Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.90
Liaison Matt Wolsfeld
Submission Date Jan. 23, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Saskatchewan
PA-1: Sustainability Coordination

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Margret Asmuss
Sustainability coordinator
The office of sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Sustainability Committee(s) 

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:
The President’s Sustainability Council (PSC) is a body comprised of sustainability leaders with the primary purpose to advise and counsel the President on how to advance a sustainability agenda at the University of Saskatchewan. It serves as a forum to discuss campus sustainability challenges and to support students, faculty and staff to participate meaningfully in the planning and implementation of institutional sustainability initiatives and practices. Mandate • To provide recommendations to the President on how best to contribute to a sustainable future, as laid out in the institution’s mission statement; • To review and recommend improved governance structures for sustainability initiatives at the University of Saskatchewan, as directed by the President; • To assist the President in recognizing and rewarding faculty, students and staff sustainability successes; and • To provide the President with an annual report on the Council’s activities. Membership The Council reports directly to the President of the University of Saskatchewan and is led by a chair, or co-chairs, appointed by the President. Members of the Council are appointed by the chair(s) as approved by the President. By design, there is no set framework for the makeup of the Council. It is recommended that the Council membership be populated with individuals with a keen interest in sustainability and the ability to bring much needed campus perspectives to the group.

None
Members of each committee, including affiliations and role (e.g. staff, student, or faculty):
Chair: Toddi Steelman, Executive Director and Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability Members: Martin Phillipson, Dean, College of Law Chelsea Willness, Associate Dean, Research & Academic, Edwards School of Business Marcia McKenzie, Associate Professor, Director, Sustainability Education Research Institute (SERI) and Project Director, Sustainability and Education Policy Network (SEPN) Tony Chung, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, SaskPower Research Chair in Power Systems Engineering and NSERC/SaskPower Senior Industrial Research Chair in Smart Grid Technologies, College of Engineering Alec Aitken, Professor, Department of Geography & Planning, College of Arts & Science Susan Shantz, Professor, Sculpture & Extended Media, Department of Art & Art History, College of Arts & Science Colin Tennent, Strategic Advisor, Master Planning & University Architect President, University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union, or Designate President, Graduate Students’ Association, or Designate

Sustainability Office(s) 

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

None
A brief description of each sustainability office:
Our mission is to build a model sustainable campus through community engagement and collaborative action. We strive to foster growth of a culture of sustainability throughout all areas of campus life—education, research, operations, governance and community engagement.

None
Full-time equivalent (FTE) of people employed in the sustainability office(s):
4.80

Sustainability Officer(s) 

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

Name and title of each sustainability officer:
Margret Asmuss, Sustainability Coordinator; Kathryn Theede, Energy and Emissions Officer; Matt Wolsfeld, Community Engagement Coordinator; Erin Akins, Sustainability Initiatives Coordinator; Odili Obi, Waste Prevention Coordinator

Institution-Wide Coordination 

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:
Guided by the framework of the Campus Sustainability Plan, the Office of Sustainability has worked in collaboration with partners throughout campus to move sustainability forward across all areas of campus life. • Operations: GHG Inventory Update, new LEED certifications; low-flow water fixture retrofits, ULT freezer rebate program, increase of projects applying to the Sustainability Revolving Fund, a green lab program in development, establishment of a Community Garden Coordinator, local food inventory, monthly farmers market, Food Waste Prevention Week, Transportation Modal Split Survey, updates and improvements to Campus Recycling, UTransfer Surplus Assets Portal • Community Engagement: ART*Cycled, USSU Sustainability Committee, significant growth of Work Green; significant growth of Campus Sustainability Week • Education and Research: Sustainability Course Inventory, Sustainability Research Inventory, ongoing growth of Sustainability Living Laboratory, third annual Sustainability Course Development Institute in planning for May, 2017. • Governance: USSU Memorandum of Understanding with Office of President, facilitation of integration of sustainability into the upcoming campus master planning process.

