Once again, BCIT has been recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) as a top performer in the 2023 Sustainable Campus Index (SCI), tying for fifth with the University of California, Berkeley, in the category of Wellbeing and Work.
Association for Advancing Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
AASHE empowers higher education faculty, staff, and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation. They enable members to translate information into action by offering essential resources and professional development to a diverse, engaged community of sustainability leaders. BCIT is a member of AASHE and any faculty or staff can use their e-mail credentials to access AASHE’s resources. Visit AASHE.org.
AASHE measures the Wellbeing and Work category based on four dimensions: Employee compensation, Assessing Employee Satisfaction, Wellness programs, and Workplace Health and Safety. Here’s how BCIT is exceeding in these dimensions:
Employee compensation
BCIT employees earn at least 150% above the national living wage, based on total compensation. Wages at BCIT start at $23/hr, while the living wage is $19.50/hr.
NB: This assessment is for BCIT full-time and part-time employees and excludes contracted services groups.
Assessing Employee Satisfaction
BCIT is a people-focused organization. Measuring employee satisfaction helps the Institute remain focused on what matters most to employees.
Within the last three years, BCIT offered anonymous surveys of employee engagement and satisfaction with a 42% participation rate. BCIT also shared the outcomes of the surveys with employees at a dedicated Town Hall Meeting. Employees were provided opportunities for feedback and leadership team members were available to answer any questions. In furthering the commitment to sustainability, the BCIT Management team also developed detailed action plans based on feedback and results.
Wellness Program
BCIT offers robust wellness programs to all BCIT students, faculty, and staff. This includes:
- Adopting an Eight Dimensions of Well-being Model – defining well-being as a dynamic state affected by intellectual, occupational, physical, financial, psychological, environmental, spiritual, and social needs.
- A smoke-free environment to employees indoors and restricted smoking outdoors.
- Free and confidential one-on-one counselling available to all students through Counselling and Student Development.
- A campus clinic at BCIT’s main Burnaby Campus with free medical services for all students available year-round, provided by the Student Health Services.
- An Early Assist program providing free and confidential services to identify struggling students and offer early connection to supportive services.
- A Wellness Works program that helps employees prioritize their health and well-being.
- An Employee and Family Assistance Program providing free and confidential counselling for all employees and their dependents.
- Recreation Services that promote and enable the practice of physical well-being to students and employees.
Workplace Health and Safety
BCIT uses the ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management System to ensure that every employee and visitor maintains high standards of safety and follows all Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
All workplace injuries, illness, near-misses, or unsafe/hazardous conditions are reported by completing the relevant form in the online Incident Reporting and Information Systems (IRIS). Incidents are then investigated to determine the root cause(s) and prevent recurrence.
A track record of Sustainability
Last year, BCIT was also recognized as a top performer in the 2022 Sustainable Campus Index. BCIT tied for third in the category of Wellbeing and Work for high achievements in supporting the wellbeing of BCIT students, faculty, and staff. BCIT also received a Silver rating overall through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking and Reporting.
LEARN MORE: BCIT recognized as top performer in the 2022 Sustainable Campus Index
About the Sustainable Campus Index (SCI)
The Sustainable Campus Index (SCI) highlights the most sustainable colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) – a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS was developed by AASHE with broad participation from the higher education community.
The SCI also highlights innovative and high-impact initiatives from colleges and universities that submitted a STARS report in the most recent calendar year. For more information, visit stars.aashe.org.