had ?

S.08-18

FOR INFORMATION

MEMO

ATTENTION Judith Osborne

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TEL

Vice President Legal Affairs

FROM ?

K.C. BeLt, Director. Special Projects

Special Projects Office

RE DRAFT 38 (Sustainability)

Contact

Telephone: 778-782-6877

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Fax: 778-782-4860

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DATE ?

December 13, 2007

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TIME ?

8:59:20 AM

Mailing Address

Strand Hall 3199

8888

University Drive

Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6

CANADA

Attached is the draft Policy GP 38 (Sustainability) as approved at the December 10' VPs

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meeting. In keeping with their mandate, this draft reflects extensive consultation with and

contributions from the University's Sustainability Advisory Committee, and incorporates advice

received during a month-long posting on the Draft Policies website.

The 37 comments received demonstrated unprecedented interest in the issues addressed through

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this policy. Distribution of comments was well-distributed across constituencies, including

students (7), faculty (12), staff (11), and unspecified "others" (7). Almost all of the comments

received in some way expressed a sense of hope and pride in the prospect of SFU having such a

policy.

I understand this draft needs now to proceed to Senate for information and to the Board of

Governors for approval.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

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THINKING OF THE WORLD

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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

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Date ?

Number

Policies and Procedures

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December 12, 2007

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GP 38

Revision Date

Revision No.

(DRAFT 0.9)

Subject: Sustainability

1.0 ?

Purpose:

In adopting this policy, Simon Fraser University renews its commitment as a signatory (1991) to the

principles espoused in the Talloires Declaration. The purpose of this policy is to highlight sustairiabiity

as an institutional priority for all University activities, providing a foundation on which SFU may

establish itself as a leading institution in the transition to a sustainable society.

This policy provides a framework within which other policies and procedures may be developed that

demonstrate responsibility and due diligence on the part of the University and that educate and assist

members of the University community to understand and fulfill their responsibilities to practice

sustainability.

SFU implements this policy mindful of the need to balance ecological, social and economic imperatives

in an open and transparent decision-making process.

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2.0 Definitions:

Sustainabifity

is most commonly defined as "improving the quality of human life while living within the

carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems"

(Brundtland Report,

1987). Since the concept of

sustainability applies to long-term objectives achieved by short- and medium-term actions, the term has

application within virtually all spheres of activity.

Tailoires Declaration -

Composed in 1990 at an international conference in Talloires, France, this is the

first official statement made by university administrators of a commitment to environmental sustainabiity

in higher education. The Talloires Declaration is a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability

and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities. It

has been signed by over

350

university presidents and chancellors in over 40 countries.

Sustainability Policy, DRAFT 0.9 page 1

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3.0 ?

Policy

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3.0.1 SFU seeks to achieve and maintain leadership in

all that we do. We will bring vision, intellect

and high ethical standards to our pursuit of sustainability leadership in operations, research and

teaching, performance evaluation and our relationship with the community.

3.1

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Leadership

in Sustainable Operations

3.1.1 SFU will promote practices that maximize the beneficial effects and minimize the harmful

impacts that may arise out of its operational, academic and research activities. Priority will be

given to identifying ways of improving the long-term quality and regenerative capacity of the

environmental, social and economic systems that support the University's activities and needs.

3.1.2 SF0 will work to minimize its consumption of non-renewable energy, minimize water

consumption and contamination, reduce the quantity of solid, organic and hazardous wastes it

produces, enhance the ecological integrity of our grounds and employ sustainable building design

and construction principles wherever possible.

3.1.3 SF0 will balance quality, cost and environmental sustainability in its purchasing and investment

decisions. Where relevant, long-term and life-cycle costs will be considered in achieving this

balance.

3.1.4 SF0 will work to develop and adopt environmentally sustainable practices and processes in all its

operations.

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3.2 ?

Leadership in Teachin g

and Researchin g Sustainabiity

3.2.1

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SRI will strive to be in the forefront of sustainability research and education and will use its

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institutional capability to promote sustainabiity within and beyond the University.

3.3 ?

Leadershi p

in Evaluatin g

Success

3.3.1 ?

SF0 is committed to assessing the sustainability impacts associated with its activities and will

consult with the community in developing and reporting specific targets, priorities and timetables

for achieving its sustainability objectives.

3.4

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Leadership in Communit y Sustainabiity

3.4.1 SF0 will seek and develop opportunities to collaborate on sustainability among academic and

administrative units across the University and, beyond the University, with its alumni and the

surrounding communities.

