Columbia University
ER-1: Student Sustainability Educators Program

Eco-Reps operate in a similar manner to the RA program; students apply to become an Eco-Rep and commit to a set of responsibilities and to work a set number of hours each week to fulfill them. The Eco-Reps are a group of students working in partnership with Columbia’s department of Housing and Dining in order to make Columbia’s campus more environmentally sustainable. Undergraduate Eco-Reps supervise and encourage a sustainable lifestyle in their residence halls by monitoring recycling, encouraging students to save energy, and creating educational events for their halls. Their work entails publicizing available environmental services, serving as a bridge of communication between students and the administration, facilitating campus projects for a reduced university ecological footprint. This year Eco-Reps will be working on a Green Licensing Program for dorms/campus buildings as well as continuing work with campus recycling, energy consumption, and purchasing of organic/local foods.

EcoReps from the previous year conduct training to the new EcoReps. Additionally on going guidance and training is provided by Housing with support from the Office of Environmental Stewardship.

Eco-Reps are supported by Housing Services, much like RAs. While being a Columbia EcoRep was once a paid position, the Eco-Reps themselves chose to operate on a volunteer basis and put their salaries into a programming fund for them to use on green initiatives totaling approximately $15,000. At the beginning of the academic year, the EcoReps host a used goods Green Sale, where they sell lightly used room furnishings and other household and office goods – most of which are donations from the Give + Go Green event at the end of the school year. Earnings from the Green Sale also help to fund the EcoReps program for the academic year.

Any student interested in participating is welcomed. Students advocate and program events on campus independently with guidance from relevant administrative and academic departments on campus. The Green Umbrella is a network of environmental student groups on the Columbia and Barnard campuses. Representatives from each group come together to network and improve communication, collaborate on campaigns, attend conferences and summits, and meet with administrative departments including the Office of Environmental Stewardship. The coordinators of the Green Umbrella connect people and projects, serve as a nexus for information distribution, compile a comprehensive weekly email with green events and opportunities on campus and beyond, and facilitate large, multi-group event planning. Groups in the Green Umbrella include: EarthCo, Barnard EcoReps, Columbia EcoReps, Students for Environmental and Economic Justice, Food Sustainability Project, Columbia University Environmental Biology Society, Core Foods, Columbia Students for Animal Protection, Jewish Theological Seminary EcoReps, and Consilience.

The students receive peer-to-peer training and education from fellow members through meetings and events.

Regular meetings are held between the Green Umbrella leadership team and the Office of Environmental Stewardship. Green Umbrella has a club advisor and received funding as an extracurricular group.

Any student interested in participating is welcomed.

The students receive peer-to-peer training and education from fellow members through meetings and events. Students advocate and program events on campus independently with guidance from relevant administrative and academic departments on campus. A Columbia/Barnard student coalition working to improve the local environment by promoting recycling on campus, organizing gardening and clean-ups in local parks, sponsoring environmental forums, and coordinating Earth Week activities on the Columbia campus. Earth Coalition also gets involved with local and national environmental issues with other environmental organizations, letter writing campaigns, and trips to environmental impact sites in the area. EarthCo promotes environmental consciousness through outreach and service to the community. On-going campaigns include Earth Tutors (teaching environmental education in a South Bronx elementary school), community gardening, and peer education about recycling.

Students advocate and program events on campus independently with guidance from relevant administrative and academic departments on campus. Meetings are held between the Earth Co. leadership team and the Earth Institute, Office of Environmental Stewardship as well with other administrative departments as needed. Earth Co. receives funding as an extracurricular organization and has an adviser.

Any student interested in participating is welcomed.

Similar to the general EcoReps program, students are educated from the previous year’s participants.

The EcoReps are a group of students working in partnership with Columbia’s academic and administrative departments in order to make Columbia’s campus more environmentally sustainable. School affiliated EcoRep groups receive funding from those schools for programming and education.

Recycling education video created by members of Earth Co. http://vimeo.com/13273311 Listing of other sustainability student groups: http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/31