| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.39 |
| Liaison | Stephanie MacPhee |
| Submission Date | Feb. 5, 2025 |
Dalhousie University
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.50 / 4.00 |
Stephanie
MacPhee Executive Director Office of Sustainability |
Part 1. Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer, sustainability educators program
Total number of students served by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program:
Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program:
1st program
A brief description of the student educators program (1st program):
The Peer Educator Program serves as a vital catalyst for change, empowering students to become sustainability advocates within their communities. By harnessing the influence of their peers, these educators facilitate impactful knowledge dissemination through various engagement tools. They actively participate in tabling activities and host events that promote sustainable practices, creating a dynamic platform for interaction and education.
With the influx of new students each year and the high turnover among staff and students, continuous education on key topics like Fair Trade, Cool Foods, and Waste Sorting and Reduction is essential. Peer educators share valuable information that inspires meaningful actions, making sustainability relatable and accessible.
Additionally, they develop engaging online content that remains available year-round, ensuring that the knowledge they impart can be accessed on demand. This program embodies a pay-it-forward model, encouraging peers to inspire one another and cultivate a thriving culture of sustainability across campus and beyond. By fostering these meaningful connections, peer educators play a crucial role in shaping a more environmentally conscious community at Dalhousie University.
A brief description of the student educators program’s target audience (1st program):
Mainly undergraduate students through tabling, as well as masters and PhD students, faculty and staff at Dalhousie through events and information sharing.
Number of trained student educators (1st program):
Number of weeks the student educators program is active annually (1st program):
Average or expected number of hours worked weekly per trained student educator (1st program):
Total number of hours worked annually by trained student educators (1st program):
Website URL where information about the student educators program is available (1st program):
If reporting students served by additional peer-to-peer programs, provide:
2nd program
A brief description of the student educators program (2nd program):
The Dalhousie Student Union Sustainability Office (DSUSO) is dedicated to fostering a culture of sustainability throughout the Dalhousie University community. By prioritizing ecological awareness, economic responsibility, and social equity, the DSUSO aims to transform the DSU into a model of sustainable practices that resonate across the entire campus.
Serving as a central hub for sustainability initiatives, the DSUSO actively identifies, assesses, and addresses environmental challenges faced by the Dalhousie student community. Run by students for students, the office provides programs and resources that are accessible to all, with a particular focus on the Halifax campuses, while also ensuring that students from the Agriculture campus can participate in all initiatives.
Among the key offerings of the DSUSO are annual programs such as fall and winter green grants, workshop series, the Green Gala, clothing swaps, BIPOC cooking classes in collaboration with the Loaded Ladle, and a Breakfast Club on the Sexton campus, also partnered with the Loaded Ladle. These programs not only encourage sustainable practices but also foster a sense of community among students.
The DSUSO is funded through student fees collected by the Dalhousie Student Union, ensuring that its operations are aligned with the interests and needs of the student body. Transition training is conducted by the previous DSUSO Operations Manager, who also provides the official DSUSO Transition Document, ensuring continuity and the ongoing success of sustainability initiatives at Dalhousie University.
A brief description of the student educators program’s target audience (2nd program):
The target audience is Dalhousie students and community members.
Number of trained student educators (2nd program):
Number of weeks the student educators program is active annually (2nd program):
Average or expected number of hours worked weekly per trained student educator (2nd program):
Total number of hours worked annually by trained student educators (2nd program):
Website URL where information about the student educators program is available (2nd program):
If reporting students served by three or more peer-to-peer programs, provide:
3rd program
A brief description of the student educators program (3rd program):
The Dalhousie Office of Sustainability collaborates with both Student Services and Residence Life to recruit and empower student educators across all campuses, focusing on organizing impactful sustainability programming in residences. The residence team serves as role models for all students—both on and off campus—demonstrating the importance of sustainable living through their actions and initiatives.
One notable program is Ecolympics, financially supported by both Residence Life and the Office of Sustainability, which allocates resources for programming, staff time, and administrative support. Student educators participate in a comprehensive training workshop led by the Sustainability Manager, where they learn the fundamentals of sustainable living and effective strategies for incorporating sustainability into daily life. This training equips them to engage their peers and deliver educational events that inspire positive environmental actions.
Key initiatives include promoting waste education and organizing a four-week inter-building competition during Ecolympics, challenging residents to minimize their water and energy consumption. The residence building that achieves the largest overall reduction is awarded a trophy and a celebratory pizza party, creating a fun and competitive atmosphere that encourages participation. Through these efforts, the residence team not only enhances sustainability awareness but also fosters a culture of accountability and environmental stewardship among all students at Dalhousie University.
A brief description of the student educators program’s target audience (3rd program):
The target audience of the residence educators are the students living in residence.
Number of trained student educators (3rd program):
Number of weeks the student educators program is active annually (3rd program):
Average or expected number of hours worked weekly per trained student educator (3rd program):
Total number of hours worked annually by trained student educators (3rd program):
Website URL where information about the student educators program is available (3rd program):
Additional programs
Name of the student educators program (4th program)
What the SUST?!
A brief description of the student educators program (4th program)
College launched a podcast in 2022, led by a team of Capstone students and mentored by the College’s Communications Intern, reporting to Manager of Outreach and Communications. The goal is to produce accessible, entertaining, and educational content informing the Dalhousie community about wide ranging aspects of economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability.
A brief description of the student educators program’s target audience (4th program)
All undergraduate students (as well as faculty/staff) at Dalhousie.
Website URL where information about the student educators program is available (4th Program)
Number of trained student educators (all other programs):
Number of weeks, on average, the student educators programs are active annually (all other programs):
Average or expected number of hours worked weekly per student educator (all other programs) :
Total number of hours worked annually by trained student educators (all other programs):
Part 2. Educator hours per student served by a peer-to-peer educator program
Hours worked annually by trained student sustainability educators per student served by a peer-to-peer program:
Optional Fields
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.