St. Jerome’s University is stepping up for the planet with a new student-led environmental management system (EMS) to guide the university towards a greener future.  

Minza Saalim, a co-op student from the University of Waterloo, took the reins of the project in May, crafting a framework that is now ready for St. Jerome’s implementation later this year.

Saalim, a geography and environmental management student in her final year, recalled taking on the role without much knowledge of where to begin.  

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“The job was vague and just required strong research and writing. My supervisor Jim Robson told me that it was mine to shape,” she said. 

By mid-May, she was able to lay out a step-by-step framework of everything that ISO 14001, the internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems, requires — a process that can allow St. Jerome’s to save resources while setting an example for sustainability — all while sticking to its values as a Catholic university federated with the University of Waterloo. 

The EMS gets practical fast, with Saalim digging into the school’s environmental records for answers. There, she spotted summer power spikes along with a 2023 waste audit showing that 75 per cent of trash could be recycled or composted. 

“ I brought these to the attention of Robson and the  Sustainability Advisory Committee and asked ‘Why are we generating so much electricity when no classes are running in the summer?’ ” she said. 

"I looked over their previous years of bills and set individual goals for the usage of electricity, water and gas. I even looked at lower priority items like sustainable procurement and making sure the school would take on contractors and products that are in line with our sustainability goals.”

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Robson is director of facilities at St. Jerome’s. He says the framework passed a high-level review and will be introduced to the community this fall and operationalized in the winter and is exactly in line with the school’s 2025-2050 campus master plan.

He pointed to the school’s statements, mainly that the physical elements that make up the campus should be informed by St. Jerome’s commitment to fostering a strong sense of community and belonging for all, with welcoming and diverse spaces.

“In this way, our campus will reflect our identity, rooted in our sense of how we want to be a Catholic university in service to others,” the master plan reads. “Our campus should reflect the institution’s values of love, truth and justice and be a welcoming oasis in the heart of the University of Waterloo. A place of sanctuary, St. Jerome’s seeks to preserve its natural environment.” 

Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ is referenced in the EMS background. According to Saalim, it was Robson’s way of tying in the university’s commitment to faith while linking back to sustainability through love and justice. For St. Jerome’s, this initiative is Laudato Si’ in motion.

“Jim (Robson) was one of the best bosses I have ever had and someone always encouraging,” Saalim added, praising the Sustainability Advisory Committee’s support as well. 

”It wasn’t easy to do solo, I had the vision, but it was hard to push alone as someone new to these types of systems.” 

Still, Saalim was able to map out a step-by-step plan to check current uses, set targets, act through sustainability and keep improving. Her work now sits with senior staff and is eyed for its winter start.

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The EMS isn’t just about numbers, it is also about the campus community. Saalim’s plan looks to tackle real figures in reducing trash and lowering energy usage for the campus to breathe easier. 

“It’s exciting to think it could make a difference and  St. Jerome’s definitely gave me a lot more confidence in my abilities through this huge learning experience,” she said.