| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 36.94 |
| Liaison | David Greenwood |
| Submission Date | Nov. 12, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Lakehead University
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 4.00 |
Ledah
McKellar Research Assistant Centre for Place and Sustainability Studies |
Does the institution have current and formal plans to advance sustainability in the following areas? Do the plans include measurable objectives?:
| Current and Formal Plans (Yes or No) | Measurable Objectives (Yes or No) | |
| Curriculum | Yes | Yes |
| Research (or other scholarship) | Yes | No |
| Campus Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes | Yes |
| Air and Climate | No | No |
| Buildings | Yes | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes | No |
| Energy | No | No |
| Grounds | No | No |
| Purchasing | No | No |
| Transportation | No | No |
| Waste | No | No |
| Water | No | No |
| Diversity and Affordability | Yes | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing and Work | No | No |
| Investment | No | No |
| Other | --- | --- |
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Curriculum:
The university is committed to educating students who are well prepared to make significant contributions to the economy, and to contribute to issues of social justice and environmental sustainability, locally, nationally and globally. For further information see the university's 2012-2017 academic plan: http://vpacademic.lakeheadu.ca/uploads/Academic%20Plan/Academic-Plan-2012-2017-Public.pdf
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Curriculum plan(s):
Lakehead students graduate with at least one course that incorporates Indigenous Knowledge and/or Aboriginal content, and faculty and staff participate in Indigenous
Knowledge seminars
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Curriculum plan(s):
Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic, Instructional Development Centre, senate committees, faculty deans, department/school chairs, instructors
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Research (or other scholarship):
The university has six research priorities, which all touch on sustainability issues:
Advanced Systems and Technologies
Cultures, Societies, and Social Justice
The Environment and Natural Resources
First Nation, Métis, and Inuit (Aboriginal) Research
Health Research Across the Life Span
Northern Studies
For further information see the university's 2012-2017 academic plan: http://vpacademic.lakeheadu.ca/uploads/Academic%20Plan/Academic-Plan-2012-2017-Public.pdf
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Research plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Research plan(s):
Office of the Provost and Vice President Academic, Office of Research Services, Vice President Research, Economic Development & Innovation
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Campus Engagement around sustainability:
In the 2013-2018 Strategic Plan, Strategic Action number 3 is Learner Centred Student Experience.
Lakehead university students will be offered a unique experience that combines opportunities for an active lifestyle with integrated student supports in a collaborative learning environment. as a result, the modified graduation rate will increase by 3% during the life of this plan.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Campus Engagement plan:
-enhance the development of experiential learning and research, both inside and outside the class.
-Perform well above the Ontario mean for active and collaborative learning as measured by the 2017 national Survey for Student engagement.
-Make a one-stop approach of easy and convenient access to services the underlying framework for improving interactions with students from enrolment, through their academic career, to graduation.
-Build and maintain an outstanding series of online tools that ensures students can quickly and easily conduct all of their normal university business online.
-expand the availability of centres and buildings that will be natural gathering places for students such as the proposed Kendaasiwin centre, a new international House, and a one-stop service centre.
-Foster an environment for success through enhanced support services as exemplified by the activities of the Student Success centre.
-Seamlessly integrate a global orientation into lakehead university’s student culture, while maintaining social justice, through english as a second language, expanded exchange and transfer programs, and innovative events.
-introduce students to a wide range of community and extra-curricular opportunities through new partnerships involving athletics, recreation, student organizations, the alumni association, Student Services and the community.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Campus Engagement plan(s):
The Strategic plan was developed by the Board of Governors and the Office of the President.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Public Engagement around sustainability:
In the 2013-2018 Strategic Plan, Strategic Action number 4 is Community Engagement.
Lakehead university will engage in authentic and meaningful partnerships with individuals, alumni, Aboriginal communities, NGOs, governments, businesses, and associations with whom we share a common vision and interest.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Public Engagement plan(s):
- include a “Knowledge commons” through which the university maintains and showcases music, art, artifacts, culture, language, and indigenous knowledge on behalf of the community as part of the plans for the proposed Kendaasiwin centre.
