Sustainable Campus Initiative
St. Thomas University recognizes its responsibility to actively contribute to the creation of a sustainable and thriving world for both present and future generations. Therefore, STU will engage in a participatory process to develop and approve a climate action plan with targets for emissions reductions and sustainability improvements for 2030.
As part of this initiative, we are in the process of conducting a comprehensive sustainability audit of the campus. This audit is designed to establish a baseline for common measures of environmental sustainability, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, waste diversion, and sustainability awareness. This audit will be modelled on the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System STARS. The results will provide data for the development of a mid-term climate action plan for STU.
The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) was developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). This is a voluntary self-reporting sustainability assessment in which results can be used to track sustainability over time at an institution. As a member of AASHE, STU will take full advantage of best practices being employed at other campuses.
The sustainability audit is being funded by the Environmental Trust Fund.
Engagement and Consultation Opportunities
Building a sustainable campus requires the participation and dedication of the entire campus community. Get involved and help build a more sustainable STU!
STU sustainability is a group of passionate students who are committed to being drivers of positive change. Their goal is to promote environmental awareness among their peers by leading and engaging the student body in sustainability initiatives on and off campus.
Sustainability Initiatives
Learn more about the sustainability initiatives STU has to offer:
Environmental Sustainability Policy
The Environmental Sustainability Policy, implemented in 2004, underscores St. Thomas University’s commitment to environmental management and stewardship. The most recent revision of this document was in May 2024. The Policy was updated to broaden STU's approach to sustainability by integrating Indigenous knowledge, expanding focus areas, establishing clear implementation roles, and emphasizing transparency and community engagement, contrasting with the original Policy's narrower focus on compliance and basic environmental management.
2011 Environmental Audit
An environmental audit is a systematic evaluation of the institution's activities, facilities, and practices regarding their impact on the environment. The last Environmental Audit conducted at St. Thomas University was in 2011.
President’s Advisory Committee on Campus Environmental Issues
The purpose of this committee is to provide the president with timely and accurate advice on all matters regarding to the implementation and maintenance of environmentally sensitive choices in the management of the University’s physical resources. Read the Terms of Reference here.
The St. Thomas Student Union Sustainability and Environmental Awareness Committee is a dedicated group of students committed to promoting sustainable practices and fostering environmental awareness within the university community. Please contact the STUSU VP Education at su_vped@stu.ca for more information.
FAUST Environment Committee
This committee brings together Faculty Association of the University of St. Thomas members who want to find ways of making our shared workplace healthier and more environmentally sustainable. Recognizing the important relationship between healthy working conditions, healthy communities, and a healthy environment, the committee highlights best practices and points to possible ways of moving forward. The committee recently shepherded through the option to adopt fossil fuel-free funds for pension plan members.
The Environment and Society Program at STU is an interdisciplinary program with courses from several departments which explore the root causes of environmental degradation and how society can address them.
Learn More About the Sustainable Campus Initiative
If you would like to learn more about the Sustainable Campus Initiative, please contact our Sustainability Coordinator, Lauren MacDonald at lmacdonald@stu.ca.