Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.46
Liaison Brandon Raco
Submission Date Sept. 2, 2020

STARS v2.2

University of Guelph
EN-3: Student Life

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Student groups 

Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Yes

Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
Zero Waste UofG (student organization focused on waste reduction), Engineers for a Sustainable World (student organization focused on sustainable global development), Engineers without Borders (student organization focused on sustainable global development), Youth Action on Climate Change (Student organization providing youth with opportunities to develop climate solutions), Guelph Students for Environmental Change( Student organization focused on raising awareness of environmental awareness), My World My Choice (Organization focused on mentoring youth to become sustainable citizens), Enactus Guelph (organization focused on sustainable social enterprises), AIESEC Guelph (organization focused on providing students with global internships related to climate action)

Gardens and farms 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the gardens, farms, community supported agriculture (CSA) or fishery programs, and/or urban agriculture projects:
The Guelph Urban Organic Farm is a 1 hectare learning and research facility on the main University of Guelph campus. Students from across disciplines come to the farm to learn about sustainable urban food production, heritage seed production, permaculture, food security, fair trade and year-round food production. The farm is also base camp and lecture space for the B.Sc.(Agr) Organic Agriculture major, an increasingly popular program in the Ontario Agriculture College. The produce is served at P.J.'s Restaurant on campus. Food that is harvested in the morning is offered for sale in the afternoon from 3-6pm every Thursday in front of the Crop Science building during the growing season.

https://www.plant.uoguelph.ca/people-and-places/research-centres/gcuof-guelph-centre-urban-organic-farming

Student-run enterprises 

Does the institution have a student-run enterprise that includes sustainability as part of its mission statement or stated purpose?:
Yes

A brief description of the student-run enterprises:
The John F. Wood Centre for Business and Student Enterprise is a business incubator with the mission to foster innovative and sustainable business solutions to economic, social and environmental problems. It is through this mission that they empower a new generation of business leaders committed to community engagement and a sustainable future.


https://www.uoguelph.ca/johnfwoodcentre/what-we-do

Sustainable investment and finance 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainable investment funds, green revolving funds or sustainable microfinance initiatives:
ENACTUS GUELPH

Enactus establishes student programs on campuses around the world. With the support and encouragement of their faculty advisers and a local business advisory board, Enactus students deploy entrepreneurial action to improve the human condition and enable sustainable human progress.

https://www.enactusguelph.ca/

Events 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the conferences, speaker series, symposia, or similar events focused on sustainability:
Lang sustainability conference connects students and business to explore and discuss business solutions to the social, environmental and economic challenges facing our world. Students will be given the opportunity to engage with industry professionals and participate in several professional development workshops.
Students will also be given a opportunity to compete against their peers in a case competition where they will be required to create and present a sustainable business solution for an issue facing our title sponsor

https://www.uoguelph.ca/lang/events/2018/11/guelph-business-sustainability-conference

Cultural arts 

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the cultural arts events, installations, or performances focused on sustainability:
"450 years to forever" Plastic Sculpture Installation for the University of Guelph exhibit at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair 2019.
Website: https://www.christinedevuono.com/450-years-to-forever.html

Soil Collective Open Air Gallery - Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming Launch: Summer 2019 Website:https://twitter.com/improvcommunity/status/1222610672913145857

Sea Sick, a play on how climate change affects the worlds' oceans (November 22nd, 2018).
Website:https://www.therecord.co

Wilderness and outdoors programs 

Does the institution have a wilderness or outdoors program that follow Leave No Trace principles?:
No

A brief description of the wilderness or outdoors programs that follow Leave No Trace principles:
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Sustainability-focused themes 

Has the institution had a sustainability-focused theme chosen for a themed semester, year, or first-year experience during the previous three years?:
No

A brief description of the sustainability-focused themes chosen for themed semesters, years, or first-year experiences:
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Sustainable life skills 

Does the institution have a program through which students can learn sustainable life skills?:
Yes

A brief description of the programs through which students can learn sustainable life skills:
Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming teaches student volunteers skills on sustainable agriculture, permaculture, running a farmer's market and the principles and practices of organic agriculture.
Website: https://www.uoguelph.ca/oac/gcuof

The CSA Bike Centre provides workshops and training on bicycle maintenance and safety to encourage students to choose active transportation.

Student employment opportunities 

Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Sustainability Office- 1 New Grad Intern in Digital Communications and Engagement position. Sustainability Office - 10- Composting Crew positions. Sustainability Office - 4 Summer Student Positions. Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming 3 Summer Student Farm management Positions.

Graduation pledge

Does the institution have a graduation pledge through which students pledge to consider social and environmental responsibility in future job and other decisions?:
No

A brief description of the graduation pledge(s):
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Optional Fields

A brief description of other co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives that do not fall into one of the above categories:
Sustainability Month -The University of Guelph dedicates the entire Month of March to promoting campus sustainability initiatives, champions, and to bring attention to some of the most pressing issues of our time. There is currently 15 events, 4 campaigns, and 20 planned social media content posts planned for this month.

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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