- treat the “Knowledge commons” as a focal point for the development and expansion of partnerships that simultaneously expand scholarship and engage the community.
-Plan and celebrate the 50th anniversary in 2015, which will dramatically increase the percentage of alumni who are engaged with the university.
- continue to foster and develop the special relationship between Lakehead's varsity teams and the community.
-extend a comprehensive university experience to students living in communities outside Thunder Bay and Orillia through the innovative use of online technology and satellite classrooms.
-expand the achievement Program, which includes:
• Partnerships with school boards to provide a selection of youth-oriented opportunities that make it clear that university is an achievable goal for all who have the ability;
• A tuition-credit program that provides financial support to students who participate in the Achievement Program; and
• Increased bursaries, enhanced child care, and other student supports for adult learners.
-increase opportunities for students currently facing educational barriers to enrolment in graduate studies and professional programs.
-establish legal assistance services available to the community through the new Faculty of law.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Public Engagement plan(s):
The Strategic plan was developed by the Board of Governors and the Office of the President.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Air and Climate:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Air and Climate plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Air and Climate plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Buildings:
Lakehead's Sustainable Building Policy outlines the importance of sustainability in the construction of new buildings.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Buildings plan(s):
This policy dictates that all new buildings at the Orillia campus be built to LEED Platinum standards while all new buildings built at the Thunder Bay campus be built to LEED Gold standards.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Buildings plan(s):
This policy was developed but the Priorities and Planning Group.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Dining Services/Food:
Lakehead contracts its food services to Aramark. A new contract was just signed by Aramark which includes some focus on sustainability. This focus was imposed based on feedback from the Lakehead University community which had a task force composed of students, faculty and administration involved in working on the new RFP (request for proposals). A town hall meeting was also held where students could directly voice their concerns. One major outcome was that Aramark pledged to continue to attempt to purchase locally produced foods.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Dining Services/Food plan(s):
Aramark Canada
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Energy:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Energy plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Energy plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Grounds:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Grounds plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Grounds plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Purchasing:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Purchasing plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Purchasing plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Transportation:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Transportation plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Transportation plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Waste:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Waste plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Waste plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Water:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Water plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Water plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance Diversity and Affordability:
In 2010 Lakehead issued a Diversity Awareness policy that stated “Equity and diversity are not abstract goals; they are essential qualities of an outstanding institution.”
The policy proposes developing a committee that would have the following objectives:
Organizing of a forum each year for the discussion of issues, policies and practices regarding equity, diversity, inclusivity and the maintenance of a safe, respectful and appreciative teaching, learning and working environment.
Recommending appropriate policies or practices, particularly with regard to teaching and learning.
Engaging in other objectives that promote the intentions behind the above policy
Reviewing, and where necessary, recommending revisions to existing academic policy or the creation of new policy related to academic equity."
The current 2013-2018 Strategic Plan addresses increasing diversity as a commitment of the university.
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
This policy proposes to establish a task force that will develop an action plan to operationalize the concepts of equity and diversity, to extend those to key objectives of the 2010-2013 strategic plan, and to incorporate the concepts and desired goals into the University's academic plan.
In addition, it calls for “a permanent committee on Equity and Diversity or to investigate best governance models on equity and diversity (Lakehead, 2014). The task force and committee have not been established yet.
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Diversity and Affordability plan(s):
Currently, this policy has been addressed by the Senate.
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Health, Wellbeing and Work:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Health, Wellbeing and Work plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in Investment:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the Investment plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the Investment plan(s):
A brief description of the plan(s) to advance sustainability in other areas:
The measurable objectives, strategies and timeframes included in the other plan(s):
Accountable parties, offices or departments for the other plan(s):
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Does the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document include sustainability at a high level?:
A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:
The website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning is available:
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.