Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.54
Liaison Mike Versteege
Submission Date June 30, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Alberta
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Trina Innes
Chief Sustainability Officer
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have at least one sustainability committee?:
Yes

The charter or mission statement of the committee(s) or a brief description of each committee's purview and activities:

SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

This committee provides advice that guides the Facilities & Operations portfolio in integrating sustainability into its operations. It helps identify issues, establish goals and priorities, make progress on our greenhouse gas reduction plan and identify opportunities to develop student projects that use campus as a living lab.

PROVOST'S ACADEMIC ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABILITY

This committee provides advice that guides the academic community in developing, seeding, modeling and integrating sustainability into the university’s academic and research programs. It helps identify issues, and establish goals and priorities, serves as a sounding board for the director of sustainability scholarship and education. This group is the primary champion of the academic components of the university's sustainability plan.

SUSTAINABLE FOOD WORKING GROUP

This committee advances the university’s social, economic and environmental sustainability performance as it relates to sustainable food, primarily by making progress on food-related goals identified in the 2016-2020 Sustainability Plan. It advances the sustainability of the university's food system in several ways, including but not limited to:

- providing leadership and accountability to sustainable food system initiatives.
- focusing the efforts of its membership on common goals and projects.
- collaborating with other food-related groups.
- providing project management guidance and resources.
- supporting sustainable food initiatives.
- establishing annual work plans to continuously advance food system sustainability and achieve the food-related goals and strategies identified in the Sustainability Plan.
- measuring, recording, and reporting annual progress.
- facilitating the collection of data for STARS, the Sustainability Plan and other reports.

SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING WORKING GROUP

This committee provides strategic leadership regarding sustainable purchasing, including but not limited to:

- assessing institutional opportunities for sustainable purchasing initiatives.
- identifying and prioritizing projects and strategies for enhancing our performance.
- streamlining communication, recognition, and outreach related to sustainable purchasing.
- measuring current performance and evaluating effectiveness of sustainable purchasing initiatives.
- providing a hub for Supply Management Services, the Office of Sustainability and representatives from the university community to share ideas and collaborate on sustainable purchasing pilot projects.

WASTE DIVERSION WORKING GROUP

This committee brings together stakeholders in waste diversion programs across the university to collaborate, provide strategic guidance for the activities of these stakeholder groups, and help to develop a comprehensive waste diversion strategy for the university. More specifically, the goals and duties of this working group will include but are not limited to:

- facilitating ongoing collaboration between campus stakeholders to advance university waste diversion.
- improving consistency across waste diversion programs.
- conducting an inventory and needs assessment of current waste diversion programs
- identifying additional campus stakeholders to be engaged as necessary to further inform the working group’s activities.
- developing a waste diversion plan for the university, including establishing targets and action plans.
- evaluating and reporting on campus waste diversion progress.
- engaging and educating the campus community to increase knowledge and improve waste diversion behaviours.
- integrating university waste diversion programs into academia.
- connecting with community members in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and abroad to share and exchange knowledge and best practices in the field of waste diversion.


Members of each committee, including affiliations and role (e.g. staff, student, or faculty):

SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

- Michael Versteege, committee chair, Manager, Energy Management & Sustainable Operations (administrative professional officer)
- Ben Louie, University Architect, Office of the University Architect (administrative professional officer)
- Terry Nonay, Information and Control Systems, Utilities (administrative professional officer)
- Ray Dumouchel, Associate Director, Buildings and Grounds Services (administrative professional officer)
- Chris Blades, Manager, Augustana Facilities and Operations (administrative professional officer)
- Geoff Rode, Director, Ancillary Services (administrative professional officer)
- Todd Werre, Director, Project Management Office (administrative professional officer)
- Darren St. Hilaire, Manager, Mechanical Engineering, Design & Technical Services (administrative professional officer)
- Shannon Leblanc, Sustainability Coordinator, Energy Management & Sustainable Operations (support staff)
- Lauren Hall, Sustainability Coordinator, Energy Management & Sustainable Operations (support staff)

