Terms of Reference
The Sustainability Committee plays a key role in enabling the achievement of the University’s sustainability objectives through the University of Tasmania Strategic Framework for Sustainability. The Committee will perform this role through:
- Providing high-level direction and advice on environmental, social and economic sustainability across the University, including assessing and developing advice on matters of policy, strategy and planning to achieve sustainable outcomes for the University and broader community, including in relation to:
- facilities and operations
- learning, teaching and research
- partnerships and engagement
- leadership and governance.
- Reviewing and monitoring progress against the objectives and goals of the University of Tasmania Strategic Framework for Sustainability and providing guidance on further actions and initiatives to achieve these objectives.
- Promoting a culture of continuous improvement in sustainability through identification and sharing of actions and initiatives that embed sustainability principles and deliver positive outcomes across Colleges and Divisions.
The Executive Sponsor of the Sustainability Committee is the Chief Operating Officer, who will notify key initiatives to the University Executive team (and through to University Council committees as appropriate).
A University Executive Team Sustainability Working Group will actively engage with the work of the Committee, and will consist of:
- the Vice Chancellor
- the Provost
- the Vice President (Strategy, Finance and Marketing)
- the Chief Operating Officer
- the Executive Director Infrastructure Services and Development
- the Chair; and
- the Deputy Chair.
Relationships
- The Sustainability Committee will consult with the relevant academic and research committees on sustainability initiatives that affect curriculum and research.
- The Sustainability Committee will consult with other relevant committees on sustainability initiatives that affect other areas.
- The Sustainability Committee will advise Colleges and Divisions across the University on internal sustainability matters and initiatives.
Membership
- Chief Sustainability Officer (Chair)
- Deputy Chair (senior academic)
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or delegate
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or delegate
- Vice President Strategy, Finance and Marketing or delegate
- Pro Vice-Chancellor (Aboriginal Leadership)
- Chief Financial Officer or delegate
- Chief People Officer or delegate
- Executive Deans/Chief Executive, College of Arts, Law and Education or delegate
- Executive Deans/Chief Executive, College of Business and Economics or delegate
- Executive Deans/Chief Executive, College of Health and Medicine or delegate
- Executive Deans/Chief Executive, College of Sciences and Engineering or delegate
- Principal, University College or delegate
- Executive Director, Student Experience or delegate
- Executive Director, Corporate Affairs or delegate
- Executive Director, Infrastructure Services and Development or delegate
- Executive Director, University Services Network
- Education for Sustainability Community of Practice representative
- Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA) - 2 representatives (e.g., President, Environmental Officer, Equity Officer, Postgraduate representative, preferably one South, one North)
- Students for Sustainability Working Group Chair or delegate
Where delegates attend meetings on behalf of named member positions, in order to fulfil the mandate of the Committee to provide a conduit for reporting and oversight, the delegate should be in a leadership role within that organisational unit.
To be appointed by the Vice-Chancellor. Initial appointment for two years of the Sustainability Mission Integrator to the role of Chair and a senior academic as Deputy Chair.
Secretariat will be provided by Infrastructure Services and Development.
Dr Carmen Primo Perez is the Secretary to the Sustainability Committee.
Additional members may join for predetermined periods of time as required, to provide advice on specific matters.
Members, other than student representatives, will be appointed to the Committee for a period of two years (renewable). Student representatives will be members for a period of one year, coinciding with their roles as elected Tasmanian University Student Association (TUSA) and postgraduate student representatives.
The Chair, in conjunction with the Executive Sponsor, may from time to time co-opt members (to a maximum of two) whose expertise, background or current work are especially relevant to the Committee for a period of up to one year (renewable).
The Chair may also include invitees for consideration of relevant agenda items.
In appointment of members, gender-balanced representation is the goal (maximum 60% representation for any gender, if not 50/50) as is having multi campus representation.
The Sustainability Committee Terms of Reference were approved by the UET Sustainability Working Group on 09 February 2022.
Mode of Operation
The Sustainability Committee will at minimum have five scheduled meetings per year. Further meetings can be added as required, at the discretion of the Chair.
Quorum is more than half of members (including the Chair and/or Deputy Chair).
Working groups
Specific initiatives may be progressed through Working Groups of the Committee, which will operate with Committee oversight (e.g. to address regional campus issues).
While some working groups are quite specific in membership, others are open to interested parties that want to help deliver sustainable change across the breadth of sustainability areas. Current Working Groups include:
Working Group | Goal(s) | Contact(s) |
---|---|---|
Data and Reporting | Ensure availability of timely and accurate sustainability data |
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Targets and Indicators | Establish targets and indicators for the four goal areas in the Strategic Framework for Sustainability |
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Education for Sustainability Community of Practice (EfS CoP) | Ensure that Education for Sustainability principles are integrated across all areas of the University. The Education for Sustainability Tasmania network, a UN recognised Regional Centre for Expertise, reports to the University of Tasmania via the EfS CoP working group. |
|
Sustainable Food Systems | Establish a sustainable food culture at the University |
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Students for Sustainability | Provide support for student leaders working to integrate sustainability through University experience for students in operations, research, teaching and learning, community engagement |
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Global Climate Change Week | Encourage academic communities – including academics, students, and non-academic staff at universities in all disciplines and countries – to engage with each other, their communities, and policy makers on climate change action and solutions |
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Plastic Minimisation | Minimise petroleum-based single-use plastics use on campus |
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Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) | Realise the Sustainable Development Goals through responsible management education |
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Cradle Coast Environmental Sustainability | Foster the interest and passion of staff and students for sustainability in the region and deliver outcomes |
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SDG Mapping and Implementation | Ensure that SDGs are integrated across all areas of the University |
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Templates
Please click the link below to download the template for the Sustainability Committee papers or for Working Groups reporting.
- Sustainability Committee Paper Template (DOCX 32.9 KB)
- Sustainability Committee WG Report Template (DOCX 31.4 KB)
Meeting dates 2022
Meeting # | Meeting date / time |
---|---|
1 | Friday, 4 February 2022 / 10-11pm |
2 | Friday, 25 March 2022 / 10-11pm |
3 | Friday, 6 May 2022 / 10-11pm |
4 | Friday, 3 June 2022 / 10-11pm |
5 | Friday, 5 August 2022 / 10-11pm |
6 | Friday, 16 September / 10-11pm |
7 | Friday, 28 October / 10-11pm |
8 | Friday, 2 December / 10-11pm |
Queries
If you have any questions regarding the Sustainability Committee please contact Secretariat.