Appalachian State University
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Jennifer
Maxwell Resource Conservation Manager Physical Plant Administration |
Is the institution currently a member of a national or international higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the national or international sustainability network(s):
AASHE
Second Nature
US Composting Council
College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC)
Does the institution actively participate in a regional, state/provincial, or local higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s):
Appalachian Energy Summit
Southeastern Sustainability Coordinators Network
Carolina Recycling Association (CRC)
UNC Sustainability Alliance
Has the institution presented at a higher education sustainability conference during the previous year?:
A list or brief description of the conference(s) and presentation(s):
AASHE Conference List of 2019 Presentations:
-The Compost Catastrophe: Our Adventure to Residence Hall Composting at Appalachian State University, Oct. 28, 2019
-College & University Recycling Coalition (CURC) Campus Recycling Workshop, Oct. 27, 2019
-Combating Food Waste and Addressing Food Insecurity, Oct. 29, 2019
-Why so Serious? Making Space for Silliness, Humor, and Fun in Sustainability Communications, Oct. 28, 2019
-Innovations in Peer to Peer Educator Programs, Oct. 28, 2019
-Smart Control Heating Ventilation and Cooling Systems on College Campuses, Oct. 28, 2019
Energy Summit
-The 2019 Appalachian Energy Summit was the eighth-annual gathering of some of the world’s best minds in energy policy and practice. This unique three-day event, held in Boone each year, brought together energy, sustainability, and academic communities of the state and region to share knowledge, innovation, and best practices. Dr. Lee Ball, Appalachian State University's Chief Sustainability Officer, served as a Leadership Luncheon speaker and event host for the Appalachian Energy Summit.
Has the institution submitted a case study during the previous year to an external higher education sustainability resource center or awards program?:
A list or brief description of the sustainability resource center or awards program and submission(s):
The following was submitted to the AASHE Sustainability Awards Program:
GreenApps Eco-Reps Sustainability Leadership and Engagement Course
Project Overview
The GreenApps: Eco-Reps Program was developed in order to recruit on-campus students to join the Office of Sustainability team to assist with education and promotion of campus sustainability through a peer-to-peer education program. We recruit one student from each residence hall (there are 20 residence halls on campus) and they serve as sustainability educators for their residence hall and the greater campus community.
Because these students were volunteers, we wanted to give them some sort of incentive for taking on this leadership role, we decided to developed a three hour credit course in leadership and engagement in order for them to receive credit for their efforts, and allow us to develop their leadership skills as well. Thus, the development of the GreenApps: Eco-Reps Sustainability Leadership and Engagement course came about!
Sustainability Topics: Curriculum, Campus Engagement, Public Engagement
Tags: Student Engagement, Student Leadership, Peer to Peer Education
Background
Our office takes great pride in the work we do with students and their ability to educate and promote sustainability on campus and in the local community. We employ a team of outreach and engagement interns that assist with our zero waste stadium efforts, table and present on campus, manage our food pantry and free store, and even go out in the local community to do sustainability education as well.
We really felt the need to develop an Eco-Reps program as well in order to recruit first year students to do peer to peer education in the residence halls, and offer leadership opportunities for our students as well. We wanted to be able to channel their passions into effective change on campus.
Once we developed the program, as mentioned earlier, we wanted to give them some sort of incentive for their efforts and felt the development of a course for credit would not only give them some incentive, but would also allow us to do some basic sustainability education and student leadership development.
Project Goals
This course allows students to develop their leadership and peer-to-peer education skills, while integrating campus sustainability into the residence halls. This course is dedicated to the Eco-reps program and allows students to creatively engage the university community in sustainability education and outreach. Students represent one of 20 residence halls on campus and serve as the liaison between the Office of Sustainability and Residence Life. Students have the opportunity to collaborate with residence hall staff to develop and implement sustainability education activities for their peer students.
Students are introduced to the concepts of sustainable living and examine both the cultural and personal values that support, and inhibit, successful sustainability behavior. These students work to investigate, evaluate, communicate, and reflect on the multifaceted challenges associated with wellness, food, water, energy, transportation, consumption, waste, and social justice. In addition, they explore the historical cultural traditions of the Appalachian region as an important element of sustainable communities. This knowledge is applied and further developed through outreach and engagement of sustainability in the campus residence halls.
Has the institution had employees or students serving on a board or committee of a sustainability network or conference during the previous three years?:
A list or brief description of the board or committee appointment(s):
The College and University Recycling Coalition is a non-profit organization facilitating the exchange of technical knowledge and best practices for recycling and waste reduction programs among institutions of higher learning. Jennifer Maxwell, our University Sustainability Program Specialist, is Vice Chair of the CURC board. Jennifer is Chair of the Collegiate Recyclers Coalition.
Does the institution have an ongoing mentoring relationship with another institution through which it assists the institution with its sustainability reporting and/or the development of its sustainability program?:
A brief description of the mentoring relationship and activities:
Appalachian State University has partnered with the Appalachian Academy at Middle Fork to create a sustainable future for all. This spring, educators and administrators at the academy will receive leadership development in sustainability thanks to grant funding provided by JustPax Fund.
The JustPax Fund provides financial and logistical support to individuals and organizations working for effective change in the realms of gender, environmental and economic justice. Through monetary grants, JustPax invests in projects and initiatives that not only ameliorate the effects of environmental, economic or gender-based injustice, but also create innovative and replicable pathways to transforming old systems of oppression while empowering those affected to create more sustainable and vibrant alternatives.
Has the institution had employees or students serving as peer reviewers of another institution’s sustainability data and/or STARS submission during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the peer review activities:
A brief description of other inter-campus collaborative efforts around sustainability during the previous year :
The goal of the Appalachian Energy Summit is to jump-start a national transformative effort across higher education. Embraced by UNC General Administration as a system-wide initiative, objectives include:
- Educate our students to be leaders of tomorrow;
- Reduce and stabilize the UNC system's average annual energy expenditures;
- Transform and stimulate the North Carolina economy;
- Position our colleagues in the UNC system and private universities as national leaders;
- Create a culture of environmental and economic sustainability.
The Summit is on track to save the state $1 billion by 2020, $2 billion by 2025 in avoided energy costs. In 2013-14 the state spent over $233 million on utility costs, or approximately $1000 per student. That same year the AES reported $103 million in avoided utility costs; $499 million to date.
Through the Appalachian Energy Summit, "the university system and Appalachian are creating collaborations and achieving successes that show how higher education can lead first in energy then broaden that scope to address the biggest challenges that face our world – sustainability."
Website URL where information about the institution’s inter-campus collaborations is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.