Baldwin Wallace University
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Baldwin Wallace University annually competes in the Recyclemania competition which is facilitated through RA Eco Reps who are full time students enrolled at the university for credit in coordination with the Director of Residence Life and Student Conduct, Mr. Robin Gagnow. BW has a long tradition of scoring well in the Recyclemania competition coming in first place in 2013 (https://www.bw.edu/news/2013/bw-wins-at-recyclemainia-tournament-). Our institution placed 8th in the Per Capita Classic category in 2018 ringing in at 28.46 lbs per person (https://recyclemania.org/scoreboard/current-results/per-capita-classic-carnegie/). As the organization explains on its website, "The Per Capita Classic is the original and most recognized RecycleMania competition format. It is named in honor of Steve Gaski of Miami University, an early supporter of RecycleMania in its first years. In this category schools compete to see which can collect the largest combined amount of paper, cardboard and bottles and cans on a per person basis. Results are calculated by dividing recycling weight figures with the full time equivalent (FTE) student and staff population of the school. Schools may participate by reporting separate weights for paper, cardboard and cans and bottles, or by submitting one co-mingled number for 'single stream' collection programs. Food waste, electronics and other recyclable items are not included in this category. Results are calculated using the following equation: Weight of Recyclables -------------------------------- = XX.XX lbs. Campus Population" (For more information, please visit: https://recyclemania.org/participate/categories/).

Students were encouraged to apply for the position of RA Eco Reps. The job description is as follows: Office of Residence Life 2017-18 RA Eco-Rep Position The purpose of the RA Eco-Rep position is to extend our outreach efforts for issues, such as waste reduction and energy conservation, to a broader student oncampus audience. We want to primarily focus on those students and residents who are not already “eco-minded,” while also fostering an environment for growth and opportunity to those who are. Learning Outcomes and Objectives: • Gain knowledge about sustainability and campus initiatives • Educate peers on sustainability issues and campus initiatives • Create, organize, and direct area sustainability programs • Collaborate with other RAs and other RA Eco-Reps for programming and communication • Communicate with RAs, and other students about sustainability issues • Inform RA Staff about campus and Residence Life initiatives (Mid-year Leave it Behind, Green Room Initiative, RecycleMania, etc…) • Utilize and share sustainability resources Requirements: • Attend RA Eco Rep bi-weekly staff meetings and monthly individual meeting with the Director. • Attend the monthly BW Sustainability Committee meetings if possible. • Communicate sustainability-related information to RAs on your staff weekly and bi-weekly to RAs in your area. • Coordinate 2 passive and 2 active programs per semester alone in your area. o Submit program proposal as needed. o Email me with a review of the program when it is completed. • Coordinate 1 active program as a staff that reaches the Baldwin Wallace campus community. This position offers a great opportunity for leadership, involvement, and education for both you and the residents in your area! My Information: (James Workman) – jworkman@bw.edu

Mr. Robin Gagnow, the Director of Residence Life and Student Conduct, provides two initial formal training sessions to Eco-Reps upon their hire about their responsibilities/expectation/duties along with follow up training sessions and meetings throughout the academic year. Eco-Reps are also invited to attend the committee meetings of the Campus Sustainability Committee chaired by Dr. David Krueger with Dr. Franklin Lebo serving as the Secretary. Eco-Reps are encouraged to ask questions of the Committee as needed.

Baldwin Wallace provides financial and administrative support to Resident Assistant (RA) Eco Reps as it does for other regular Residence Assistants meaning that students have the support of the Director of Residence Life and Student Conduct, Mr. Robin Gagnow who has a career spanning over 30 years and was recognized nationally with the 2015 Parthenon Award by the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I), the organization's most prestigious award (https://www.bw.edu/news/2015/residence-life-director-recognized-at-national-conference). The (undergraduate) Eco-Reps position includes a stipend of around $200/semester. The graduate Hall Director/Sustainability Intern works 5 hours/week, which equates to approximately $450/semester for her/his duties and responsibilities with sustainability. The cost for printing, give-aways, Eco-Rep sweat shirts are covered by the Office of Residence Life (estimate about $225.00 year). In addition, as part of his commitment to Sustainability, Mr. Gagnow is the Sustainability Committee Chair of the ACUHO-I. With the assistance of his Sustainability Graduate Student Hall Director, Mr. James Workman, he secured a 2018 Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management, Recycling Container Grant. As Mr. Gagnow's grant clarified, the funding was used to purchase 50 new blue recycling containers for use across the Baldwin Wallace residential community. This is to offer a universal indicator of recycling through our residence halls. The key part of this program is accessibility to recycling centers across our residential communities. The intent is that the simplicity of moving to solely blue containers will provide greater clarity to students and staff about recycling practices and help decrease our footprint as an institution. Baldwin Wallace has allied recycling programs including the Leave It Behind program at the end of fall semester and spring semester in which we collect items for the BW Thrift Store and local food banks.