| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.99 |
| Liaison | Mary-Lee Townsend |
| Submission Date | Oct. 20, 2021 |
Western University
EN-3: Student Life
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Jessica
Cordes Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Management |
Does the institution have an active student group focused on sustainability?:
Name and a brief description of the active student groups focused on sustainability:
There are a number of active student groups focused on sustainability at Western, including various focal areas of sustainability like wildlife conservation and biodiversity, clean energy, sustainability business, sustainable food, gardening, and much more. Some of these student groups are as follows: EnviroWestern, Student Energy, Western Environmental Business, WaterAid, Western Wildlife Conservation Society, and more. Each year active environmental and sustainability-focused student groups are updated on the sustainability website (https://sustainability.uwo.ca/get_involved/join_a_office/index.html).
The Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) Sustainability Committee is comprised of graduate students striving to promote sustainability on and off campus. The goal of the committee is to address ecological and social challenges by engaging Western’s diverse graduate community. The committee is also a member of the Student Sustainability Collaborative, bringing together student sustainability groups from all over campus, including EnviroWestern and Ivey Sustainability Club.
The Environment & Sustainability Society (ESS) is an active organization on campus that aims to “do green,” by virtue, “do good” and have fun while doing it! ESS is mainly comprised of graduate students affiliated with the Centre for Environment and Sustainability, both from the Masters of Environment & Sustainability and collaborative programs, although not exclusive to these students by any means.
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:
Western has a student-run community garden, an Indigenous Food and Medicine Garden, and greenhouses which are operated by the biology department.
EnviroWestern Community Garden
Western's student group, EnviroWestern has established an outdoor community garden that showcases food sustainability on campus through organic food production and community involvement in the maintenance and harvesting. https://westerngazette.ca/culture/westerns-newest-garden-provides-aesthetic-and-sustainable-value/article_4abd8830-933b-11e7-894b-bb07e6040597.html
The Indigenous Food and Medicine Garden is an outdoor space that fosters a welcoming and inclusive community on-campus and promotes Indigenous presence, Indigenous Knowledge exchanges, and community involvement while engaging peoples in growing Indigenous organic and sustainable foods and plants for future generations. (https://indigenous.uwo.ca/students/about/medicine-garden.html)
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:
Ivey Connects is a student-led organization working to inspire students at the Ivey Business School to contribute to the societies in which they operate - a vital aspect of the school's mission statement. Ivey students have a wealth of resources that, if harnessed, translate to great potential to effect positive change in the community. Ivey Connects provides opportunities for students to give their time through volunteerism and fundraising efforts, and their talent - management or otherwise - to those in need in the community. Their mandate includes "Encouraging students to think about sustainable development, corporate social responsibility and community involvement from a business perspective.
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:
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 Western Sustainability Leaders Program includes a speaker series geared towards students to raise awareness and invite conversation on sustainability topics related to campus and the broader community. Each month speakers include campus representatives (staff, faculty, or student groups) and the local community who discuss sustainability topics such as Waste, Sustainable Food, Sustainable Buying, Land, Gardening, and Energy & Emissions.
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:
The Centre for Sustainable Curating (CSC) supports research, exhibitions, visual/digital production, and pedagogy focused on environmental and social justice. Located in the Department of Visual Arts at Western University, the CSC encourages research into waste, pollution, and climate crisis, and the development of exhibitions and artworks with low carbon footprints. Some projects the CSC is involved with include:
- The Synthetic Collective (www.syntheticcollective.org), an interdisciplinary collaboration between visual artists, cultural workers, and scientists working together to sample, map, understand, and visualize the complex ways in which plastics and microplastics pollute the Great Lakes region.
- A Museum for Future Fossils (www.museumforfuturefossils.org), a vernacular “museum without walls” focused on responding curatorially to the Anthropocene.
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 Western Outdoors Club (WOC) follows Leave No Trace principles such as:
Plan Ahead and Prepare: Many of the trips that they run have been run for many years. They are familiar with the trails, and only use those that are previously marked. WOC has developed plans in case of extreme weather or emergencies, always have evacuation points in mind and first-aid trained members and/or trip planners. As well, they operate from Sept-March, and so are using the parks in the off-season.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: WOC always camps on marked campsites, and follow the park guidelines for camping in the winter. They only use those trails that are marked and open for use.
Dispose of Waste Properly: WOC believes very strongly in “packing out” ALL of their waste from the trip, and leaving the site cleaner than they found it. As well, they refrain from bringing glass or cans into the parks. WOC always uses marked thunder-boxes, and ensures that dishes are washed far from any streams or lakes.
Leave What You Find: WOC abides by the campground policies on not transporting wood from infected areas. They do not condone unnecessary damage or disruption to the wilderness.
Minimize Campfire Impacts: WOC uses stoves for cooking. They use dead wood from the ground only and ALWAYS ensure that the campfire is completely extinguished before going to bed or leaving the area.
Respect Wildlife: WOC educates members about respecting wildlife, as it is their habitat, not ours. WOC also ALWAYS ensures that their food is properly secured in a bear hang overnight, or locked in a vehicle.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors: WOC members are all avid campers, and appreciate that others would like to enjoy nature in quiet, as they do. WOC does not play music at their campsites and their trips are also strictly alcohol-free.
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:
The Western Sustainability Leaders Program features a different sustainability theme each month from September - April. Past themes include: Waste at Western, Sustainable Buying, Sustainable Food, Wellness, Energy, Eco-Resolutions, Land, and Gardening.
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:
The Western Sustainability Leaders Program provides opportunities for students to learn sustainable life skills through monthly events, educational campaigns, and contests which encourage students to demonstrate sustainable actions they take in their own lives. Monthly webinars feature student groups on campus taking action to educate the broader student population on actions they can take in their lives. For example, the Energy webinar featured the Student Energy Club, and their Projects Platform initiative where students can track individual actions through Habit Bingo, Choosing Reusable Masks, Reducing Plastic & E-Waste, and more, and these individual actions are tracked by Student Energy and collated to demonstrate the collective impact Western students have in these areas. https://www.seprojectsuwo.ca/
Other WSLP webinars feature similar types of learning for students in other areas of sustainability (E.g. tips for reducing food waste, considerations to shop sustainably, waste reduction and diversion on campus)."
Does the institution offer sustainability-focused student employment opportunities?:
A brief description of the sustainability-focused student employment opportunities offered by the institution:
Through the Masters of Environment and Sustainability, Facilities Management offers two paid summer co-op positions for graduate students to work in Sustainability Coordinator roles. Additionally, other areas (such as Hospitality Services) have also hosted paid co-op students from the Masters of Environment and Sustainability program.
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:
"WWF-Canada's Living Planet @ Campus program helps students bring environmental sustainability and conservation activities to life at Western and in their lives. Students can participate in different types of group initiatives or self-guided activities to address issues like biodiversity loss and climate change.
Living Planet @ Campus provides opportunities for learning, collaboration and professional development for all students. Students can contribute to positive change through activities like campus clean-ups and Earth Hour, create habitat for wildlife through native plant gardening, and apply for funding to kickstart their own projects that help nature thrive.
https://sustainability.uwo.ca/get_involved/wwfcanada_living_planet__campus.html "
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.