Emory University
EN-9: Staff Professional Development and Training

The Office of Sustainability Initiatives runs a Sustainability Representatives program in which each academic and research building designates a staff or faculty member to participate in training on sustainability. Reps then conduct peer to peer outreach by training and teaching their building occupants about recycling, energy and water saving strategies, sustainable food issues, and other relevant topics. Reps assemble monthly for educational and planning meetings. This program is both a professional development program and a peer to peer outreach tool.

Green Offices at Emory and Green Labs at Emory are voluntary programs that train staff on integrating knowledge and skills into Emory's work spaces. Certified Offices and Labs are designated with a public plaque and certificate, and individuals may use an email signature designation their work space certification. Trainings are provided by Office of Sustainability Initiatives staff and trained interns.

Office of Sustainability Initiatives staff and trained interns provide Emory event planners training in preparation for meeting Emory's Zero Waste Commencement commitment. Event planers are offered online training year round on sustainable event planning, and are invited to the annual Sustainable Events Symposium to learn from each other and sustainability experts. Additionally, event planners engage with the OSI staff throughout the year through the sustainable events certification process.

Zero Waste Ambassadors (ZWAs) empower students, faculty, and staff with the knowledge and resources to actualize the Sustainability Vision goals pertaining to reducing and diverting waste. It is critical to foster a community that recognizes the value of materials management and its intersections with environmental justice, resource conservation, and a regenerative economy. ZWAs gain the tools and leadership skills to educate others and the agency to share feedback on how to improve Emory’s systems, communication, and culture to achieve these goals. The program is designed so that student interns of the Office of Sustainability Initiatives (OSI) look to OSI staff for content contributions, but the outreach, communications, training and programming aspects of the program are all designed and carried out by the students. These student interns train, engage and support student, faculty and staff ZWAs operating across the campus.

Any staff or faculty member of the institution can also sign up to take virtual trainings on the topics of "Managing Bias,” “Diversity: Inclusion in the Workplace” and "Safe Space" trainings to foster a culture of understanding, empathy, belonging and support.

Appropriate Planning, Design, and Construction staff are offered external training on LEED certification, as part of their LEED professional development.

All relevant staff attend training and professional development on environmental health and safety requirements and credentials for Emory University and Emory Healthcare.

Sustainability staff are offered professional development and training through conferences, symposia, and training of affiliate and trade organizations every year.

https://sustainability.emory.edu/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities/
https://sustainability.emory.edu/programs/green-labs-at-emory/
https://sustainability.emory.edu/programs/green-offices-at-emory/
https://sustainability.emory.edu/programs/sustainable-events-at-emory/
https://equityandinclusion.emory.edu/about/events/training/elms.html
http://www.lgbt.emory.edu/programs-events/safe-space.html