Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.12
Liaison Kristina Hope
Submission Date March 1, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Knox College
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Deborah Steinberg
Director of Campus Sustainability Initiatives
Office of Sustainability
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Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
1,398

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):
1,398

Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
100

Name of the student educators program:
Compost Collective

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
1,398

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:

A service of the Office of Sustainability is to collect compost and recycling at special events throughout the year. As compost is not a common option outside our dining space, during 2017 a Compost Collective was formed to serve as "waste station ambassadors" during events. Students stand by waste stations, assisting attendees with their disposal options and using this opportunity to education them on composting options on campus, as well as recycling and waste reduction.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected:

A call was made for volunteers to join the Compost Collective. No application or selection process occurred, but all interested students had to attend a training session to join the Collective.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:

A training session included a description of how the College manages food waste and compostables. The waste stations were described and the steps taken at each event are gone over. We discuss any questions that may come up from attendees during events. On-the-job training is also important. The Director of Sustainability attends events when Collective Members are new, to model behavior and be available to answer uncommon 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):

The Office of Sustainability financially supports the special collection of compost and the waste stations and coordinates having volunteers at events. Collective members volunteered their time.


Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
Residential Assistants

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
1,126

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

Residential Assistants (RAs) serve as peer counselors for students in their residential suite. Among their duties, these student educators are tasked with disseminating and maintaining awareness of campus sustainability practices, starting with formal orientation of their residents, and followed by continuous updates when new information is available, or reminders are deemed necessary. They also assist the Office of Sustainability each year with new student orientation and must be able to lead these informational activities.


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

Residential Assistants are hired, after an interview process, by the Office of Student Life.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):

Prior to their term of service, RAs undergo formal training and orientation to the information they need to serve as RAs. This includes a 45-minute training on campus sustainability initiatives.


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):

RA students are paid through the Campus Life Office.


Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
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Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
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A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
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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):
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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:
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Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.