PROVOST'S ACADEMIC ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABILITY

- Naomi Krogman, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Studies (faculty)
- Wendy Rodgers, Deputy Provost (faculty)
- Trina Innes, committee sponsor, Chief Sustainability Officer, Office of Facilities & Operations/Office of the Provost (administrative professional officer)
- Dasha Smirnow, Graduate Student Association (student)
- Marina Banister, VP (Academic) for the Students’ Union (student)
- Saad Khan Jadoon, Student’s Union, (student)
- Sandra Shores, Librarian (faculty)
- Katy Campbell, Dean, Faculty of Extension (faculty)
- Mary Beckie, Faculty of Extension (faculty)
- Lisa Claypool, Department of Art & Design (faculty)
- Leith Deacon, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences (faculty)
- Lars Hallstrom, Augustana and Department of Resource Economics & Environmental Sustainability (faculty)
- Howie Harshaw, Faculty of Physical Education & Recreation (faculty)
- Martin Jagersand, Department of Computing Science (faculty)
- Sheena Wilson, Campus Saint-Jean (faculty)
- Evan Davies, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (faculty)
- Elizabeth Halpenny, Faculty of Physical Education & Recreation (faculty)
- Robert Summers, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences (faculty)
- Frank Robinson, Department of Department of Agricultural, Food & Nutritional Science (faculty)

SUSTAINABLE FOOD WORKING GROUP

- Trina Innes, committee sponsor, Chief Sustainability Officer, Office of Facilities & Operations/Office of the Provost (administrative professional officer)
- Doug Dawson, committee sponsor, Associate Vice-President, Ancillary Services (administrative professional officer
- Shannon Leblanc, committee co-chair, Sustainability Coordinator, Energy Management & Sustainable Operations (support staff)
- Monica Chahal, committee co-chair, Program Lead, Office of Sustainability (support staff)
- Lorraine Huntley, Associate Director, Ancillary Services / Hospitality Services (administrative professional officer)
- Troy Bender, General Manager, ARAMARK (preferred supplier)
- Shilpi Gupta, Chef, ARMARK (preferred supplier)
- Gail Harvey, Real Estate Services (administrative professional officer)
- Lilas Bielotopocky, Augustana Food Services (administrative professional officer)
- Caitlin Phare, Campus Food Bank Society (non-profit partner)
- Ray Dumouchel, Associate Director, Buildings and Grounds Services (administrative professional officer)
- Melissa Visconti, Team Lead, Office of the Dean of Students – Healthy Campus Unit (support staff)
- Christopher Avelar, Team lead, Students’ Union (student/SU Staff)
- Jerry Daley, Senior Manager, Food & Beverage Services, Students' Union (SU staff)
- Juanita Gnanapragasam (student)
- Marcin Makarewicz (student)
- Brent Swallow, Professor, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology (faculty)
- Helen Vallianatos, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology and Associate Dean of Students (faculty)
- Mary Beckie, Associate Professor, Faculty of Extension (faculty)

SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING WORKING GROUP

- Wendy Abel, committee co-chair, Director Procurement & Contract Managment, Supply Management Services (administrative professional officer)
- Emma Lafreniere, committee co-chair, Project Planner, Office of Sustainability (support staff)
- David Whalen, Manager, Cleaning Services Building and Grounds Services (administrative professional officer)
- Dolores March, General Manager, Hospitality Services, Ancillary Services (administrative professional officer)
- Elise Hetu, Coordinator, Campus Chapters & Faculty Engagement, Office of Advancement (staff)
- Trina Innes, Chief Sustainability Officer, Office of Facilities & Operations/Office of the Provost (administrative professional officer)
- Ray Dumouchel, Associate Director, Buildings and Grounds Services (administrative professional officer)
- Larry Clark, Technical Director, Timms, Faculty of Arts, (faculty services officer)
- Rick Fix, Director/Service Operations, Information Services & Technology (administrative professional officer)
- Ian Page, Associate Director/Onsite Services, Information Services & Technology (administrative professional officer)
- Audric Moses, Operations Manager, Heritage Medical Research Centre (administrative professional officer)
- Dev Jennings, Professor, Faculty of Business (faculty)
- Debbie Preston, Storeroom Administrator, Department of Biological Sciences (staff)
- Anthony Cornish, Department of Biological Sciences (staff)
- Robert Munro, Director, Environmental Health and Safety, Risk Management Services (administrative professional officer)
- Kris Urbanczyk, Associate Director, Distribution Services, Supply Management Services (administrative professional officer)
- Christien Tremblay, Admin Lead, Campus Saint-Jean (administrative professional officer)

