Community Consultation Questions

Submission Deadline: Monday, November 23, 2015

Please take the time to review the Draft Report of the Task Force on Sustainability Research. The recommendations presented in this report are organized into themes that reflect connections, communication strategies and funding.

The proposed recommendations are presented as initiatives and actions that could be implemented over the short term (12 months), medium term (1 to 3 years) and longer term (3+ years).

Part 1 of these questions asks you to rank your level of support for each proposed recommendation. Part 2 asks you to share a qualitative response to four open-ended questions.

Part 1 After reviewing the report, please indicate your level of support for each recommendation according to the following scale:
1. Develop a comprehensive inventory of sustainability research at York that will be updated regularly and available to York members.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
2. Establish a York-wide Organised Research Unit focusing on environment and sustainability. This Sustainability Institute will support four to six research hubs that reflect the range of York’s disciplinary and interdisciplinary strengths, including exploratory and problem-oriented research as well as areas in which York’s research on sustainability is expanding. These hubs will be the sub-units of the Institute's structure and governance. Funding for the Institute will be the responsibility of York's central administration.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
3. Dedicate physical space to the Sustainability Institute for collaborative research purposes and social interaction, including student space.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
4. Emphasize York’s strengths in the area of internationalization to connect to global issues.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
5. Connect York sustainability research with universities and centres of excellence for sustainability research globally, including establishing an international York campus.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
6. Create an interdisciplinary sustainability certificate and/or field course abroad for students during the spring/summer terms.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
7. Foster private, public and not-for-profit collaborations to advance sustainability research.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
8. Team with York’s immediate community to build strategies for justice and sustainability.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
9. Launch York University Press as a publishing, distribution and retail press with a specialty focus on sustainability research, including at least one refereed journal.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
10. Establish an online, open access sustainability journal that is internationally peer reviewed.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
11. Develop an ongoing communications strategy that profiles sustainability research and events at York, including through social media, workshops, brown bag talks, etc.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
12. Create an electronic portal that profiles York’s strengths in sustainability research.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
13. Host an annual international interdisciplinary sustainability research conference that stimulates debates and discussions related to York’s vision of sustainability research and connects scholars at York with broader communities at local, regional, national and global scales.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
14. Cultivate media partnerships to promote York sustainability research and dialogue.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
15. Prioritize central funding support for sustainability research at York through the creation of a sustainability fund that provides seed funding or matching funds for both exploratory and applied sustainability research at York.

0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
16. Ensure funding support for the Sustainability Institute, including logistical, capital, and ongoing support.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
17. Establish Research Chairs in Environment and Sustainability.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
18. Create mechanisms to attract top graduate students focusing on sustainability, including scholarships.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
19. Establish an endowment fund for a lecture series in sustainability, similar to the Massey Lecture Series.
0= no opinion 1= do not support 2= mildly support 3= support 4= absolutley support
PART 2

Please respond to the following four open-ended questions:
1. What are your overall impressions of the proposed recommendations?
2. How would you like to see sustainability research coordinated in the future?
3. What are the features of a “sustainability research centre” that you would like to see develop?
4. How should a "sustainability research centre” be funded and support?
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Community Consultation Questions

Community Consultation Questions

Part 1 After reviewing the report, please indicate your level of support for each recommendation according to the following scale:

PART 2 Please respond to the following four open-ended questions:

PART 2

Please respond to the following four open-ended questions: