Establish a consultative group of stakeholders across UTM to design Sustainability Pathways.
This item supports sub-objective O1
Embrace sustainability as a focus of campus practices, pedagogy, and research
Goals Supported
Goal 1 - Inspire student success by supporting a rigorous and innovative academic environment
Goal 2 - Demonstrate that UTM is a home for world-class research
Goal 3 - Enrich the student experience by embracing opportunities for community involvement
Goal 4 - Educate future leaders to be global citizens meeting global challenges
Goal 5 - Focus on transformation and innovation to create a sustainable and cohesive community
Sub-Objective Timeline
2017/2018
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Updates
Establish a consultative group of stakeholders across UTM to design Sustainability Pathways.This item supports sub-objective O1Sustainability Pathways Working Group
As part of the UTM Academic Plan Implementation process, Professor Amrita Daniere, Vice-Principal Academic and Dean, constituted the Sustainability Pathways Working Group (SPWG) in December 2017. The SPWG discussed the many aspects that make up sustainability on campus – academic programs, research, outreach, and sustainability initiatives – and it was decided that the group would report on all aspects.
This report represents the work of the SPWG with observations and recommendations to the Dean.
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Create an inventory of courses and programs at UTM that have a sustainability and environmental component.This item supports sub-objective O1
Updates
Create an inventory of courses and programs at UTM that have a sustainability and environmental component.This item supports sub-objective O1Sustainability-Related Courses and Programs
As part of their report, the Sustainability Pathways Working Group produced a list of undergraduate courses and programs presently offered at UTM that contain components relevant to sustainability, which can be found in Appendices 3 and 4.
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Encourage regular reporting to UTM governance on campus sustainability, practices, achievements, and strategies.This item supports sub-objective O3
Updates
Encourage regular reporting to UTM governance on campus sustainability, practices, achievements, and strategies.This item supports sub-objective O3Reporting to Tri-Campus Sustainability Board
The tri-campus Sustainability Board meets on a regular basis to share updates from all 3 campuses and future planning. Updates include how the different sustainability offices could assist with some inventorying initiatives and campus as a living lab, discussion of Greenhouse Gas Reduction projects, and funding available for sustainability initiatives.
2018/2019
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Examine potential changes required to take new initiatives through the curriculum and identify the appropriate governance process.This item supports sub-objective O1
Updates
Examine potential changes required to take new initiatives through the curriculum and identify the appropriate governance process.This item supports sub-objective O1Sustainability Pathways Certificate
- The changes have been identified - sustainability education will be introduced in the form Sustainability Certificate.
- The structure of Sustainability Certificate has been decided.
- Three new undergraduate courses in sustainability (SUS200H, SUS201H, and SUS401H) have been approved by Curriculum Committees.
- The full proposal for Sustainability Certificate is being developed.
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Evaluate measures to improve resources devoted to sustainability research.This item supports sub-objective O2
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Plan to host a learning workshop with universities across North America that already implement such practices.This item supports sub-objective O2
Updates
Plan to host a learning workshop with universities across North America that already implement such practices.This item supports sub-objective O2International Conference on Sustainability
- An International Conference on Sustainability will be organized on Oct 16, 17, and 18 2019
- An organizing committee of the conference is working on details.
- The conference website will be launched in January, 2019.
- The conference will include Plenary Sessions, Panel Discussions, Themed Sessions, Oral and Poster Presentations.
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Encourage regular reporting to UTM governance on campus sustainability, practices, achievements, and strategies.This item supports sub-objective O3
Updates
Encourage regular reporting to UTM governance on campus sustainability, practices, achievements, and strategies.This item supports sub-objective O3Reporting to Tri-Campus Sustainability Board
The tri-campus Sustainability Board meets on a regular basis to share updates from all 3 campuses and future planning. Updates include the role of tri-campus sustainability board and relation to President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS) committee, discussion on development on Low Carbon Action Plan, and discussion on development of updated energy standard.
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Create community partnerships to encourage development of UTM as a local leader in sustainability education and practice.This item supports sub-objective O4
Updates
Create community partnerships to encourage development of UTM as a local leader in sustainability education and practice.This item supports sub-objective O4Community Workshops on Sustainability
The Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MScSM) students participated in 2 community events in 2018-19: The Peel Environmental Youth Alliance EcoBuzz Conference (February 20, 2019), where MScSM students organized a workshop for middle school attendees titled “The Journey of an Apply + DIY Seed Ball Kit”; and a Let’s Talk Science® presentation (April 30, 2019) on sustainability and “space mining,” i.e., with respect to space privatization and space laws.
For more information, please click here.
Hosted Community Events on Campus
The Master of Science in Sustainability Management (MScSM) graduate program hosted over 200 Grade 7 and 8 students from local schools during their Second Annual MScSM “Let’s Talk Sustainability” event (June 17 & 18, 2019). The theme for this year’s event was "youth taking action to promote climate action."
For more information, please visit the MScSM program's Let's Talk Sustainability website.
2019/2020
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Take curricular changes necessary to implement Sustainability Pathways.This item supports sub-objective O1
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Host a learning workshop with universities across North America that already implement such practicesThis item supports sub-objective O2
Updates
Host a learning workshop with universities across North America that already implement such practicesThis item supports sub-objective O2Sustainability: Transdisciplinary Theory, Practice, and Action (STTPA) Conference
- The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) was host to the inaugural STTPA International Conference, which took place on the UTM campus (Maanjiwe nendamowinan and Instructional Centre buildings) from October 16-18, 2019.
- This conference, in collaboration with all who are committed to sustainability, brought together academics, students, and individuals across all disciplines, including Aboriginal leaders and scholars, business executives, civil society, policymakers, sustainability professionals and others committed to sustainability, to explore innovative forms of theory, practice, and action that can help craft a path towards sustainability. The main theme of the conference was the integration across disciplines, stakeholders, and sustainability pillars (such as social, environmental, and economic), and contributions from a wide host of specialists conducting work and/or research in sustainability were welcomed and featured in the various sessions, poster presentations, exhibits, and panel discussions held.
- In total, our campus welcomed approximately 350 guests from all around the world. The STTPA Conference was comprised of 7 Plenary Keynote Sessions, 10 Sub-Plenary Panel Sessions, 8 Workshops, 2 Solution Sessions, and 36 Concurrent Sessions. The Conference also hosted Dr. David Suzuki – scientist, broadcaster, author, and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation – whose presentation, “Challenge of the 21st Century: Setting the Bottom Line in the Anthropocene” was featured at a plenary session on October 17th. Full details on the conference sessions, including participating organizations, speakers, panelists and featured topics, can be found in the Conference program e-book.
- In addition to the sessions hosted, the STTPA Conference held 3 Sustainability Tours of the University of Toronto Mississauga, a Poster Presentation viewing by the Masters of Science in Sustainability Management (MScSM) Class of 2020 students and conference delegates, and exhibitor tables.
- UTM will host the STTPA conference once again in 2021.
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Encourage regular reporting to UTM governance on campus sustainability, practices, achievements, and strategies.This item supports sub-objective O3
Updates
Encourage regular reporting to UTM governance on campus sustainability, practices, achievements, and strategies.This item supports sub-objective O3Implementation of Reporting Structure
- Having struck the Principal’s Sustainability Advisory Committee (PSAC) and in process of recruiting a Sustainability Manager, Strategic Initiatives, we aim to start regular reporting on Sustainability practices, initiatives, achievements, and strategies in the Fall of 2020.
Reporting to Tri-Campus Sustainability Board
The tri-campus Sustainability Board meets on a regular basis to share updates from all 3 campuses and future planning. Updates include the continuation of work on development of Low Carbon Action Plan & Update Energy Standard. The Board also met a few times to develop a tri-campus sustainability mission statement, vision statement, and guiding principles (these have not yet been published due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic).
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Create a committee with a purpose of developing a Sustainability Strategic Plan for UTM.This item supports sub-objective O5
Updates
Create a committee with a purpose of developing a Sustainability Strategic Plan for UTM.This item supports sub-objective O5Principal's Sustainability Advisory Committee
The Principal's Sustainability Advisory Committee (PSAC) was created in 2019, by the co-chairs Amrita Daniere, Vice-Principal, Academic & Dean and Saher Fazilat, Chief Administrative Officer. The inaugural PSAC meeting was held on September 10, 2019 with representation from student, staff, faculty, and community member groups.
Sustainability Consultant hired
A Sustainability Consultant was hired for a 6 month contract to help direct the planning of the Sustainability Strategic Plan.
