University of Victoria
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The Mission contained in the current Strategic Plan (Feb. 2012) for UVic includes, "promoting the development of a just and sustainable society through our programs of education and research and the stewardship of our own financial and physical resources" (p 6). It also contains a section on Developing and Sustainably Stewarding Our Resources, with Objective 34 to update the Campus Plan that is informed by our commitment to sustainability, and Objective 35 to "demonstrate leadership in sustainability through the continued development and implementation of innovative operational practices and their integration with institutional planning activities." (pp 40-41)

University of Victoria Campus Plan 2016 http://www.uvic.ca/campusplanning/assets/docs/Campus-Plan-Update-2015/UVicCampusPlan.01.26.2016reduced.pdf University of Victoria Strategic Research Plan 2016 - 2021 http://www.uvic.ca/research/assets/docs/researchplan/UVicStrategicResearchPlan2016-2017Final.pdf University of Victoria Employment Equity Plan 2015 - 2020 https://web.uvic.ca/eqhr/equity/eep2015.pdf University of Victoria International Plan 2017-2022 http://www.uvic.ca/assets2012/docs/international-plan.pdf University of Victoria Indigenous Academic Plan (Draft) 2016-2021 https://www.uvic.ca/vpacademic/assets/docs/indigenousacademicplan/DraftIAP.pdf UVic Strategic Plan 2012: https://www.uvic.ca/strategicplan/assets/docs/strategicplan.pdf

The Indigenous Academic Plan (2016-2021) "Pillar 3: Programs" outlines three specific goals: 1) Ensure the quality, sustainability and relevance of the university’s Indigenous academic programming. a. Ensure that students in existing professional programs that serve and intersect with Indigenous people and communities (e.g., business, civil engineering, cultural heritage and resource management, education, environmental studies, health and human service professions, law, social work) are exposed to the realities of Indigenous history and culture and the impact of colonial practices on Indigenous peoples and communities. 2) Support the development and delivery of select new Indigenous academic programs where there is identified student/community interest, where we have existing or emerging faculty expertise, and where we can provide quality programming, develop essential resources and be seen as a national leader. 3) Develop opportunities for all students of UVic to gain a better understanding of Indigenous peoples, history and culture, and the realities and impact of colonization. This "Programs" section of the Indigenous Academic Plan set the foundation for academic courses to be developed and offered to indigenous and non-indigenous students. Many of UVic's indigenous are sustainability courses or include sustainability within the curriculum. Listed below are some of the many academic courses offered in the 2016-17 academic year: - Indigenous Language Teaching and Learning Practicum (IED 251), Indigenous Education, Faculty of Education - Indigenous Studies Foundations (IS 200A), Indigenous Studies, Interdisciplinary Programs - Coast Salish Culture and Contemporary Life (ANTH 433), Anthropology, Faculty of Social Sciences - Traditional Systems of Land and Resource Management (ER 326), Environmental Restoration, School of Environmental Studies - Ethnoecology (ES 321), School of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences - Ethnobotany: Plants and Human Cultures (ES 421), School of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences - Indigenous Women in Canada (GNDR 203), Gender Studies, Faculty of Humanities - Indigenous Resurgence (IGOV 382), Indigenous Government, Faculty of Human and Social Development - Indigenous Politics in Canada (POLI 363), Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences - Governance in Indigenous Communities (ICDG 301), Indigenous Community development and Governance, Department of Public Administration

The UVic Strategic Plan (2012) includes in its Mission: “Promoting the development of a just and sustainable society through our programs of education, research and the stewardship of our own financial and physical resources.” UVic's Sustainability Policy has been established to further the goals set out in the University's Strategic Plan. Sustainability Policy: http://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/assets/docs/policies/GV0800_1794_.pdf Policy 8.0: Sustainability Activities will support the academic, teaching and research priorities and will draw upon the abilities and expertise of the University Community. UVic's Sustainability Policy defines "Activities" as including, but not limited to, the university’s operations, practices, teaching, research, decisions, events, strategies, actions and planning. Furthermore, one of UVic's Strategic Research Plan (2016-2021) priorities to "expand its focus on partnerships as mechanisms to enhance innovation, generate new research opportunities, engage with community partners, mobilize knowledge in society, policy and professional practice, and support entrepreneurship. An excellent example of one of the deliverables of this policy is the research associated with the creation of bikemaps.org by the UVic Geography SPAR Lab (Spatial Pattern and Analysis Research). The website was developed to collect data on cycling safety. Further information: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2015.00053/full Website: www.bikemaps.org

