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Okanagan College Scores Silver for Sustainability
Okanagan College has been recognized for its commitment to sustainability with a silver STARS ranking from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
The ranking makes Okanagan College the first community college in BC to receive this recognition and places the College among 22 Canadian educational institutes to have put sustainability at the forefront of their mandate. The assessment applies to all four campuses in Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton.
Okanagan College president Jim Hamilton said one of the College's key objectives for 2010-2015 is to become a leader in sustainability, and this designation acts as a critical benchmark for that objective. "This new designation supports our greater vision for Okanagan College - that we serve, lead and anticipate the social, economic and environmental needs of communities," Hamilton said.
The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.
The program requires participating institutions to assess their sustainable practices in the areas of education and research, operations, planning, administration and engagement, and innovation. The College received STARS recognition for numerous practices and innovations, including:
* The treated effluent water and heat recovery system at the
Centre for Learning in Kelowna;
* The use of a crusher to safely and efficiently dispose of
compact florescent lights;
* Offering sustainability courses in 12 departments.
More than 250 institutions have taken part in the STARS program, which ranks participants with a reporter, bronze, silver, gold or platinum rating.
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