| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.82 |
| Liaison | Rochelle Owen |
| Submission Date | Jan. 7, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Dalhousie University
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
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):
Dalhousie Residence’s Green Residence Forum (GRF) is a volunteer group of environmentally-minded students who work to foster sustainability awareness and efforts in Dalhousie Residence buildings. The Residence Sustainability Representative (RSR) and GRF are responsible for Ecolympics, a 2-week inter-building competition that challenges students to reduce their water and energy consumption. The building with the largest overall reduction is awarded the trophy and prize. In addition to chairing the GRF and organizing Ecolympics, the RSR shares relevant messages from the Office of Sustainability with Residence Life Staff and residence students.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):
The RSR is a student hired to liaise between Residence Life and the Office of Sustainability. This individual is hired in spring by the outgoing RSR and the Student Life Administrator for the forthcoming fall. These students of the Green Residence Forum are recruited from all residences by the Residence Sustainability Representative (RSR), who chairs the GRF.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):
Office of Sustainability provides sustainability training to the group each year including sustainability overview of the issues – 3 hours and specific training on eco-olympics and relevant topics. Educators guides have been developed such as RETHink program manual with over 11 educational activities. This is also promoted during Residence Assistants training in early August.
In future, the RSR will receive student leader training that covers programming, team dynamics and leadership, and administrative procedures
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (1st program):
Funding of $3,800 per annum is provided by the Office of Sustainability to provide compensation (in the form of an honorarium) to the RSR in Halifax and Truro campuses. There is also logistical support from Rochelle Owen, Director of the Office of Sustainability. Additionally, Facilities Management and Food Services assist the program by providing donations of materials and supplies.
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 Dalhousie Student Union Sustainability Office (DSUSO) aims to educate students on issues concerning the environment, as well as to foster a culture of sustainability on campus. Speakers and groups are invited to campuses to educate students on issues concerning sustainability. For example, this past school year Dr. Av Singh from Perennia was invited to deliver a keynote address entitled “How personal transformation is integral to true sustainability” to the SUST 1000 class as part of their Thursday evening lecture series. Dr. Singh clarified myths on organic farming and permaculture to discuss meanings of sustainability. DSUSO have also hosted speakers from the Ecology Action Centre to talk about energy in Nova Scotia, graduate students from the School for Resource and Environmental Studies to discuss ocean acidification and vulnerable species, amongst others.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
DSUSO seek students who are already working/researching in issues pertaining to sustainability (at Dalhousie University) to be staff (although it is not a requirement to hold a work position at DSUSO).
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):
DSUSO hires a few office staff to work on outreach to students, however they do not provide formal training. Instead, they seek students who are already working/researching issues pertaining to sustainability (at Dalhousie University) to be staff. DSUSO holds informal conversations on the meaning of sustainability and educate each other on processes such as consensus-based decision-making that is used in meetings.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
DSUSO funds themselves by receiving a $1 levy (per student, per semester) from the Dalhousie Student Union, and in the past have received small donations (i.e. $500 and under) from departments and community groups in order to host campus events.
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 (3rd program):
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
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.