Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.32
Liaison Ian Johnson
Submission Date June 3, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Colorado College
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.95 / 4.00 Ian Johnson
Sustainability Director
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
2,278

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):
1,679

Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
73.71

1st Program 

Name of the student educators program:
ECO-RAs

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
1,679

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:
The Colorado College ECO-RA program, supported by the Sustainability Office, promotes peer-to-peer education to foster sustainable living practices on and off campus. All residential areas, including large residence halls, apartments, smaller campus houses and off-campus areas are served by one or more student ECO-RAs. Selected ECO-RAs educate locally in their respective residential spaces, through formal and informal programming, marketing materials, and events. In addition, ECO-RAs implement conservation measures in their residential areas. Examples of activities include the Green Room Certification program and participating collectively in campus-wide initiatives such as Recyclemania. Stipends for Eco-RAs are $50 per block ($400 per year), with additional funds available to support programming.

A brief description of how the student educators are selected:
The Sustainability Office accepts applications for the ECO-RAs program on an annual basis.

A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:
ECO-RAs are trained by Sustainability Office staff and are provided with a published guide for peer-to-peer education.

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):
Stipends for Eco-RAs are $50 per block ($400 per year), with additional funds available to support programming.

If reporting students served by additional peer-to-peer programs, provide:

2nd Program

Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
Sense of Place - New Student Orientation Program

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
550

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):
The program was built to familiarize new students to the unique ecology and community of Colorado Springs while fostering the spirit of sustainability that Colorado College aims to embody. The presentation introduced students to plant, bird, and animal species within the area as well as the energy and waste disposal systems that support Colorado Springs and Colorado College. In the fall of 2014, the sense of place program included videos and live speakers on various subjects. The program now also has a website that is open to the public (http://senseofplacecoloradocollege.wordpress.com). Students are additionally taken on four day outdoor community service trips where they become familiarized with the nature and culture of the southwest. The student leaders of these trips encourage new students to develop a sense of social responsibility and respect for their new home which in turn promotes sustainable practices.

A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
The student educators who plan the sense of place presentations and discussions are students orchestrating the New Student Orientation. Student Orientation Leaders are chosen based upon their understanding and appreciation for Colorado College and the surrounding community as well as for leadership ability.

A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):
Student Orientation Leaders undergo a two week long training from campus faculty where leadership skill-building, discussion topics training, and scenario training takes place.

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):
The institution does not have a single source of funding for this project.

If reporting students served by three or more peer-to-peer programs, provide:

3rd Program 

Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
Office of Sustainability volunteer program

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
26

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
Each intern at the Office of Sustainability has chosen a group of student volunteers that helps them to complete sustainability projects. This mentoring program is intended to get students involved with promoting sustainability on campus and introduce students to the Office of Sustainability early on in their CC careers.

A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
The student educators are selected through an application process. Applicants are interviewed by the director of the Office of Sustainability and then chosen based upon their qualifications and overall interest in promoting sustainability.

A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
Student Educators are mentored by the sustainability director Ian Johnson and other Student Educators.

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):
Colorado College provides funding to pay the student educators hourly wages.

Additional Programs 

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:
---

Optional Fields 

Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
7,238

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:
Sense of Place: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/senseofplace/

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.