3.4.2 SF0 will work directly with other Canadian universities to increase their capacity to integrate

sustainabiity into their operations and academic initiatives/programs.

3.4.3 SF0 will encourage the active engagement of all members of the campus community in issues of

sustainability and will support sustainabiity awareness and action in the greater community.

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Sustainability Policy, DRAFT 0.9, page 2

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3.5.1

3.5

In recognition

Renewal

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of the rate of change surrounding issues pertaining to sustainability and the

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environment, this Policy will be reviewed two years following its adoption.

4.0 ?

Scope

4.1 ?

The policy applies to all campuses and all activities of Simon Fraser University.

5.0 ?

Roles and Responsibilities

5.1 Vice Presidents are responsible for reviewing Sustainability Action Plans for their portfolios, and

for approving actions, schedules and funding to implement them. Information from the Plans will

be compiled and published in an Annual Sustainability Report.

5.2 ?

The Annual Sustainability Report and related progress reports will be reviewed each year by the

Sustainability Advisory Committee (see Appendix II), which will provide advice regarding the

action planning, reporting and implementation process.

6.0 ?

Authority

6.1 ?

This policy is administered under the authority of the President and

all Vice Presidents.

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Appendix I

This policy should be read and understood in conjunction with the following University policies and other

documents:

• The University's Statement on Values and Commitments

• GP 32: Environmental Management

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• Provides advice and counsel to the Vice President, Finance and Administration and, through the

Vice President, Finance and Administration, to Senior Administration on

all

matters related to

University sustainabiity;

• Reviews and develops performance goals around sustainability practices (in collaboration with

the Vice President, Finance and Administration and with individuals at the University who have

operational responsibility for implementing and achieving them and/or expertise helpful in

establishing them), and proposes these goals to Senior Administration for adoption;

• Invites input from internal stakeholders regarding the continuous improvement of the

University's Sustainability Goals;

• Promotes sustainability programs and initiatives and participates in advancing the message of

sustainabiity throughout the University among faculty, students and administrative and support

staff.

Composition and Membership

Co-chairs: ?

Chief

Facilities Officer/University

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Architect

Director, Special Projects, Office of the President

(3) Student representatives:

a mix of graduate and undergraduate students appointed by the Vice

President, Finance and Administration (or Chair). Students will be appointed based on their ability to

bring energy, commitment to and knowledge of sustainable practices and related issues to the work of the

Committee. Appointments will be for 1 year (2 appointments) or 2 years (1 appointment).

(1) Sustainable SFU representative:

may be a graduate or undergraduate student, an alumnus/alumna,

or another interested member who has demonstrated commitment to sustainability and has been

connected with SFU affairs in some way. Those interested may submit an expression of interest to the

Chair stating their experience and qualifications. Appointment will be for two-years, and can be renewed

by mutual agreement.

(3)

Faculty representatives:

to be invited by the Vice President, Finance and Administration (or Chair)

in consultation with the Faculty Deans. Invitations will be issued on the basis of demonstrated

commitment to sustainability and interest in embedding sustainability as one of the University's

institutional goals. Appointments will be for two years, and can be renewed by mutual agreement.

SFU Community Trust representative:

to be selected by the President and CEO of the SFU CT.

Appointment will be for an indefinite period, and can be revised by mutual agreement.

Administration and support staff representatives:

named by the Vice President, Finance and

Administration in any number and selected from positions with substantial responsibility for the

implementation of sustainability initiatives at the University. These staff members are appointed to

represent their departments, and are expected to have the authority to effect change in their operations.

Activities of the Committee

The Sustainability Advisory Committee will be Co-Chaired by the Chief Facilities Officer and by the

• ?

Director, Special Projects. The Committee Secretary assists to facilitate meetings and to coordinate the

Committee's activities.

Sustainability Policy, DRAFT 0.9, page 4

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The committee will identify goals and priorities for each year, chosen for their potential to serve as steps

toward comprehensive long-term goals. Individual Task Forces will be struck as deemed necessary, with

the number and composition of these to change as the Committee's activities change. The initial Task

Forces set up in 2007 include the following:

• Task Force to Draft a Sustainability Policy for SFU

• Task Force to Identify and Build a Network of sustainability groups on campus

• Task Force focusing on Building Awareness and Communications

The Committee Chairs will provide an Annual Sustainabiity Report to the President and Vice Presidents

highlighting the prior year's activities and achievements.

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