Indiana University Indianapolis
EN-1: Student Educators Program

The Office of Sustainability interns are co-mentored by operations staff and faculty members, interns conduct research and develop programming focused on general sustainability outreach and education or in specific topic areas such as food, transportation, waste, grounds, and more. Although here we list only the number of interns themselves who have come through the program, the actual number of students served by the peer-to-peer projects of these interns approaches all students on campus. Virtually all internships involve an education and outreach component.

Through athletic events, certified Green Events, and resident hall events, we believe all student demographics are targeted.

The Center for Earth and Environmental Science (CEES) Community Engagement Associate (CEA) and Outreach Assistant positions work an average of 10 hours per week. CEAs work alongside environmental science students from IUPUI, CEES staff, and community partners delivering environmental science education in a variety of community parks and gardens. CEES hosts 8-12 service learning projects for IUPUI students per semester. In addition to educating their peers at service learning events, CEAs also assist with field and laboratory research at CEES, general public education outreach, development of K-12 education modules, and other special projects at the Center. - CEAs act as in-field educational resources for students taking part in environmental service learning events at IUPUI. They train their peers on academic topics including: invasive species, water quality, soil health, ecosystem services, endangered species, oceanic dead zones, climate change, and others. - CEAs also engage their peers in how to solve the issues learned in the field in their every day life - CEAs have also led general education outreach events

IUPUI has service learning and civic engagement as core principles in our general academic education requirements. Therefore, many of the core courses have service learning requirements that students must complete throughout their coursework. The Center for Service and Learning provides support for the Community Engaged Associates (CEA) that provide the peer mentoring to all students engaged in the Service Learning and Civic Engagement experiences. The CEES CEAs work with students from all majors; there is a predominance of biology and earth sciences majors, because those are the majors most likely to be taking the courses that participate in the CEES service learning experiences, but as the participating courses are typically those that satisfy the general education requirement for science, there are students from all majors taking part in the CEES service learning events.

The OTEAM is an undergraduate student leadership group dedicated to engaging new students, along with their families and guests, as they attend orientation and begin classes at IUPUI. During the summer, OTEAM leaders serve as orientation leaders and introduce the campus to more than 5,000 students and 2,500 family members and guests who are new to IUPUI.

Other OTEAM responsibilities include: Be approachable and available to meet the needs of first-year students through summer orientation and the academic year Assist first-year students to adjust and to transition into IUPUI Serve as an advocate for the interests, needs, and rights of first-year students Serve as a mentor and peer advisor to students for academic, cocurricular, leadership, and campus involvement Be a resource and referral agent for students, faculty, staff, and other members of the IUPUI community Complete various other duties and expectations as directed by the directors and student coordinators

At least 20% of their responsibilities cover ongoing engagement with new students around campus sustainability-oriented initiatives; Welcoming Campus, Diversity, transportation options, health & wellness, service learning, campus recreation, student organization & Involvement, Academic support & guidance, etc.

OTEAM Peer Mentor Program: * Number of trained student educators = 150.0 * Number of weeks active = 16.0 * Average or expected number of hours worked weekly per trained student educator Total Program = 30.0 @ 20% = 6 * Total number of hours worked annually by trained student educators = 72,000 @ 20% = 14,400

During the summer, OTEAM leaders serve as orientation leaders and introduce the campus to more than 5,000 students and 2,500 family members and guests who are new to IUPUI. In the fall, OTEAM members participate in first-year seminars, including Bridge Week and learning community sections, as peer mentors. These students serve as advocates for the interests, needs, and rights of first-year students. 

Undergraduate Student Government - Sustainability Representatives