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Draft Sustainability Strategic Plan along with input from SMEs and the broader community.This item supports sub-objective O5
Updates
Draft Sustainability Strategic Plan along with input from SMEs and the broader community.This item supports sub-objective O5Visioning Sessions
Visioning sessions were conducted with the Principal's Sustainability Advisory Committee (PSAC) members and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) during June and July 2020 to help define objectives for the Sustainability Strategic Plan. Visioning sessions were held for the following categories:
- Session 1: Academic Programs and Curriculum
- Session 2: Research
- Session 3: Campus Engagement
- Session 4: Civic Engagement
- Human Resources and Infrastructure:
- Session 5: Facilities (Grounds (Biodiversity, native species), Air Quality, Emissions, Water Use)
- Session 6: Purchasing/Procurement
- Session 7: Built Environment (and other green building standards, zero carbon program by CaGBC)
- Session 8: Transportation
- Session 9: Waste
- Session 10: Food & Dining
- Session 11: Well-being/wellness (health benefits of sustainability initiatives) and employee engagement (staff and faculty orientation aligned with sustainability etc.)
Draft plan out for public consultation
A draft of the Sustainability Strategic Plan was published for public consultation from September 18, 2020 to October 9, 2020 (3 weeks total). The comments from the public consultation were incorporated into the Plan through October and November 2020.
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Creation and hiring of the role Sustainability Manager, Strategic InitiativesThis item supports sub-objective O6
Updates
Creation and hiring of the role Sustainability Manager, Strategic InitiativesThis item supports sub-objective O6Hiring of Sustainability Manager, Strategic Initiatives
The position of Sustainability Manager, Strategic Initiatives was approved and posted in late 2019, with the overarching goal to help build a culture where sustainability is a core value and top priority and ultimately help UTM reposition itself with respect to sustainability. The position was filled in February 2020. The first two key projects for the Sustainability Manager are the creation of the Sustainability Strategic Plan and the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) submission.
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Register for Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Reporting Tool and begin collecting data for a UTM STARS submission.This item supports sub-objective O7
Updates
Register for Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Reporting Tool and begin collecting data for a UTM STARS submission.This item supports sub-objective O7Register for STARS Reporting
In the first quarter of 2020, we started compiling data for the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) submission and registered an account on the STARS reporting tool.
2020/2021
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Launch Sustainability Pathways.This item supports sub-objective O1
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Encourage regular reporting to UTM governance on campus sustainability, practices, achievements, and strategies.This item supports sub-objective O3
Updates
Encourage regular reporting to UTM governance on campus sustainability, practices, achievements, and strategies.This item supports sub-objective O3Delayed due to COVID-19
The tri-campus Sustainability Board did not meet in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Submit final draft of Sustainability Strategic Plan to the Principal for approval and publish the plan.This item supports sub-objective O5
Updates
Submit final draft of Sustainability Strategic Plan to the Principal for approval and publish the plan.This item supports sub-objective O5Plan approved and published!
On December 3, 2020 the Sustainability Strategic Plan: Fostering a Culture of Sustainability 2030 received official approval from Principal Gillespie and was published on the UTM website. The Plan is organized around 26 goals which are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS 2.2) of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
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Submit UTM data to Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) to measure our current sustainability performance and create a baseline for continuous improvementThis item supports sub-objective O7
Updates
Submit UTM data to Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) to measure our current sustainability performance and create a baseline for continuous improvementThis item supports sub-objective O7Receive STARS rating
On February 5, 2021 UTM received its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) rating of Silver. The majority of institutions reporting to STARS, have received the Silver rating. We feel confident that we can achieve a rating of Gold at our next submission.
Submission to STARS
Data was gathered and documented for the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) submission throughout the summer, fall, and winter of 2020. We also worked with an external reviewer to ensure that the submission was in the best shape possible prior to submission. On December 11, 2020, we submitted for STARS rating.
Review of STARS submission
A standard step in the STARS rating process is to review the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) submission with the certifying body, The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), to ensure any discrepancies are addressed. We completed this review with AASHE in January 2021.
2021+
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Report on progress.This item supports sub-objective O1
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Evaluate and revise strategies and programs accordingly.This item supports sub-objective O1
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Encourage regular reporting to UTM governance on campus sustainability, practices, achievements, and strategies.This item supports sub-objective O3