Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 38.32
Liaison Rachelanne Knoll
Submission Date March 30, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Eastern Kentucky University
EN-7: Employee Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00 Debbie Namugayi
Sustainability Manager
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total number of employees (staff + faculty, headcount):
3,165

Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program (avoid double-counting):
3,165

Percentage of employees served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
100

Name of the employee educators program:
Sustainability Network

Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
3,165

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:

The Sustainability Network works to accomplish the goals outlined in EKU's Sustainability Strategic Plan. It is organized into the following sub-teams: Energy, Air & Climate, Buildings & Infrastructure, Grounds, Ag. & Dining, Transportation, Waste Management & Purchasing, Water Management, Engagement & Communications, Academic Affairs. While each team may work with other EKU employees in facilitating progress on goals, the Engagement & Communications team is more active in outreach efforts. Some examples would be cross promotion and coordination of the EKU Earth Day Festival, #EKULocal Festival, American Chestnut Orchard planting and cleanup events, and environmental film documentaries. The Engagement & Communications team trains employees and students alike to become subject experts during specific events and activities sponsored by the Office of Sustainability each year. For example, members of the Engagement & Communications team educated over 100 volunteers including staff and faculty members on the history and ecological significance of the American Chestnut tree on Appalachian forests during our most recent American Chestnut orchard planting and cleanup day. Individuals were also trained on proper tree planting and care.


A brief description of how the employee educators are selected:

Sustainability Network members are selected by the EKU Sustainability Manager due to their unique ability to influence others based upon their full-time employment role at the University.


A brief description of the formal training that the employee educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:

Sustainability Network members attend an annual summit meeting that gives an overview of the goals for the upcoming year and accomplishments of the previous year as well as recurring sub-team meetings organized according to the Sustainability Strategic Plan.


A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or paid faculty/staff coordination):

The Sustainability Network is supported by the budget of the Office of Sustainability as needed.


Name of the employee educators program (2nd program):
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Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount) (2nd program):
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A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):
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A brief description of how the employee educators are selected (2nd program):
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A brief description of the formal training that the employee educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):
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A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or paid faculty/staff coordination) (2nd program):
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A brief description of all other employee peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs, including the number of employees served and how employee educators are selected, trained, and supported by the institution:

In accordance with EKU’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and to reducing our environmental impact, the Responsible Environmental Stewardship Committee serves to: (a) Increase and improve the praxis and teaching of sustainability and environmental stewardship across all university areas (e.g., teaching, research, service, programs, operations), including but not limited to energy diversification, transportation, and waste management; (b) Assist, advise and support the Office of Sustainability’s initiatives.

Membership

1. The Committee on Responsible Environmental Stewardship (the “Committee”) shall consist of eighteen (18) voting members from the university’s faculty and staff. In addition the Sustainability Manager will serve as an ex officio (non-voting) member and a voting student representative appointed by the Student Government Association
2. Committee members shall serve three- year, renewable, terms.
3. The Committee shall consist of:
a. Eight (8) faculty members from across all colleges, including:
i. Two (2) from the College of Arts and Sciences
ii. One (1) from the College of Justice and Safety
iii. One (1) from the College of Education
iv. One (1) from the Business and Technology
v. One (1) from the College of Health Sciences
vi. One (1) from the University Programs (e.g., ENV)
vii. One (1) from the Graduate Education & Research (e.g., Division of Natural Areas)
b. Two (2) staff members from the Division of Student Success:
i. One (1) from Student Life & Auxiliary Services (i.e., Student Life, Housing, Campus Recreation, or Dining Services)
ii. One (1) from Communications and Marketing / Enrollment Management
c. Four (4) staff members from the Division of Finance & Administration:
i. Three (3) from Facilities services including: one (1) Custodial; one (1) Building & Energy Infrastructure ; and one (1) Ground/Landscape/Environment representative
ii. One (1) from University Business Services (i.e., Parking, Purchasing and Stores, Printing)
d. One (1) staff member from Engagement and Regional Stewardship
e. Two (2) members at large.
i. Individuals interested in serving as members at large may volunteer for the Committee by applying when a member at large position becomes available.
1. Anticipated openings among the member at large positions will be announced at an open meeting of the committee during the semester prior the opening.
2. The chair will maintain an application form for prospective members for general membership positions.
4. A Chair and Vice Chair shall be selected from the Committee members. The Vice Chair retains voting privileges. The Chair may vote in the result of a tie.
5. The Chair will review the membership roll of the committee at the beginning of the spring semester. Working with the vice chair, the Chair will actively work to ensure representatives from each College and Department outlined above and work to fill any anticipated vacancies among voting members. Outgoing members will be encouraged to identify a replacement from his or her College or Department. During the spring semester the chair will seek to fill vacancies, including contacting the Deans and Administrators of each area listed, soliciting appointments to the Committee.
a. If a college does not provide a representative by the first meeting of the academic year, when a position is vacant, then another member of the university faculty from any college may fill the position for a one-year term.
b. If a designated area does not provide a staff representative by the first meeting of the academic year, then another member of the same division may fill the position for a one-year term.
c. If the Engagement and Regional Stewardship Office does not provide a representative by the first meeting of the academic year, a member at large may serve in the position for a one-year term.
6. All Committee meetings are open meetings. Sustainability affects all areas of the University. Therefore, all individuals employed by Eastern Kentucky University, and all currently enrolled EKU Students, are invited to attend. All meetings will be announced in EKU Today and EKU Students Today twice before each business meeting (approximately 10 and 3 days before) by the Vice Chair of the Committee.

Chair Of The Committee

1. The term of the chair is one (1) year.
2. At the last meeting of the academic year, the committee will elect a vice chair from eligible members.
3. The vice chair will become chair after serving one (1) year as vice chair.
4. There are no consecutive terms

Parliamentary Authority

1. Rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the committee unless they are inconsistent with the bylaws or general rules of the committee or with University policies.
2. Voting quorum is 50% of the composition of the committee’s positions, requiring 10 members of the committee to be present in order for voting business to occur.


Total number of hours employee educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.