TRU is inviting employees and students to participate in its sustainability project this new semester, and it’s awarding participants cash prizes.
In the area of environmental sustainability, Thompson Rivers University stands as one of the most accomplished institutions in the world. They received platinum ratings in the Sustainable Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) in both 2018 and 2022, making them the first Canadian university to achieve this feat twice. They are also one of 12 post-secondary institutions globally to earn the highest possible rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Most recently, they earned a top spot in the 2025 Sustainable Campus Index and were ranked the overall best among 80 master’s institutions.
So, for a university that seemingly has it all, what can its student body, faculty and staff offer?
The institution’s current STARS platinum rating will expire on Oct. 31, after which it will need to submit a new report in anticipation of another evaluation. To achieve another exceptional rating, TRU will need all hands, including students, staff and faculty, on deck. They introduced their Sustainability Pledge Challenge for this purpose.
“Because your actions matter to keep our planet healthy—and together, we can keep TRU at the top of global sustainability ratings,” the official pledge page says. “We’re aiming for Platinum again in 2026, and we need your help to get there.”
TRU’s Sustainability Pledge Challenge began on Sept. 2 and will end on Oct. 15. This challenge aims to engage as many TRU students, staff and faculty as possible in the tenets of environmental consciousness and protection.
Individuals who pledge have a choice between seven sustainability goals (energy, waste, transportation, biodiversity, food and water, social and economic), or they can make up their own personalized goal.
“A pledge is a personal commitment to do something sustainable—big or small,” the website says. “Whether it’s biking to campus, reducing food waste or switching to reusable items, every action counts.”
The challenge comes in two stages. First, students and employees are asked to pledge their online pledge form. This enters them into draws for either a weekly chance at a $30 TRU Food Services card or a grand prize of $200 cash. The weekly draws will continue for five weeks and will award a student and an employee each week, while the grand prize will be given to two students and two employees.
The second stage is the pledge in action stage, where participants use visual proof (either a photo or a video) to show how they have followed through with their pledges. These proofs can be emailed to the university at sustain@tru.ca or posted on Instagram using the hashtag #MyGreenTRU, tagging @thompsonriversu and @trusustain.
Two lucky students and two employees who take part in this second stage will have the chance to win $300 in cash.
The sustainability pledge challenge goes beyond just engaging the TRU community in sustainability efforts. If 50% of students, staff and faculty participate, the university earns the maximum amount of points in important sections of the STARS report. This means that TRU has a shot of being the first Canadian university to earn a Platinum rating three times, cementing its lead in the sustainability game.
It also doesn’t hurt the environment. According to a 2021 study, universities that reported their sustainability activities to STARS more frequently saw lower levels of emissions overall. The efforts undertaken by the university, its employees and the student body contribute greatly to a greener campus and a greener world.
The Sustainability Pledge Challenge will conclude with a celebration between Dec. 1 and Dec. 5. Details of this event are yet to be finalized.