faculty emphasized her solidarity with First Nations communities following the discovery of numerous children's remains in former federal residential schools. She also took the opportunity to set the tone for future collaboration with these communities. The unveiling ceremony concluded with a performance by the Odanak-based traditional drum group, The Flying Sturgeons.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/actualites/nouvelles/societe/details/46072
ABORIGINAL ART WORK IN THE PUBLIC ART COLLECTION OF THE UNIVERSITÉ DE SHERBROOKE
Located near the Centre sportif of the Université de Sherbrooke, La Vapeur de Sawyer [EN: Sawyer's Steam] is part of the public art collection of the Université de Sherbrooke. The work is by Huron-Wendat artist Ludovic Boney.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/autochtones/enseignement-et-initiatives/initiatives-institutionnelles
NATURE-THEMED MURAL, IN THE TUNNEL
The tunnels of the Université de Sherbrooke Main Campus are spaces for living, exchanging, creating, and even teaching and spreading research. In the summer of 2021, students from the course "Peinture et espace" [EN: Painting and Space] created the mural "Rythmer le pas" [EN: Rhythmic Step], inspired by the nature surrounding the campus.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/actualites/series-udes/photoreportages/ludes-devoile-ses-dessous
"PASSEURS CULTURELS" PROGRAM [EN: CULTURAL PASSERSBY]
Since 2017, the goal of the "Passeurs culturels" program is to train teachers at Université de Sherbrooke to become heirs, critics, and interpreters of art and culture, so that they can then pass on their knowledge of this subject. Several shows per year are offered free of charge or at a very low cost to students registered in the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Physical Activity Sciences.
Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
The Université de Sherbrooke student group Club plein air Altitude [EN: Outdoor Club Altitude] offers its members affordable outdoor equipment rentals and support in organizing outdoor activities. The club also offers a wide range of workshops on survival equipment and principles, responsible outdoor activities, as well as good practices, and respect for the environment, as suggested by the Leave No Trace principles.
https://www.facebook.com/ClubPleinAirUdeS/posts/pfbid0JqFTjgVQbiqbdJyZ2GB6sPhWkurHnSwpDR9B8uUqLwGqBP5uNXdnY3MhTgs6nbEwl
https://www.facebook.com/ClubPleinAirUdeS
https://clubpleinair.association.usherbrooke.ca/
Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Four people living in the Université de Sherbrooke residences have the opportunity to be hired each semester as members of the Residence Green Team. Their mission is to make residents aware of sustainable development by implementing various activities that will allow them to understand and internalize more eco-responsible behaviours. More specifically, the members of the Residence Green Team work to educate and sensitize their peers on three main sustainable issues of life in residences, namely sorting residual materials, recycling and reusing, as well as various ecoresponsible behaviours.
https://www.facebook.com/EquipeVerteSherbrooke/posts/1602108726665345/
Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.