Trent University Environment-Related Polices

Trent University currently has several Policies pertaining to the environment:

• Trent University Environmental Policy
• Trent University Environmental Procurement Policy
• Trent University Grounds Management Plan
• Trent Endowment Lands Master Plan

For information about current Trent environmental programs and activities, please visit Trent's Sustainability web site.

For historic information on some Trent Programs (particularly related to waste recycling), please visit the Archives section of Policies.

 

Trent University Environmental Policy

Adopted: October 2, 2001

Purpose:
To guide University community decision-making concerning practices and actions which may have an impact on the environment. It is a statement of Trent University’s environmental values and expectations.

Context:

The University’s commitment to high standards of environmental protection and stewardship is reflected in many of its teaching, research and community service activities. The University has a strong environmental research focus, a reputation as an environmentally responsible institution, excellent undergraduate and graduate environmental programs, a beautiful riverfront campus encompassing extensive Nature Areas and farm land, and other satellite properties located on the shores of area lakes. The University believes it has a special responsibility to exercise environmental leadership.

Principles:

Trent University is committed to the following environmental principles:

• The University should conduct its operations and seek to positively influence the practices of members of the University community so as to minimize negative impacts on the environment, conserve natural resources and rehabilitate degraded environmental components.
• Members of the University community have a right to a safe and healthy environment. Individuals, are encouraged to achieve a high degree of environmental awareness and to contribute to the maintenance of such an environment.
• Consistent with the terms of the University’s Privacy Protection and Freedom of Information Policy and any applicable federal or provincial legislation, members of the University community may access information regarding the Trent environment or activities that may affect it.
• The conduct of the University with regard to the environment, including the setting of appropriate norms, should be discussed by the University community.
• The University has a responsibility, as a corporate citizen, to participate in the environmental decision-making processes and initiatives of its regional community and to contribute in this way to the stewardship of the regional environment.

Policy:

Consistent with the principles outlined above, the University will take all reasonable steps to pursue the following objectives:

1. Minimize energy and water use through efficient management and practices.
2. Minimize waste generation through reduction, reuse and recycling.
3. Minimize noise and odor pollution, polluting effluent and emissions to air, land and water from fixed buildings and mobile units.
4. Minimize and where possible, eliminate from physical plant operations, the use of hazardous chemicals and toxic cleaning substances.
5. To the extent possible, undertake environmental and conservation best practices.
6. Meet and where possible, exceed applicable environmental standards, regulations and guidelines with a view to continual improvements of such standards.
7. Encourage and where appropriate assist members of the University community to adopt environmentally-sound practices.
8. Encourage the use of environmentally sensitive products through purchasing practices, consistent with the University’s Environmental Procurement Policy.
9. Undertake or arrange for the undertaking of environmental assessments of proposed campus projects where indicated due to their significance or location, as identified by relevant stakeholders in the university community.
10. Within available resources, initiate programs of environmental literacy and the use of environmentally tailored projects on campus for educational demonstration purposes.
11. Encourage and promote University awareness of, and representation in regional environmental planning exercises, networks of environmental interests and co-management initiatives.
    

Role of President’s Environmental Advisory Committee:

The President’s Environmental Advisory Committee will support and monitor the implementation of this policy through its annual activities and agenda.

Approved: President’s Executive Group (PEG), October 2, 2001

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Trent University Environmental Procurement Policy

Effective: January 27, 1995

Objective:

That supplies, equipment and services procured by the University shall support the 3 R's of waste management, namely Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, and the conservation of energy and water.

Policy Text: PDF document (from Trent Financial Services web site).

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Trent University Grounds Management Plan

The grounds surrounding the buildings on campus require a fair amount of maintenance, and include grass, gardens, walkway and road maintenance, etc.

The Trent University Grounds Management Plan (pdf), written by Cathy Duek, was produced in 1998, and contains a description of the status of Trent's campus grounds at that time, as well as a proposed plan to maintain and develop Trent's grounds for the future. It addressed and opened up a number of concerns and questions, including native versus invasive plant species, pesticide use, and lawn watering and water consumption.

Although this Plan has not been followed to the letter, many of the suggested actions in this document have been implemented.

Below: Gzowski College from River Road.

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Trent Endowment Lands Master Plan

Trent University owns a lot of land, much of it in a natural state. Most of the natural areas are undeveloped, more or less allowed to progress in a natural state from their last managed state, mostly farmland. There are trails throughout some areas, which allow for recreational activities, and some educational activities (course labs, etc.) also take place in these areas. These natural areas also include several specific Nature Areas, each sporting various specific somewhat unique characteristics.

Recently part of the natural areas was sold to allow housing developments near the highway, and leased to allow the building of a new hydroelectric power facility at the north end of campus. Other proposals for nature area development have been made in the past, and will likely be made in the future. These decisions need to be considered carefully. There is a standing committee of senate at Trent that works specifically on Nature Area issues at Trent (The Trent Nature Areas Committee).

In January 2006 Trent University released an Endowment Lands Master Plan, which includes (reiterated from the introduction and background section):

• Guiding principles in keeping with the University’s academic mission;
  A comparative analysis of what has been done elsewhere;
• Recommendations related to where development should occur, when and what form and character of development is appropriate;
• Feasible, viable, and supportable short and long term uses are suggested for consideration;
• Guidelines that address issues of interfacing and integration with other campus lands and nature areas
  

The full text of the Endowment Lands Master Plan is available from Trent's web site (pdf).

Below: Buckthorn, an invasive shrub commonly found in the Trent Nature Areas.