| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.58 |
| Liaison | Tom Twist |
| Submission Date | June 12, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bates College
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Tom
Twist Sustainability Manager Facilities |
Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
Total number of students enrolled for credit that are served (i.e. directly targeted) by a student peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program (avoid double-counting to the extent feasible):
Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
Name of the student educators program:
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:
Our strongest student educator program is the Bates EcoRep program. This is a work-study position, in which the students work on the Bates carbon emissions report, to our new website, to event planning, to our recycling and composting initiatives. EcoReps focus on four areas - events and outreach, waste and recycling, grantwriting, and carbon footprint data. The events and outreach team is most pertinent to this field - the host events and workshops, work with incoming freshman, and communicate with our dorm reps.
The EcoReps target two areas - dorm parents, known as JAs and RCs, and incoming first year students during orientation. They host educational classes in conjunction with dorm parents for individual floors. The EcoReps work with the Dorm Representatives to promote a conversation and feedback mechanisms for sustainability issues - especially regarding waste, water usage, and energy efficiency. All students living in school housing are touched by this program.
The EcoReps also reach out to every incoming student during mandatory orientation programming, to give an overview of sustainability programs at Bates and how interested students can become involved.
They also reach out to all students on the dining plan, to give them their reusable mug (there are no disposable options) with includes a flyer with our sustainability initiatives and how to get involved, and why we have switched from disposable cups to durable ware.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected:
During an interview process, cover letter and resume, possession of hard skills needed for the tasks referenced above - students are selected based on their previous experience and drive in the realm of sustainability.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:
We have an EcoRep intern program for first years interested in becoming EcoReps, which includes training on excel, graphic design, how to write an effective email, and energy engineering (heat exchangers, thermal envelope assessment, photovoltaics, heating systems, etc.). We also have weekly teaching sessions on energy efficiency and renewables.
A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination):
Bates has an Sustainability Manager, who manages 24 paid EcoRep positions and 10 unpaid EcoRep interns. This represents roughly $16k annually.
Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):
EcoRep Interns are unpaid first year students that are in the process of being trained for the EcoRep position. They work on outreach and awareness projects, as well as more physical tasks like compost and recycling pickup. They work with the EcoReps to put on sustainability events.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
Interview and application process
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):
Training on excel, graphic design, how to write an effective email, and energy engineering (heat exchangers, thermal envelope assessment, photovoltaics, heating systems, etc.)
A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination) (2nd program):
Unpaid position for the students, but a good amount of staff time investment for training and management
Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination) (3rd program):
A brief description of all other student peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs, including the number of students served and how student educators are selected, trained, and supported by the institution:
Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.