Members of the working group:
- Jerome Lesemann -- Professor, Earth Science Department
- Michele Patterson – Professor, Geography Department
- Pam Shaw – Professor, Community Planning Program
- Sheila Grieve – Professor, Early Childhood Education Program
- Eve Stringham – Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Elizabeth Brimacombe – Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences
Short description of the working group mandate:
The Working Group on Impact is one of four working groups that will inform Vancouver Island University’s President’s Task Force on Climate Action and Sustainability. This working group was tasked with documenting VIU’s existing climate action and sustainability initiatives (teaching, research, service and operations), and identifying potential future initiatives. Lastly, the working group was tasked with determining the current and potential impact of existing and future initiatives.
Summary of activities undertaken by the working group:
The Working Group on Impact met at various time during the 12 months to develop a strategy to document existing initiatives related to Climate Change and Sustainability across various spheres of activity at VIU, including Teaching and Curriculum, Facilities and Operations, Research and Scholarly Activity, and Outreach.
Documentation of these initiatives was informal and guided by working group member’s knowledge of their areas of expertise and activity. The documented initiatives offer a preliminary overview of the range of initiatives currently undertaken at VIU. This is not a systematic and exhaustive survey of all potential climate change and sustainability initiatives.
Analysis of insights gained by the working group:
- VIU currently has several Climate Change and Sustainability-related initiatives. They are dominantly centred on Teaching and Curriculum, followed by Research and Scholarly Activity. This creates opportunities for enhancing these initiatives and for new Program development.
- Many existing initiatives are solitary endeavours from faculty members, implemented in their courses or through research and scholarly activities. There is currently no centralized reporting structure for these initiatives and this likely limits collaborative opportunities, and limits the awareness and outreach potential of these initiatives.
- Although the working group was tasked with assessing the impact of existing initiatives, we were unable to do so due to a lack of clear metrics for impact assessment. We can nonetheless identify the likely ‘reach’ of existing initiatives, and broadly categorize them as: campus-scale, regional-scale, and national/international-scale. An appropriate scheme for consistent impact assessment is needed.
Potential priorities for VIU and Recommendations:
1. Conduct a formal survey to identify all climate change and sustainability (CCS) initiatives; centralize reporting, progress, and development of new and existing CCS initiatives across programs, courses, SRCA, and VIU Operations.
Rationale: This Working Group has identified some of the existing CCS initiatives at VIU. Many more undoubtedly exist and need to be identified. There is currently no centralized structure to make this information accessible beyond its current reach, including VIU’s communities and the public. This hampers the outreach potential, the cross-campus collaborations, and the development of new CCS initiatives.
Possible structure: Expand the SRCA reporting portal to include CCS-specific reporting. Create partnerships between the sustainability office and outreach initiatives (e.g., Science and Technology Outreach Coordinator), VIU communications, and recruiting and retention.
2. Enhance and develop innovative programs and course clusters that focus on climate change and sustainability.
Rationale: Current and future students are aware of CCS and its importance. Many seek programs of study on these topics. Giving all students the opportunity to build climate literacy is critical. VIU currently offers a variety of courses that could be articulated into distinct Bachelor's Programs and thematic course clusters to increase program diversity and enrolments.
Possible structure: Develop a B.Sc. in Environmental Science and a B.A. in Environmental Studies for which all required courses currently exist at VIU. Develop thematic course clusters as certificates or ‘concentrations’ within existing Programs. Develop thematic micro-credential clusters around CCS, and open to all students and communities.
3. Develop Graduate Attributes related to climate change and sustainability
Rationale: Climate change and sustainability are societal issues that pervade every sphere of society. The societal significance of climate change and sustainability is as important as numeracy and literacy attributes. Students graduating from post-secondary institutions should have a sustainability perspective commensurate with their discipline.
Possible structure: VIU works with CEL and other relevant partners to update the Graduate Attributes, especially those under the civic engagement category, to specifically address climate change and sustainability.
4. Support and enhance sustainable operating practices and services through campus facilities.
Rationale: VIU campus services and infrastructures can play a significant role in sustainable practices through the management and expansion of existing infrastructure to support sustainable practices. These initiatives can extend beyond VIU and show evidence of community leadership.
Possible structure: Enhance recent exemplary initiatives such as secure bicycle parking, accessible showers for self-propelled commuters, etc. Exhibit leadership by negotiating development of a universal transit pass (UPass) for students and employees to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions on a largely commuter campus.
5. Enhance teaching and learning, and SRCA opportunities by leveraging existing VIU infrastructure and facilities as applied learning.
Rationale: VIU currently has several forward-thinking infrastructure pieces (District Geo-Exchange, Green Roofs, Water/food security and production), and Programs (e.g., construction trades, engineering) that can be enhanced to support teaching and learning, and SRCA efforts.
Possible structure: Support the use of existing infrastructure for applied teaching projects. Integrate infrastructure efficiency monitoring into course projects (engineering, computing science courses focused on energy efficiency or automated tracking). Expand horticulture programs into local food production.
6. Commit to setting goals and tracking progress on existing and future initiatives
Rationale: Existing initiatives are plentiful and newer ones will emerge from the existing efforts. VIU’s commitments to CCS are exemplified by these initiatives. Setting goals, supporting, and tracking progress toward these goals are the actions that will crystallize VIUs true commitment to climate change and sustainability.
Possible structure: Develop targets from the existing initiatives and develop appropriate and varied metrics for tracking progress.