UVic's Sustainability Action Plan: Campus Operations (2014 -2019) contains several goals relating to campus engagement. Section 4 of the UVic Sustainability Action Plan sets out goals for Campus Engagement. For example, Goal 2.2 is to "work with campus partners to increase the awareness of local and global sustainability issues within the campus population and the surrounding community." The university has measured the success in this category using various social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Hootsuite, website and e-newsletter to share and promote sustainability news and programs. As of November 2016, the Facebook page has over 600 likes and the Twitter page has almost 1,600 followers. Further, collaboration with Communications maximized the reach of university sustainability content through UVic’s primary social media accounts, and produced a video in the fall of 2016, entitled Sustainability in Action at UVic. The video profiled various campus partners through engaging web content and has over 9,300 views on Facebook alone (this does not include the views on Twitter, through our sustainability newsletter, and SnapChat, etc.). Another example is Goal 2.3 which is to "create new programming for the Sustainability Action Team program with offices, labs, and residences." Progress on this goal has been measured in the Sustainability Action Plan: Progress Report 2014-2016. Three new programs have been established including the Student Residence Green Team, Green Labs Program and the Staff Sustainability Network.

UVic's Sustainability Action Plan: Campus Operations (2014 -2019) contains several goals relating to Public Engagement. For example, goal 2.4 in the Plan is to "engage the local community in the university’s sustainability initiatives and develop programs to work collaboratively on issues of mutual interest and benefit." Progress on this goal has been measured in the Sustainability Action Plan: Progress Report 2014-2016. The Sustainability Office coordinated with several departments to donate more than $3,000 to the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) Ready, Set, Solve! Program. It aimed to connect inter-disciplinary teams of students from post-secondary institutions with local government, non-profit organizations and institutions to address climate related challenges and provide real solutions for the region. In all, the program engaged thirteen student teams from UVic, most of which were made up of undergraduates, in valuable experiential learning projects. Project partners included the CRD, the Township of Esquimalt and the Greater Victoria Compost Education Centre. The Sustainability Office also maintains relationships with cycling related organizations in the community. UVic provides a $8,000 sponsorship each year to the Greater Victoria Bike to Work Society to help promote cycling. The Bike to Work Week/Day events mobilizes those already commuting by bike as leaders in the workplace and each year draws new participants into commuter cycling. Nearly 1,000 UVic students, staff, and faculty participate each year, which helps to increase the cycling mode share on campus. Similarly, the Sustainability Office has collaborated with the Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition, who advocate for better cycling infrastructure and help educate the cycling community in the region. This included promoting events, and sharing and distributing information about issues of mutual interest and benefit. The Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability also sit on Active Transportation committees with the CRD and the District of Saanich, and liaises with nearby City of Victoria.

2014 - 2019 Sustainability Action Plan goals: - Achieve a total institutional greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 30%, relative to 2010 as the baseline year. - Reduce campus electricity consumption intensity by 8% by 2019, relative to 2010 as the baseline year. - Reduce campus natural gas consumption intensity by 12% by 2019, relative to 2010 as the baseline year. - Implement renewable energy demonstration projects on campus that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and overall energy use.

Sustainability Action Plan 2014-2019 goals - Ensure all new buildings and major renovation projects achieve the standard of LEED Gold or equivalent certification - Utilize sustainable green building practices for all renovation and building construction projects that are below the threshold for mandatory LEED Gold or equivalent certification - Utilize sustainable operational and building maintenance practices in all campus buildings and facilities - Develop systems that provide for the reduction, measurement and reporting of construction and demolition waste.

Sustainability Action Plan 2014-2019 goals: - Reduce campus electricity and natural gas consumption intensity - Increase our renewable energy portfolio. Additional goals: - Campus Integrated Energy Master Plan implementation - Campus Plan 2016 Energy and Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Section 4.3)

Sustainability Action Plan 2014-2019 goals: - Benchmark and increase the number of local food producers and suppliers and maintain an active preference for Island produced products. - Enhance waste reduction and diversion practices in campus food outlets.

Sustainability Action Plan 2014-2019 goals: - Reduce the quantity and improve the water quality of stormwater on campus that enters the local drainage and stream networks - Protect and manage the ecological diversity of the natural areas on campus and enhance the use of native species in campus landscape management - Develop a formalized Integrated Pest Management Plan as part of the overall grounds management system.

Sustainability Action Plan 2014-2019 goals: - Review purchasing procedures and develop refinements that assist in furthering the incorporation and formal application of triple bottom line sustainability criteria in procurement decisions - Further develop reporting systems that include information on the source and environmental footprint of goods and services purchased by the university.

Sustainability Action Plan 2014-2019 goals: - Increase the use of transit, cycling, walking and carpooling to 70% of the campus transportation modal split by 2019. - Improve the sustainability of the campus fleet by reducing fuel consumption by 10% through staff training and the gradual replacement of vehicles with the most fuel efficient versions on the market.

Sustainability Action Plan 2014-2019 goals: - Increase the waste diversion rate to 75% by 2019. - Reduce the total amount of waste produced as measured in kilograms per campus user (students, staff and faculty) by 2019, relative to 2010 as the baseline year - Provide for responsible hazardous waste management on campus and reduce where possible the use of hazardous materials.

