4. Integration

Integrating campus activities

The benefits of integrating campus activities are numerous, ultimately allowing for a holistic approach to campus sustainability. Such integration should follow naturally from the above two points as campus sustainability can only fully be achieved when everyone is involved and the approach is an active, ‘grassroots’ one combined with a ‘passive’ one from higher management in the form of regulations, etc.

Such integration means embedding sustainable practices into all campus sectors and activities and establishing cross-community collaborations – campus operations must be tied into the fabric of and supported by the campus community including general and academic staff, researchers and students.

Academic research and education

Identify sustainability-related research taking place and work towards applying the results on campus and/or collaborating with researchers to tailor the research to campus needs
Develop and fund new research projects tailored to campus sustainability needs
Create sustainability-oriented course options and academic programs

General staff

Allow operational staff to share their expertise through participation in teaching activities
Provide incentives by acknowledging successes and overall contribution through awards and public recognition
Mainstream environmental management into contracts and build a relationship with contract staff

Student activities

Support specific student-led sustainability-related organizations, programs and other endeavours
Establish fellowships/internships to capitalize on student enthusiasm
Provide incentives by acknowledging successes and overall contribution through awards and public recognition