University of Alberta
PAE-1: Sustainability Coordination

I. PURPOSE The Sustainability Advisory Committee consists of students, faculty and staff. They give feedback and advice to the Office of Sustainability regarding the creation and development of sustainability initiatives and supporting partnerships within and outside of the university. II. DUTIES/ROLES Overall, the Office of Sustainability is working to make progress towards the following outcomes: - Building effective outreach and engagement activities - Infusing sustainability into academic teaching, learning and research - Growing sustainability initiatives in our facilities, operations and services The Sustainability Advisory Committee provides a university-wide perspective and community representation. Sustainability Advisory Committee helps the Office of Sustainability make progress on outcomes related to outreach and operations by: - Exploring and making recommendations regarding key issues and trends - Serving as a sounding board for the Office in activities such as the campus sustainability plan and student engagement efforts - Advocating for the Office and identifying opportunities for partnership and collaboration III. GOALS The following goals are intended as general guidelines and are not meant to limit other suggestions from members of the Sustainability Advisory Committee. A. Strategic Leadership The committee will provide advice regarding: - Terms of reference and composition of the Sustainability Advisory Committee - Campus sustainability plan and other strategic documents emerging from the Office of Sustainability - Ongoing development and enhancement of the Office of Sustainability as a known resource for individuals interested in learning about and growing sustainability efforts on campus - Approaches for enhancing the University of Alberta’s reputation as a sustainability leader - Partnerships and collaboration with other groups, outside organizations and the campus community - Changes in policies (e.g. university, provincial, federal) that may affect the Office of Sustainability’s mandate and to recommend policy changes that will further the university’s sustainability objectives - Allocation of grants and loans from the Sustainability Enhancement Fund - Additional funding opportunities for the Office of Sustainability B. Education and Outreach The committee will provide advice regarding: - Activities (e.g., workshops, conferences or presentations) that will increase knowledge and skills needed to live, work, and operate more sustainably on campus and in our daily lives - Key provincial, national, of global leaders in sustainability who would make exemplary keynote speakers C. Engagement The committee will provide advice regarding: - How to support and increase the number of students, faculty and staff that engage actively in sustainability programs related to outreach and engagement - Ways to enhance student engagement in sustainability, both directly with the Office of Sustainability and other areas on campus. This may include virtual volunteer opportunities, work experience, service learning opportunities, and other ways of engaging students to enhance their experiences working on sustainability - Partnerships with the non-profit, government, education and businesses sectors to provide students with opportunities to develop their skills in sustainability D. Communications The committee will provide advice regarding: - Office of Sustainability communications activities - Marketing and promotion of campus sustainability initiatives - Campus success stories, services, programs and projects to promote regionally, provincially or globally - Fora where the Office of Sustainability could have a presence, regionally, nationally, or internationally - Planning events and communications to share and celebrate achievements by the university community in making progress toward sustainability goals A subset of this committee also assists in the identification and distribution of campus sustainability awards.

Russell Eccles, Non-Academic Staff Association Rod Wolfe, Non-Academic Staff Association, FMIS Coordinator/ Energy Management Ian Urquhart, Association of Academic Staff, Department of Political Science PearlAnn Reichwein, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Heather Wheeliker, City of Edmonton Pat Kane, Alberta Environment, Government of Alberta Brittany Collard, Alumnus - University of Alberta Len Sereda, Energy Management and Sustainable Operations - Facilities and Operations Lisa Dockman, Program Lead - Outreach and Engagement, Office of Sustainability Trina Innes, Director - Office of Sustainability Colten Yamagishi, Undergraduate Student - Students' Council - VP Student Life Kim Ferguson, Undergraduate Student - Students' Council Nominee Marie-Claude Roy, Graduate Student - Department of Renewable Resources Monica Chahal, Graduate Student - Faculty of Education Candice Tremblay, Sustainability Coordinator Mathieu Trepanier, Staff, Campus Saint-Jean Michael Splinter, Assistant Dean - Faculty of Extension Bart Becker, Assistant Vice President - Facilities and Operations Susan Barker, Academic Coordinator - Office of Sustainability Frank Robinson, Dean of Students - Provost's Designate