Optional Fields 

Job Description (1st position)

Job title of the sustainability officer position:
Energy and Emissions Officer

Job description for the sustainability officer position:
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Job description for the sustainability officer position:
Primary Purpose: The primary purpose of the position is to strategically develop, implement, and monitor energy conservation and efficiencies and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the University of Saskatchewan. The position will function independently and as the lead in advancing initiatives and continually enhancing business practices in Facilities Management Division (FMD) as they relate to energy management and reduction in GHG emissions, including such areas as facilities, campus utilities generation and distribution, solid waste, water, transportation and related infrastructure and FMD fleet and equipment. The work will also include advising and partnering with the university community in achieving sustainable energy consumption and GHG emissions reductions based on climate action plans and related commitments Nature of the Work: Reporting to the Associate Director of Sustainability and Infrastructure, this position is a key member of the FMD Sustainability Group and plays the lead role in advancing initiatives that contribute to an environmentally responsible campus pertaining to all aspects of energy management and the reduction of GHG emissions. The work will involve the complex integration of strategic assessments of energy usage and other contributors to GHG emissions, as well as leading the development and implementation of related strategies that will result in emissions reductions. The position will be responsible for ensuring continual improvement of relevant university operational and business practices and the development, monitoring and reporting of performance metrics. This will require in-depth understanding of existing systems and processes and the ability to ensure the seamless integration of energy conservation and efficiency and emissions reduction into key best practices. The nature of the work will be diverse ranging from engaging senior administration to making numerous site visits monitoring various university facilities, infrastructure and initiatives as required. Decisions made in this role will have considerable bearing on institutional credibility and reputation and impact the campus and community. These will include assessing and developing divisional policies and procedures as well as advising related policy and procedures at the institutional level. Independent action, judgment and demonstrated leadership will be exercised daily in this position in working with the Facilities Management Division and other university operational divisions as well as the university and local community.

Job Description (2nd position) 

Job title of the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Sustainability Initiatives Coordinator

Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
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Job description for the sustainability officer position (2nd position):
Primary Purpose: To advance the integration of sustainability into all aspects of university operations by facilitating operational changes in the day-to-day activities, planning and decision-making of all departments and units by directly engaging and working with campus stakeholders. Nature of Work: Reporting to the Director, Planning and Development, Facilities Management Division, the Coordinator, Sustainability Initiatives works in a team environment with other Office of Sustainability staff, other university units and stakeholders, as well as independently. The Coordinator, Sustainability Initiatives identifies, facilitates and implements changes to improve the sustainability of the university’s operations toward the goal that sustainability is a guiding principle in all university operations. The position demands that the incumbent be able to conceptualize, organize, and direct multiple concurrent major projects and programs and to work with a wide diversity of people. Other than conferences, travel will be largely limited to campus and the Saskatoon area.

Job Description (3rd position) 

Job title of the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Community Engagement Coordinator

Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
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Job description for the sustainability officer position (3rd position):
Primary Purpose: To provide creative, effective and reliable community awareness and engagement and communications assistance for the Office of Sustainability in its mission to advance a culture of sustainability and help integrate sustainability into all areas of university activity – community engagement, education, research, operations and governance. Nature of Work: Reporting to the Director of Planning and Development in the Facilities Management Division (FMD), the Coordinator, Sustainability Community Engagement works in a team environment with other Office of Sustainability staff, as well as independently, to deliver and oversee best-practice student, faculty and staff engagement programs, events and communications to accelerate the establishment of sustainability as an institutional value across all areas of campus life – operations, governance, research, education and community engagement. The work will involve a combination of office work and field work. Although the37.5 work week will normally be based around normal office hours, some flexibility will be required to accommodate special events or meetings that occur outside of regular office hours. The position demands that the incumbent be able to conceptualize, organize, and direct multiple concurrent major projects and programs and to work with a wide diversity of people. Other than conferences, travel will be largely limited to campus and the Saskatoon area.

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:
Other positions include the Sustainability Coordinator (oversight of Office of Sustainability and linkages to academia) and the Waste Prevention Coordinator (reduction and management of solid waste streams).

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