A Brief History of Sustainability at Acadia
Over the past decade sustainabiity has become increasingly integrated in all areas of campus activity at Acadia. Initiatives in research, curriculum development, student experiences, administration, operations and outreach have helped move Acadia closer to its vision of of becoming a living model of social, economic and environmental sustainablity. Faculty, staff, students and community members have all played a significant role in these accomplishments. Below is a brief chronology of our sustainability work to date. (Check back again for more sustainability stories)
Opening of the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre and Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens
Donated by the Irving family in memory of Kenneth Colin Irving and Harriet Lila Irving, the state-of the art environmental science centre and botanical gardens opened in 2002. The K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre is a centre of excellence for the study of the natural environment, concentrating on the ecology of the native flora of the Acadia Forest Region. The Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens occupy more than six acres, and are home to nine native habitats from the Acadia Forest Region.
Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment established
The Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment was established by Acadia to serve as a centre for interdisciplinary scholarship, education and advocacy on environmental issues. Governed by a council of faculty, students, and staff of the University, the Academy's mission is to serve and to lead in scholarship and education on environmental issues, inspiring and enabling people and communities to practice and pursue sustainability at Acadia and beyond. The Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment is located in the DeWolfe House.
Acadia Strategic Plan incorporates principles of sustainability
Acadia adopts a new strategic plan with a focus on environmental and social sustainability. This commitment to sustainability is reflected in the vision for the institution: "Acadia aspires to create a deep appreciation of our natural environment and an active commitment to sustainability among all members of the campus community. The University community also aspires to prepare students to understand and address complex social questions and concerns."
Acadia becomes a signatory of the Talloires Declaration
Composed in 1990 at an international conference in Talloires, France, the Talloires Declaration is the first official statement made by university administrators of a commitment to environmental sustainability in higher education. Now signed by over 350 university presidents and chancellors in over 40 countries, the declaration is a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at colleges and universities.
Green Campus Summit
Acadia is host to the annual Green Campus Summit for Universities and Colleges in Atlantic Canada and New England to share information and ideas about sustainability. This event is primarily student run with speakers and workshops on a variety of social and environmental sustainability topics.
Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework (CSAF)
The Sierra Youth Coalition Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework project is initaited by Acadia faculty and students. A multistakeholder committee was formed in 2006 to begin the CSAF Assessment, which is traditionally integrated into course work. The process involved discussion and several class projects and although a full assessment was not implemented, the initiative paved the way for future assessments.
Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Project begins.
To reduce energy use at Acadia Johnson Controls was contracted to conduct a campus energy audit and implement energy efficiency projects at Acadia. Examples of projects included lighting replacements, occupancy controls and a new ice plant.
Focus Acadia Speaker Series Highlights Global Issues Acadia Community Farm Starts Growing First Sustainability Projects Coordinator Hired Acadia Student Environment Network (ASEN) Eco-House Residence Opens Acadia Joins The Atlantic Canada University and College Sustainability Network Acadia Diners Go Trayless Acadia Becomes an Idle-Free Campus First Sustainability Assessment Completed Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program Launched First Annual Campus Sustainability Week held at Acadia
"Focus Acadia", an initiative of the Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment, was started in 2008 to bring attention to current environmental issues. The annual speaker series is an education, engagement, and empowerment initiative designed to focus the attention of the campus community on environmental issues of critical importance to our world. Event themes to date have focused on Climate Change and Energy.
Inspired by the Green Campus Summit held at Acadia in fall 2007, Acadia students Alex Redfield and Hillary Barter began the Acadia Community Farm in the spring of 2008 with the vision of providing local, organic produce to the dining hall at Acadia University, while also serving as a community garden. The ACF has grown to become a community centre for the exchange of knowledge surrounding gardening, food, and sustainable agriculture inspired by students. Visit the website: Acadia Community Farm
With the support of University Administration, the Academy for the Environment hired Acadia's first Sustainability Projects Coordintor to work collaboratively with other departments on campus to advance sustainability in campus operations, outreach and student engagement.
Hosted by the Sustainability Projects Coordinator, the Acadia Student Environment Network was established to facilitate information sharing about campus sustainability initiatives and foster collaboration among student groups.
Established in 2008, the Acadia Eco-House is a university owned residential property on Westwood Ave. created to house likeminded students who were interested in the environmental and sustainability issues. In addition to striving to live sustainably, Eco-House students are involved in many campus initiatives and. Eco-House was the brainchild of Kenton Lambert, a 4th year Biology student and second year RA and was developed in partnership with Student Affairs, the Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment and Acadia Faculty.
Acadia joined the Atlantic Sustainability Network in 2008 and now serves on the Executive Committee of the organization. Information sharing, networking and collaboration are the main goals of the network, which is comprised of Sustainability Coordinators, Facilities Managers, and other staff charged with responsibility for sustainability initiatives at institutions in Atlantic Canada.
Acadia reduced its environmental footprint even further by introducing "trayless" dining to new and returning students in September 2009. Food service trays were removed from Wheelock Dining Hall through a student-inspired initiative intended to reduce food waste, water use and energy consumption.
As part of Acadia's committment to be a climate responsbile campus, the university approved the "Share the Air" policy making Acadia an idle-free campus. Motor vehicles are prohibited from idling for longer than two consecutive minutes on Acadia property.
The first comprehensive report on the state of sustainability at Acadia is completed. The study has three main objectives: First, to engage students, staff and faculty in an assessment of the extent to which sustainability has been implemented in activities in all areas of the institution. Second, to rate Acadia's progress in achieving the institution's goals related to sustainability outlined in the Acadia Strategic Plan. Finally, to provide a comprehensive overview of sustainability initiatives underway at the Institution in order to raise awareness about existing sustainability initiatives, to encourage debate about sustainability in higher education, and to promote discussion on next steps.
In Fall 2010 Acadia accepted its first students into the new Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program. This new interdisciplinary program was created with a vision to be an 'exemplar' of inspiring and engaging teaching, scholarship and community service driven by the global imperative for an environmentally sustainable, healthy and just world.
Acadia established Campus Sustainability Week to focus the attention of the campus community on the importance of sustainability and to celebrate the success of the sustainability movement in higher education. Organized each year by the Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment in partnership with students, staff, faculty and community partners, the event builds on the success of Campus Sustainability Day, which began in the United States in 2003 led by the Society for College and University Planning. Since 2003, this national event has expanded to include a multitude of activities held at campuses across North America.
Focus Acadia Speaker Series Highlights Global Issues
Acadia Community Farm Starts Growing
First Sustainability Projects Coordinator Hired
Acadia Student Environment Network (ASEN)
Eco-House Residence Opens
Acadia Joins The Atlantic Canada University and College Sustainability Network
Acadia Diners Go Trayless
Acadia Becomes an Idle-Free Campus
First Sustainability Assessment Completed
Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program Launched
First Annual Campus Sustainability Week held at Acadia