Guide: University Challenge
From Common Energy UVic
Comprehensive Project - University Challenge, part of the Guide.
[edit] University Challenge
By facilitating friendly competition and collaboration, a campus-wide challenge could empower departments to make changes in their personal and work lives. Currently, this University Challenge is primarily a volunteer driven project that is being piloted by the Business Faculty.
The first step in the University Challenge is to establish a team within faculties or departments that represents its membership. Common Energy has created a framework with milestones to help guide University Challenge teams and maintain consistency between teams. Common Energy's role is to provide the teams with tools for measurement, ideas for actions they can implement, and training to change behaviour. Using an emissions inventory system, teams will be able to establish a greenhouse gas baseline and compare emissions over time and between faculties and departments. Furthermore, Common Energy and the proposed Climate Solutions Network can help departments go beyond climate-neutral by facilitating collaboration with the community, other faculties, local businesses, and other institutions. Competition is the driver that will excite people and attract them to the University Challenge. Focusing on a spirit of creative competition instead of sacrifice, the University Challenge aims to inspire personal commitment and innovation that can be harnessed to solve the problems associated with climate change.
[edit] Goal: To inspire individuals and departments to make visible changes in their workplace and personal lives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote a feeling of shared success.
Objective 1: To effectively communicate the University Challenge and facilitate collaboration between Common Energy, UVic Communications, and UVic's faculties and departments. Objective 2: To support the University Challenge with staff and faculty time. Objective 3: To show leadership in individual action at UVic, in our region, and with our peer institutions.
[edit] Objective 1: To effectively communicate the University Challenge and facilitate collaboration between Common Energy, UVic Communications, and UVic's faculties and departments.
Strategies:
- Contribute funding for the online presence of the University Challenge and support its integration with UVic’s sustainability portal and main website. A University Challenge website would facilitate information sharing between the various teams by listing their ideas, actions, and other steps towards sustainability.
- Integrate sustainability communications and campaigns to promote sustainable choices with the Challenge. (See Purchasing, Food, Buildings, Transportation, Energy, Civic Engagement and Governance)
- Host and advertise a meeting for every Challenge team each semester. These meetings will be an opportunity to share success stories, problem-solve, and collectively learn.
- Publicize progress of the teams and their departments through UVic Communications.
[edit] Objective 2: To support the University Challenge with staff and faculty time.
Strategies:
- Promote faculty and staff participation in the University Challenge and allow participants to incorporate related activities, such as bike skills courses, in their professional development time.
- Initially allocate 1.5 hours per week for a staff member who takes the leading role in each team. Create terms of reference for this staff person's role.
- Request proposals from the teams to their departments for the staff time their projects will require after the first year.
Allow faculty to use membership in the team as one of their service commitments to UVic.
[edit] Objective 3: To show leadership in individual action at UVic, in our region, and with our peer institutions.
Strategies:
- Commit senior administration to lead by example, forming a team that becomes an example for the University Challenge.
- Host a celebration for the participants every year, incorporating team recognition.
- Host a collaborative workshop amongst BC universities and colleges to build on the concept of the University Challenge, and spread it throughout the post-secondary education system. This inter-institutional competition would allow similar departments, those with chemistry labs for example, to compete with one another and learn from one another.
- Share information about the University Challenge with the region and co-host celebrations for personal change with regional partners working on similar initiatives.
[edit] Case Studies - University Challenge - ReWire
ReWire uses social marketing techniques to empower students, staff, and faculty to make better choices for their environment and their pocketbook. The program combines personal pledges, visual aids, and environmental education into toolkits with resources and strategies to target particular people and places. So far, the program has engaged 4,000 people at the University of Toronto and resulted in 10% reduction in electricity use in targeted residences and 5% reductions in offices.
ReWire is a collaborative project with a team of over 20 students, staff, and faculty. They are working to expand the project to new work environments, new campuses, with the goal of creating a comprehensive and transferable initiative to connect with people and make a tangible difference through their changing actions.
[edit] UVic Strategic Plan - University Challenge
Objective 27: To enhance the degree of community engagement on campus.
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