WASTE DIVERSION WORKING GROUP

- Shannon Leblanc, committee co-chair, Sustainability Coordinator, Energy Management & Sustainable Operations (support staff)
- Ray Dumouchel, Associate Director, Buildings and Grounds Services (administrative professional officer)
- Jessie Kwasny, Waste Diversion Supervisor, Buildings and Grounds Services (support staff)
- Ben Louie, University Architect, Office of the University Architect (administrative professional officer)
- Terry Sperling, Associate Director, Residence Operations, Ancillary Services (administrative professional officer)
- Penny Milligan, Supervisor, Residence Operations, Ancillary Services (support staff)
- Lorraine Huntley, Support Services Coordinator, Ancillary Services (administrative professional officer)
- Gail Harvey, Senior Property Management Coordinator, Commercial Property Management, Ancillary Services (support staff)
- Monica Chahal, Program Lead, Office of Sustainability (support staff)
- Phil Webb, Director, Logistics and Business Services, Supply Management Services (administrative professional officer)
- Kris Urbanczyk, Associate Director, Distribution Services, Supply Management Services (administrative professional officer)
- Marc Dumouchel, General Manager, Students' Union (SU staff)
- Margriet Tilroe-West Senior Manager, Facilities & Operations, Students' Union (SU staff)
- Christopher Avelar, Team Lead - Involvement, Students Union (student/SU staff)
- Chris Blades, Manager, Augustana Facilities and Operations (administrative professional officer)
- Daryl McCartney, Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering (faculty)


Does the institution have at least one sustainability office that includes more than 1 full-time equivalent (FTE) employee?:
Yes

A brief description of each sustainability office:

The University of Alberta is committed to a continuous effort to instill sustainability into the many aspects of university life, on our campuses, in our institutions, and in the larger community of which we are part. The campus sustainability initiative was established in 2008. The Office of Sustainability was launched in 2009 to serve as the hub for this initiative. The campus sustainability initiative is championed by the Chief Sustainability Officer reporting to both the Vice-President of Facilities and Operations and the Deputy Provost. The initiative's work is carried out across three focus areas with the support of varying offices: outreach & engagement, teaching & research, and facilities & operations.

Outreach and Engagement

This focus area is lead by the Office of Sustainability. The office promotes, unites and celebrates efforts to advance our sustainability performance. It delivers initiatives that inform, inspires and enables students, staff and faculty to think and act more sustainably. Its services include strategic leadership, performance measurement and reporting and projects addressing awareness, behaviour change and capacity building. The office facilitates collaboration and connections to many units and partners with the goal of advancing the university's Sustainability Plan.

Teaching and Research

This focus area is headed by one or more academics appointed by the Office of the Provost. Guided by advice received from the Provost's Academic Advisory Committee for Sustainability, this area champions the goals and strategies connected to teaching and research outlined in the Sustainability Plan. This focus area also champions the Certificate in Sustainability offered to undergraduate students, and the Sustainability Scholars program offered to graduate students.

Facilities & Operations

This focus area advances sustainability practices, policies and procedures across the institution. The primary leads in this area include Energy Management and Sustainable Operations, Buildings and Grounds Services, and the Office of Sustainability. These units are advised by an internal Sustainable Operations Committee and a range of working groups addressing waste diversion, food and purchasing.

STAFFING

Office of Sustainability: 12 full-time staff and 7 part-time student interns.
Energy Management and Sustainable Operations: 1 associate director and 3 full-time staff.
Buildings and Grounds: 1 associate director and 1 full-time waste diversion coordinator.
Office of the Provost: provides funding for approximately 1.5 staff.


Full-time equivalent (FTE) of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
18.50

Does the institution have at least one sustainability officer?:
Yes

Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Trina Innes, Chief Sustainability Officer

Does the institution have a mechanism for broad sustainability coordination for the entire institution (e.g. a campus-wide committee or an officer/office responsible for the entire campus)?:
Yes

A brief description of the activities and substantive accomplishments of the institution-wide coordinating body or officer during the previous three years:

The Chief Sustainability Officer works to enhance institution-wide coordination in a variety of ways including, but not limited to: facilitating development of the new Sustainability Plan 2016-2020, coordinating periodic updates on sustainability projects and initiatives, serving on all working groups and reporting back to executive leaders on progress, challenges and opportunities for the institution.


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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.