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

Trish Fontaine, Research Assistant, Faculty of ALES/Non-Academic Staff Association
Lindsay Baranowski, Financial Assistant, Office of the Provost/Non-Academic Staff Association
Ian Urquhart, Association of Academic Staff, Department of Political Science
PearlAnn Reichwein, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation
Heather Wheeliker, Program Manager, City of Edmonton
Pat Kane, Senior Manager, Government of Alberta
Michael Versteege, Manager, Energy Management & Sustainable Operations
Emily Dietrich, Program Lead - Outreach and Engagement, Office of Sustainability
Trina Innes, Director - Office of Sustainability
Nicolas Diaz, Undergraduate Student - Students' Council - Vice President (Student Life)
Vacant, Undergraduate Student - Students' Council Nominee
Carlos Fiorentino, Graduate Student
Monica Chahal, Graduate Student
Michael Splinter, Assistant Dean - Faculty of Extension
Naomi Krogman, Academic Director - Office of Sustainability
Roger Epp, Vice Provost (Academic) - Office of the Provost
Don Hickey, Vice President, Facilities & Operations

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 Office of Sustainability facilitates institutional efforts across three focus areas.

OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
This focus area involves projects that inform, inspires and enables students, staff and faculty to think and act more sustainably. This work is guided by advice received from the Sustainability Advisory Committee. Our work is guided by advice received from the Sustainability Advisory Committee. This area serves as the institutional liaison for the Association for Sustainability for Higher Education and the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System.

TEACHING AND RESEARCH
Our academic, teaching, and research focus area is headed by an academic director appointed by the Provost. This focus area integrates sustainability into the courses we offer, the way we teach, and the research we engage in. This focus area is guided by advice received from the Office of Sustainability’s Academic Advisory Committee.

FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS
This focus area advances sustainability practices, policies and procedures across the institution. A number of units across campus collaborate with the Office of Sustainability including Energy Management and Sustainable Operations. The Facilities & Operations portfolio is advised by an internal Sustainability Committee. Working groups for waste diversion and sustainable purchasing support this focus area.

Our staff, student, interns and volunteers work to build connections within and across each focus area and the institution as a whole. 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.

The Director is a leader who will effectively work to position the University of Alberta among its peers, and to showcase areas of excellence in sustainability. Acting as a catalyst, the Director, works with an Academic Director and the Director of Energy Management & Sustainable Operations, to facilitate the mission of the Office of Sustainability. The Director's goals are:

-to expand awareness of the University’s progress on sustainability.
-to cultivate a culture of sustainability in faculty, staff and students.
-to grow the University’s positive reputation in sustainability.
-to serve as a key leader and change agent for sustainability, strengthening connections between teaching, research, facilities & operations.

The Director is collaborates with, and is supported by:

- Director, Energy Management & Sustainable Operations
- Academic Director
- Program Lead, Outreach and Engagement (x2)
- Program Lead, Marketing and Communications
- Administrative Assistant
- 4 Full-time Program Assistants and 4 Student Interns