Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 55.01
Liaison Katie Koscielak
Submission Date May 8, 2013
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

Cal Poly Humboldt
ER-1: Student Sustainability Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.00 / 5.00 TallChief Comet
Director, Office of Sustainability
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total number of degree-seeking students enrolled at the institution:
7,618

Program name (1st program):
PowerSave Green Campus

Number of students served by the program to whom peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education is offered (1st program):
7,618

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (1st program):

PowerSave Green Campus is a student-driven energy efficiency education program that promotes careers in the field, generates actual energy savings, increases awareness of the importance of energy efficiency, and encourages academic infusion of sustainability concepts.

Projects range from energy audits and assessments, residential and laboratory energy competitions, intern-led and faculty sponsored academic courses, green career fairs, and energy efficiency technology retrofits.

PowerSave Campus interns work closely with faculty, staff, administrators and other students to engage them in their projects, spearheading educational campaigns that involve the entire campus community.

A few examples of peer to peer outreach activities that have taken place at Humboldt include the mock energy bills that were posted at residence halls to make students aware of how much energy is used in the dorms and energy audit trainings that take place throughout the year.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):

Student educators are selected through an interview process. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply to open positions, for which they must submit a resume and writing sample. Qualified candidates - usually those with good writing and project management skills, and technical or outreach experience are invited for an interview.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):

PowerSave interns learn how to perform energy audits from local energy professionals and other trained interns. Training on additional technical and professional development topics takes place at semi-annual conferences, but the topics will vary.


A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (1st program):

The team has two staff advisors who attend meetings and provide the team with guidance. The team has also applied for and received funds through revenue sharing and the Humboldt Energy Independence Fund.


The website URL for 1st Program:
Program name (2nd program):
Waste Reduction & Resource Awareness Program (WRRAP)

Number of students to whom peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education is offered (2nd program):
7,618

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):

The Waste Reduction & Resource Awareness Program (WRRAP) is funded by the Associated Students of Humboldt State University. The program’s mission is to foster engagement in waste reduction, composting, recycling and reuse across the campus community and beyond. WRRAP is comprised of five branches: Education, Compost, ROSE (Reusable Office Supply Exchange), HSU Take Back the Tap, and Zero Waste. Each department is charged with education and outreach to further their goals and the overall mission of WRRAP (www.humboldt.edu/wrrap).

The Education Department hosts workshops and events for the student body that are designed to raise awareness of active participation in waste reduction. These include waste reduction workshops for incoming freshmen during the Humboldt Orientation Program, the very popular Clothing Exchange held each semester, outreach coordination for HSU’s annual participation in RecycleMania and the Game Day Challenge, film screenings and discussions, and the facilitation of the WRRAP Club for students interested in volunteering.

The Compost Department manages a compost demonstration site on campus and facilitates workshops on making and utilizing compost. ROSE manages a space on campus for the donation and re-distribution of office and classroom supplies, while hosting workshops on re-use and re-purposing materials, such as notebook and paper making workshops. The Zero Waste department assists departments and student groups in making their campus events zero waste, and conducts workshops for students on zero waste lifestyle choices. Take Back the Tap promotes the elimination of bottled water by hosting hydration stations at campus events, football games and commencement, while conducting water-related outreach and education events during Water Awareness Month.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):

The campus Sustainability & Waste Coordinator is responsible for advising WRRAP. Students are hired, through a formal hiring process, based on their background, understanding of waste reduction, and their passion for student engagement and sustainability. The advisor and other WRRAP employees provide training to new hires.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):

Training takes place at strategic planning sessions held at the start of each semester. Most new hires overlap with the employee they will be replacing so that training can also take place on the job. Furthermore, each new hire is provided with a Staff Handbook to orient them to their position.


A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):

WRRAP employees are paid an hourly wage and enjoy a budget from which they can draw financial support to develop and implement their projects.


The website URL for 2nd program:
Program name (3rd program):
---

Number of students to whom peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education is offered (3rd program):
---

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
---

A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
---

A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (3rd program):
---

A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
---

The website URL for 3rd program:
---

Program name (All other programs):
---

Number of students to whom peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education is offered (All other programs):
---

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (All other programs):
---

A brief description of how the student educators are selected (All other programs):
---

A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (All other programs):
---

A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (All other programs):
---

The website URL for all other programs:
---

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.