Florida State University
EN-7: Employee Educators Program

The Green Office Certification program seeks to align campus operations with sustainable practices by providing a framework for implementing sustainable practices into the work environment. The Green Office Certification Program assists faculty and staff assess their current office practices and make simple steps toward becoming more sustainable. Departments and offices across the university set goals and implement green practices in areas including: energy conservation, waste reduction, recycling, transportation, IT, and purchasing. To participate, offices are fill out the Green Office Certification checklist, earning points for sustainable behavior. Office select initiatives they will implement and work to incorporate these practices into work culture. Offices are giving a rating of Green, Garnet, or Gold and display their certification status on their front office door. By completing items provided on the certification checklist, certified offices will contribute to the mission of the Sustainable Campus Initiative by promoting resource conservation and cost savings at FSU and within the campus community.

Participation in the Green Office Certification Program is completely voluntary. Offices expressing interest in participating appoint a Green Office Liaison who maintains regular communication with the Green Office Certification Coordinator. This person will develop a timeline and action plan with the coordinator to incorporate sustainable behavior into office practices. The employee educator serves as the link between the Certification Coordinator and the entire office staff.

Green Office Liaisons collaborate with the Green Office Certification coordinator to review the department submission. Liaisons receive on-going support and education from the coordinator through Green Tip of the Month emails and events. Liaisons are encouraged to share all sustainability information with their colleagues.

The Green Office Certification Program is supported through the Sustainable Campus budget.

Green Dot is a bystander intervention initiative that recognizes that most people care about the high prevalence of power based personal violence but don’t have the tools to know how to be part of the solution. Green Dot seeks to change the culture by activating people that may not have been directly impacted by power based personal violence. We recognize that power based personal violence prevention is everyone’s responsibility. The initiative uses the concept of Green Dots (actions taken to eliminate/prevent Red Dots) displacing Red Dots (potential/real acts of violence). Actions can be reactive-responding to a Red Dot in the moment, or proactive- preemptively demonstrating a Green Dot. The peer-to-peer program encourages participants to spread awareness and create a culture change. After Green Dot training, employees display a Green Dot on their nametag, educate others on how to notice and intervene in unhealthy situations, and serve as a reminder to the campus community about the importance of healthy discourse and interactions for a sustainable campus. This program correlates to the UN SDGs in the areas of gender equality, reduced inequalities, and peace and justice, recognizing that sustainable communities require all members to feel safe and empowered.

Employees self-select into the program with support from their supervisor and department.

Attendees learn about types or power-based personal violence, how to spot such an interaction, how to intervene in an unhealthy situation, and how to teach others advocate for others in power-based violent situations. By creating more Green Dot educators, FSU is creating a web of support across the University, making a stand against power-based personal violence.

Green Dot (training and staff support) is supported by a grant administered through the Center for Health and Wellness.