| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.79 |
| Liaison | Yumiko Jakobcic |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Grand Valley State University
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.40 / 4.00 |
Yumiko
Jakobcic Campus Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability Practices |
Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
Total number of students enrolled for credit that are served (i.e. directly targeted) by a student peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program (avoid double-counting to the extent feasible):
Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
Name of the student educators program:
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:
Zero-Waste Ambassadors are students who volunteer at every home football game to help educate guests on how to sort their landfill, recyclable and compostable waste. Guests are composed of students, faculty, staff, and community members.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected:
Recruitment of Zero-Waste Ambassadors is a joint effort between the Office of Student Life, Campus Dining, Facilities Services, and the Office of Sustainability Practices. Students often volunteer on an annual basis and use student organization/club involvement to invite other students. Sustainability related student organizations on campus often are involved in the zero waste game day efforts as well as other organizations who require volunteer hours such as Greek Life or Student Senate.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:
Zero-Waste Ambassadors receive training from The Office of Sustainability Practices and Facilities Services on recycling and composting before every home game. A "cheat sheet" is available for those unfamiliar with the processes. Staff assist throughout the games/events by continually checking on volunteers and fielding any issues or questions.
A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination):
Campus Dining provides a free meal ticket for the Zero-Waste Ambassadors during football games. Volunteers are encouraged to collect any returnable cans from the tailgating areas before the game as well as any can/bottles collected during the game and use the funds toward their student organizations.
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 Citizenship Mentors compete in a building vs. building competition by encouraging residents to reduce their energy use in the living centers for an entire month. During this time, resident assistants increase their sustainability related outreach techniques through passive and active programming as well as bulletin boards and promoting on campus sustainability related events.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
Citizenship Mentors are a subset of returning Resident Assistants appointed on an annual basis by Housing staff.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):
Citizenship Mentors receive training from staff in The Office of Sustainable Practices on ways to reduce energy use and how to relate that information to residents. Facilities Services also works closely with Housing to ensure that safety regulations are followed during the competition.
A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination) (2nd program):
Facilities Planning staff include energy metering devices in the participating buildings.
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):
The Campus Dining Green Team is made up of students and interdisciplinary staff who work together to make the campus more sustainable through campus dining efforts. Students and staff collaborate on yearly academic plans as well as provide learning opportunities for peers to learn which bin (compost, recycle, landfill) campus dining containers, cutlery, food waste, etc. should be appropriately placed.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
Green Team student leaders are hired by Campus Dining. The rest of the Green Team is composed of volunteers.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
Green team members are provided education and subsequent materials in order to feel comfortable conversing with their peers about campus dining sustainability efforts. The Office of Sustainability Practices provides support for Green Team leaders when necessary.
A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination) (3rd program):
Campus Dining pays an hourly rate to the Green Team leaders and also offers campus dining dollars to volunteers.
A brief description of all other student peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs, including the number of students served and how student educators are selected, trained, and supported by the institution:
Sustainable Agriculture Project volunteer hours are facilitated by interns. Interns work to educate peers and facilitate the growth and development of best farming and gardening practices for drop in volunteers, classes, student organizations, and community groups.
Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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.