We believe that universities have a crucial role to play in developing an ecologically aware, socially just, and economically responsible society. Through their research and scholarship, universities influence and determine societal norms. Universities are responsible for setting curriculum standards and training from Kindergarten to the pre-collegiate level; they educate and develop tomorrow's leading politicians, lawyers, business people, doctors, clergy, and scientists. We believe that universities have a moral responsibility to educate their graduates with the knowledge, skills, and values to effectively develop a thriving, secure, and civil society; and to do that, a commitment to sustainability must be demonstrated as well as taught. Sustainable Concordia began in 2002 as a student-driven initiative to drive Concordia down this path. Through university-wide participation the project has achieved great success, and is now officially, a multi-stakeholder partnership.
Sustainable Concordia is based on the understanding that problem solving is most fruitful and effective when students, staff and faculty work together - what we call the multi-stakeholder approach. Sustainable Concordia is a nexus that engages students, staff, faculty and administrators to work together in non-hierarchical consensus based decision-making processes to address issues of sustainable development on campus. We are founded in the belief that our community stakeholders must communicate and work together to create viable solutions to sustainable development challenges on campus. Bringing the perspectives of each stakeholder group together in dialogue allows us to see the university as a system where solutions reach across sectors and departments.
| Students | Faculty | Staff | Administration | Community | Government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What they do | • Act as think tank & driving force for campus sustainability • Suggest & propose projects • Undertake feasibility studies • Bring stakeholders together • Secure funding for projects |
• Teaching & research for sustainability • Facilitate projects through internships & coursework • Act in an advisory capacity for feasibility studies & initiatives |
• Moves feasibility studies to action • Day to day operations i.e. Energy retrofits by Facilities management • Service Provision • Act in an advisory capacity for feasibility studies & initiatives |
• Drafts policy i.e. Environmental Policy (2007) • Strategic Planning • Act in an advisory capacity for feasibility studies & initiatives |
• Assist in creating partnerships and bringing the external community in • Act in an advisory capacity for feasibility studies & initiatives |
• Encourages & supports directions i.e. Quebec policy on Sustainable Development |
| How they contribute financially | • Fee levy i.e. the Sustainable Concordia 5 cents per credit fee levy goes to student salaries, operational costs, events & campaigns of student group • Applied-for funding i.e. Sustainability Action Fund or ASFA special projects |
Conferences & speakers i.e. Sustainability, Pedagogical and Research Directions (2008) • In-kind donation of time |
• Covering cost of operations and most of implementation i.e. Operational cost of recycling (vehicles, garbage bags, etc.) • Covering cost of workshops & training i.e. CTLS workshop on integrating sustainability concepts into the curriculum (2008) • In-kind donation of time |
• Infrastructure i.e. LEED certification of JMSB building • Special projects & events • Resources i.e. space & equipment • Work-study Programme • In-kind donation of time |
• Sponsorship • In-kind donations • In-kind donation of time |
• Matching funds i.e. Quebec Government pledge to match Sustainability Action Funds • Project funds i.e. Recyc-Quebec VERRR 2008 fund towards creation of a technical guide on composting by R4 • Work-study Programme |
There are hundreds of students across academic disciplines involved with SC projects. Students conduct research, host speakers, screen films, write newspaper articles, organize events, feed the vermiworms for the university's composting system, and run the day-to-day activities of the organization. Students started the organization and continue to be the driving force behind it. Some have work-study positions to coordinate SC programs, but most volunteer hours of their time because they have a vested interest in building a sustainable future. The Sustainable Concordia Student Group is funded by an undergraduate fee levy of 5 cents per credit.
As an important academic resource, faculty educate and inspire students to find solutions to sustainable development challenges. Faculty support students in conducting research that will build a more sustainable campus, facilitate credited coursework, and also participate in a volunteer capacity.
As a valuable resource for providing practical information and a hands-on perspective about campus operations, support staff assist in fact verification and in creating a more sustainable university at the operational level.
The group of individuals most empowered to implement changes at Concordia are Administrators. This group plays an important role in information-sharing, recommendation-making, and providing support to SC.
The Sustainability Coordinator acts as a facilitator in the university's move towards sustainability. The position, funded by the Vice President of Services, acts as a nexus point to keep the various actors together and moving forward.
The Environmental Coordinator oversees waste management initiatives on campus. The position is funded by Vice President of Services.
The key players in keeping this initiative moving forward are the Sustainability Coordinator, the Environmental Coordinator, and the student-run working groups (R4, allego, the Ambassadors, Blueprints for Change, the Campus Assessment, the Sustainability Action Fund, the Rooftop Greenhouse, and the John Molson Sustainable Business Group).
The Sustainable Concordia student group engages a multi stakeholder process to set priorities and guide the actions of the organization. Every working group outlined in blue below consults an Advisory Committee made up of students, staff, faculty, and administrators. These perspectives inform decision-making at the Student Board meetings, where decisions are made by students and arrived at by consensus. Two university staff members are present the Student Board meetings, however only student coordinators have voting rights. The Sustainability Action Fund board employs a slightly different structure; the SAF makes decisions by majority vote of elected student representatives.
Page Title: About Us - Concordia University - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Page URL:http://sustainable.concordia.ca/aboutus/index.php ...index.php
Date Printed: Wed May 16, 2012