The Office of Sustainability is the hub of the University of Alberta’s sustainability initiative. It exists to promote, unite and celebrate the University of Alberta’s efforts to create a campus-wide network that works together to advance our sustainability performance. The sustainability initiative is centred on three focus areas: OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT The outreach and engagement focus area creates projects that inform, assist and mobilize students,staff and faculty to think and act more sustainably. Our work is guided by advice received from the Sustainability Advisory Committee. ACADEMIC TEACHING AND RESEARCH Our academic, teaching, and research focus area is headed by an academic director appointed by the Provost. This focus area seeks opportunities to integrate sustainability into how we teach, curriculum content and research. This focus area is guided by advice received from the Office of Sustainability’s Academic Advisory Committee. FACILITIES, OPERATIONS AND SERVICES This focus area is headed by the Energy Management and Sustainable Operations (EMSO) unit of the Department of Facilities and Operations. EMSO has close ties to the Office of Sustainability as they work to advance sustainability across all areas of the university’s facilities and operations. Their work is supported by the Facilities and Operations Sustainability Committee. Our staff, student, interns and volunteers work to build connections within and across each focus area. In addition to delivering their own projects, team members regularly collaborate on projects that benefit from multidisciplinary perspectives. Each team also builds partnerships with individuals, units and organizations who are interested in helping to create a more sustainable campus to live on, to learn within, and to enjoy. Augustana Campus' efforts are guided by their Green Campus Committee. Campus Saint-Jean's efforts are guided by Le Comité de développement durable.

The Office's program leads work with faculty, staff, and students to coordinate and facilitate awareness, information, and behaviour change outreach programs, student projects, research projects and other activities which improve awareness, understanding, and engagement in sustainability practices. Their work also raises the profile of sustainability at the university, contributing to the development of a culture of sustainability. Additional staff work in the area of marketing and communications. Two sustainability coordinators also work within the Energy Management and Sustainable Operations unit of Facilities and Operations.

The Office of Sustainability is structured in three strands. The number of full-time employees identified in this credit pertain only to the Outreach and Engagement strand. Each strand is supported by its own advisory committee. OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT This focus area designs, implements and manages innovative campus-wide communications, outreach and engagement programs. We are a resource for students, staff and faculty interested in fostering a culture of sustainability at the University of Alberta. Our staff has expertise in environmental education, awareness campaigns, marketing and communications, environmental management, and partnership development. We create and support projects that inform, assist, and mobilize students, staff, and faculty to think and act more sustainably. We help the campus community by: - Delivering projects that build sustainability skills and knowledge - Connecting faculty, staff, and students to information, experts, tools and funding options - Profiling and promoting campus initiatives and successes - Crafting effective campus and community partnerships - Co-building action-oriented campaigns and outreach projects for your club or office - Sharing ways to build sustainability into your studies, teaching and research They receive advice from the Office of Sustainability’s Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC) guided by a formal terms of reference. The SAC assists with the evaluation and recommendations for Sustainability Enhancement Fund projects and Campus Sustainability Awards. Five full-time staff, and up to eight student interns (part-time during the school year) work with the Office. ACADEMIC TEACHING & RESEARCH This focus area promotes and advances sustainability in academic programs and activities. Our staff includes an academic director appointed by the provost to provide leadership from within the academy, as well as student support. Faculty, staff and students at the University of Alberta already conduct a considerable amount of research related to sustainability and there are also many sustainability-related courses and co-curricular activities on campus. We are seeking to expand the number of students who graduate with exposure and competencies related to sustainability. They receive support and advice from the Office of Sustainability’s Academic Advisory Committee (OSAAC) guided by a formal terms of reference. A part-time academic director, a graduate student and a student intern support this strand. FACILITIES, OPERATIONS & SERVICES This focus area seeks to identify goals, best practices, and opportunities to advance sustainability in of the University’s facilities, operations and services. Our staff includes professional engineers, strategic coordinators and student support. The Energy Management and Sustainable Operations unit provides leadership in this focus area by engaging Facilities and Operations staff and management responsible for building design and construction, utilities, buildings and grounds maintenance, dining services, parking services, residence and many of the other vital services and infrastructure that keep the university running. They receive advice from the Facilities and Operations Sustainability Committee. A full-time director, an energy manager, two program coordinators, and two student interns support this strand. Augustana Campus. Green Campus Committee. Website: http://augustana.ualberta.ca/offices/sustainability/green_campus_committee/ Campus Saint-Jean. Le Comité de développement durable. Website: http://www.csj.ualberta.ca/developpementdurable/