| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.91 |
| Liaison | Natalie Hayes |
| Submission Date | July 9, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bentley University
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Natalie
Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution coordinate one or more ongoing student, peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs that meet the criteria for this credit?:
Number of degree-seeking students enrolled at the institution:
Name of the student educators program (1st program):
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (1st program):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (1st program):
The Student Eco-Rep program was created by The Office of Sustainability and the Bentley Residential Housing Association (RHA) in January 2010. The Eco-Reps run a Green Certification Program, a sustainability audit process for departments and student groups. The Eco Reps also coordinate recycling training in dining halls and other awareness events like a Waste Awareness Week dumpster dive.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):
Each residence hall has up to three Eco-Reps who serve as sustainability peer-educators. Students run for Eco-Rep positions in their residence halls during the RHA Hall Council elections each fall.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):
Through weekly meetings, the manager of the Office of Sustainability and the president of the Eco Reps educate other Eco Reps about current projects and sustainability issues in general. Many Eco Reps also partake in the Northeast Eco Rep Symposium each year, which allows students to learn from other universities' Eco Rep program.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (1st program):
The Office of Sustainability funds attendance to the Eco Rep Symposium and other materials needed for events. The Eco Reps also have a portion of the Residence Hall Association's budget to spend on programming.
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):
The Bentley Green Society's primary purpose is to educate the Bentley community on the environmental challenges that the institution and global community are facing. By hosting themed awareness events, Green Society hopes to incite action within the campus community. The Green Society runs the Blackout Challenge, Recycling Exchange event, and Earth Day festivities and partners with the Office of Sustainability in support of the Sustainability Film Series each year.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
The Green Society Executive Board is elected by the general body in the spring of each year. All students who exhibit interest are welcome to join and are educated by the adviser, the manager of the Office of Sustainability, and the Executive board.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):
The Office of Sustainability uses the film series and other educational opportunities to get students up to date on sustainability issues.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
The Allocation and Internal Audit Committee oversees all student organization funds and approves a semester budget for Green Society ranging from $300 to $2,000 depending upon allocation among organizations.
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):
During the fall 2009 semester, the Student Government Association created the Sustainability Project Group as a means to ensure that students are engaged in sustainability initiatives. The Bentley Student Government Association (SGA) is a governing body that tries to better the university environment for all students. This is achieved through a collaborative effort between the students and university administration. Members of SGA seek out the interests and opinions of the student body as a whole and make recommendations to university officials based on their findings. The group has been extremely successful in bringing changes to Bentley’s campus including the creation of informational Heating and Cooling videos to address student confusion over heating and cooling systems in the residence halls, banning styrofoam from all campus retailers, and increasing the amount of recycled content paper purchased by the institution.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
Students run and are elected by all students to the SGA for an academic year.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (3rd program):
Students who are elected are expected to be educated on policy process and implementation. These students tend to be involved in other student groups (Eco Reps and Green Society) so they are sufficiently educated on these issues.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
The Student Government Association does not get any funding, as the majority of their work is coordinating within the administration to alter policy which does not require events or recruitment.
Name(s) of the student educator program(s) (all other programs):
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by all other student educator programs:
A brief description of the program(s), including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (all other programs):
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (all other programs):
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (all other programs):
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (all other programs):
Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually:
The website URL for the peer-to-peer student outreach and education program(s):
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.