Sustainability Action Plan 2014-2019 goals: - Reduce water consumption by 25% by 2019, relative to 2010 as the baseline year - Retrofit 25 water fountains in campus buildings for easy refilling of personal water bottles.

The UVic Strategic Plan, states as it's first objective: "To be a diverse, welcoming learning community, with a demonstrated commitment to equity and fairness", with 4 key strategies which include identifying and reporting on equity, diversity and fairness issues across the university including the recruitment, retention and experience of students, faculty and staff. (p.15) See: http://www.uvic.ca/strategicplan/assets/docs/strategicplan.pdf

UVic's Sustainability Action Plan: Campus Operations (2014 -2019) Goal 1.3: Enhance responsible investment policies to reflect industry best practices. Beginning in 2011, the University of Victoria Foundation Board (the Board) began the process of documenting its investment beliefs. Since 2015, the Board has expanded its Summary of Investment Beliefs, as related to Responsible Investing, to include the requirement that the Foundation’s investment managers (1) provide a report on responsible investing activities each year; and, (2) that the report also include a record of the manager’s proxy voting activity. In an effort to be more transparent about these initiatives, the Foundation’s first Responsible Investing Report was included in the 2014-15 Annual Report. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles are incorporated into the investment decision making process through proxy voting which demonstrates the Board’s commitment to responsible investing. The Board has delegated voting rights to be exercised by the investment managers. Equity investment managers are expected to vote all proxies in the best interests of the Foundation and to remain active participants within their equity portfolios.

UVic Strategic Plan 2012 - Objective 1(d) - The University of Victoria actively promotes and communicates coordinated practices of inclusion, respect, wellness, accessibility, safety and accommodation as the foundations of a healthy campus community. Source: https://www.uvic.ca/strategicplan/assets/docs/strategicplan.pdf As a campus community we recognize that we all play a part in an inclusive community. We are committed to a supportive campus which includes a comprehensive approach to Mental Health and well-being. The following components are part of a preventative and systematic approach to address Mental Health and wellness for faculty members, librarians and staff. Institutional Policies & Practices/Supportive Policies and Procedures can be found on the University Secretary’s website at http://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/policies/index.php Representative examples of policies and programs are: Discrimination and Harassment Policy http://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/assets/docs/policies/GV0205_1150_.pdf Employee Accommodation http://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/assets/docs/policies/HR6115_1110_.pdf Employment Equity http://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/assets/docs/policies/HR6100_1100_.pdf Policy on Human Rights, Equity and Fairness http://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/assets/docs/policies/GV0200_1105_.pdf Employment Equity Plan 2015 – 2020 http://web.uvic.ca/eqhr/equity/eep2015.pdf

The Sustainability Action Plan includes the following goals for Computing - Maximize the energy efficiency of information systems infrastructure across campus - Develop systems and procedures that help reduce paper use in computer labs, offices and in administrative procedures across the university -Ensure that green manufacturing standards and energy saving criteria are applied to all computing services purchasing decisions (EPEAT Gold and Energy Star rated). A goal in the Engagement section of the Action Plan references working with campus partners to increase the awareness of local and global sustainability issues within the campus population and the surrounding community. The Campus Plan in Section 3.2.2.5 Public Art and Cultural Expression includes sustainability objectives that relate to strengthening campus identity, increasing awareness and engagement and celebrating First Nations' and other diverse cultural character.

Sustainability Policy GV0800 adopted by the Board of Governors in March 2009. Policy reviewed and updated in January 2017.

"Sustainability is the state of achieving the ecological balance that allows social development and economic prosperity to be achieved across generations." from UVic Sustainability Policy, see: http://www.uvic.ca/universitysecretary/assets/docs/policies/GV0800_1794_.pdf

UVic is one of the creators and original signatories of the University and college Presidents' Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada.

UVic integrates various strategic planning processes and administrative/management functions that include sustainability as a central theme or an important component. The UVic Strategic Plan (http://www.uvic.ca/strategicplan/assets/docs/strategicplan.pdf) contains many references to sustainability in its Mission and various Objectives (34 & 35 in particular). The Sustainability Action Plan: Campus Operations, 2014 -2019 http://www.uvic.ca/sustainability/assets/docs/policy/action-plan-2014.pdf Many other plans and departments incorporate sustainability with diversity, equity, health and wellness into their work with students, staff, faculty and the community. UVic has a Diversity and Equity Advisor to the Provost, a multi-stakeholder Healthy Campus Advisory Committee, and Work-Life consultants assigned to each department. The School of Business includes a Centre for Social and Sustainable Innovation which has as its purpose to promote sustainability into the teaching, research and operations of the school, see: http://www.uvic.ca/gustavson/cssi/