The Strategic Academic Plan affirms McGill's determination to place sustainability at the core of all its activities in order to lead globally in the 21st century. In alignment with this commitment, McGill is working to put in place measures that promote the decarbonization of its activities, and the development of sustainability-focused research and teaching.

This commitment to sustainability also applies to the well-being of all of our community members. To advance this commitment, McGill is expanding the support services available, including mental health services, for students, faculty and staff.

Goals

Leveraging the Advisory Council on Sustainability to promote carbon neutrality, climate literacy, climate resilience, and the development of sustainability-focused research and teaching

The themes of carbon neutrality, climate literacy and climate resilience, as well as ways to develop sustainability-focused research and teaching, are topics of ongoing discussion among the members of the McGill Advisory Council on Sustainability.

Flagship initiatives

• An online module on sustainability, called “Creating a Brighter Future: Sustainability at McGill” was launched in January 2023. Housed on myCourses, the module is available to all students regardless of their program of study. Through the module, students are introduced to the concept of sustainability, while learning about ways they can incorporate sustainability into their time at McGill.
• A new undergraduate course focusing on climate was introduced open to students of all faculties: FSCI 198: Climate Crisis and Climate Actions was introduced in Fall 2022. The course features a multidisciplinary team of instructors who present diverse perspectives on the scientific and social dimensions of climate change.
• The Sustainability Education Fellows program was launched in 2022 with the aim of advancing sustainability in the curriculum and pedagogy at McGill. The program provides support to instructors who wish to integrate sustainability into one of their courses, or develop a new sustainability course. Additional sustainability education resources are now available on the McGill Teaching & Learning Knowledge Base.
• First released in 2017 and updated on a continual basis, the Sustainable Labs Guide empowers lab users to take actions that reduce the negative environmental impacts of research, optimize financial and material efficiency, and maintain a record of research excellence.
• Established in 2017, the McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative (MSSI) provides funding and opportunities for McGill researchers from all disciplines to interact and co-design projects that tackle sustainability-related challenges.

Expanding our commitment to sustainability-focused teaching and learning

• Building on our current commitment to prepare our graduates to be global citizens and to play critical, sustainability-driven roles in our communities, McGill's Strategic Academic Plan is evolving to emphasize that during their time at McGill, students should gain essential knowledge of sustainability that will enable them to address interdependent economic, environmental and social challenges our world is facing. Measures and key performance indicators will be put in place to ensure progress towards this objective.

Working with various sectors of the University to implement additional institution-level programs to facilitate individual and collective action to reduce the University’s carbon footprint, including reducing and/or offsetting carbon-intensive university travel

• McGill University has achieved the performance targets set out in its Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) strategy, a full two years ahead of schedule. This milestone is highlighted in the 2022 Investment Committee Report on Socially Responsible Investing. This is the third annual report since the Board of Governors approved the five-year, eight-point implementation plan for decarbonizing the University’s endowment portfolio in April 2020.
• McGill is well underway in a key emissions reduction project: the replacement of a natural gas boiler with electric boilers and the installation of a heat recovery system at the downtown central heating plant. These two projects, funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund, are anticipated to reduce the University’s total annual emissions by 9,000 tCO2e by 2025.
• To help reduce the carbon footprint of university-related travel, in 2022, McGill released a Sustainable Travel Guide, which provides guidance for travelers on how to factor sustainability into their travel decisions.
• In addition, the McGill supports a reforestation project in Panama to offset part of the University’s greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative – involving indigenous communities in Panama, as well as instructors and students of the Panama Field Study Semester (PFSS) – led to the plantation of 44,500 trees by 44 participating families.

Sustainability Projects Fund

The Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) provides funding for the development and seed-funding of interdisciplinary projects led by McGill students, staff, and faculty. Valued at more than $1 million annually, the SPF creates opportunities for the McGill community to actively engage in sustainability initiatives on campus, empowering individuals to be change agents in their own studying and work environment.

Continuing to develop more robust support services, including mental health services, for students, faculty and staff across the institution

Academic Support

Faculty Matters

A discussion series called Faculty Matters was created in 2020 to connect with academic staff and address some of the most pressing issues for McGill educators and scholars. Faculty Matters features McGill scholars working across disciplines and faculties on our campuses, leading discussions relevant to our academic community.

Mentorship programs

Two mentorship programs for pre-tenure and mid-career professors have been established:

• The Provost's Faculty Mentorship Network (PFMN) offers mentorship opportunities to assistant professors to guide them through the beginning phases of their academic careers.
• The Development Initiative for Academic Leadership (DIAL) offers leadership development opportunities to mid-career professors who show an interest and promise in moving into senior administrative roles at the university.

McGill Community Support

Student Wellness Hub

Launched in November 2019, with the support of the Rossy Foundation, the Student Wellness Hub provides a range of health services to support student's physical and mental health with a focus on awareness, prevention, and early intervention.

My Heathy Workplace

After consultation with its community in 2017, McGill enhanced the My Workplace program and renamed it My Healthy Workplace to more fully reflect its holistic approach to bettering our workplace.

Employee and Family Assistance Program

The Employee Assistance Program was expanded and renamed Employee and Family Assistance Program. The enhanced program offers a broader range of family-friendly benefits with a focus on work-life balance.

LinkedIn Learning

Launched in 2020 under the My Healthy Workplace umbrella, LinkedIn Learning allows McGill employees to develop business, technology-related, and creative skills through expert-led course videos. The pilot has been extended and LinkedIn Learning will now be available until November 2023.

Healthier Together Challenge 

The Healthier Together Challenge aims to promote physical activity and provide employees with tools for resiliency all while connecting with their peers.

New Models of Work

The Office of New Models of Work was established in March 2021 with a mandate to take an in-depth look at how we can adopt new ways of working that best support the mission of the University, while encouraging employee engagement and innovation.

Flexible Work Arrangement

The Interim Flexible Work Arrangement is a transitional program designed to give eligible administrative and support staff more flexibility during the period that the university is working and consulting to find the best hybrid remote-onsite model for McGill.

Learn more about sustainability initiatives at McGill