Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 52.65
Liaison Audrey McSain
Submission Date July 13, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Lehigh University
EN-6: Employee Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.22 / 3.00 Delicia Nahman
Sustainability Officer
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution administer or oversee an ongoing faculty/staff peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program that meets the criteria for this credit?:
Yes

Total number of employees:
1,748

Name of the employee educators program (1st program) :
Sustainable Office Program

Number of employees served by the program (1st program):
129

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

Lehigh University’s Sustainable Office Program is a voluntary, self-guided program designed for staff to take the lead on promoting environmental practices in the workplace. Offices are required to select a leader(s), known as a Sustainable Office Program Representative, and members of the office are required to receive training by the Office of Sustainability. Sustainable Office Program Representatives self-select.


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

The certification process includes completing a registration form, a baseline survey, as well as a checklist of actions, which have specific questions that address day-to-day behavior such as regularly turning off the lights when you leave the office as well as waste reduction and recycling. The Sustainable Office Program Representative meets regularly with Office of Sustainability staff in order to receive training on the various components of the baseline survey and the checklist of actions. The Sustainable Office Representative learns how to appropriately conduct a baseline survey in their office and they learn what each of the actions in the checklist (within each of the 9 areas) means and how they can best achieve them in their office. Since every office and department is different, the Office of Sustainability performs targeted training based on the anticipated needs of each office. By taking action in a variety of topic areas, offices can reduce their environmental footprint, be responsible stewards of university’s resources, and contribute to Lehigh’s sustainability goals and commitments.
The employees that have completed the program engage with their own colleagues within their offices to help continue to make their offices more sustainable. Some offices go for re certification. They also engage with colleagues outside of their office and department by helping to promote the Sustainable Office Program at events such as the Earth Day Fair. We have found that this is an extremely successful way of getting new offices interested in the program. Employees like to hear from their colleagues who have already been through the program before they commit to join the program.


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

The Office of Sustainability identifies a staff member to assist the Sustainable Office Program Representative and their departments with the registration, baseline survey, and checklist of actions as well as throughout the certification process. The program does not usually cost the Office of Sustainability or the departments anything. The Office of Sustainability will however contribute to workplace purchases, in order for the office to meet specific actions on the checklist, if requested.


The website URL where information about the program is available (1st program):
Name of the employee educators program (2nd program):
N/A

Number of employees served by the program (2nd program):
0

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

N/A


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

N/A


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

N/A


The website URL where information about the program is available (2nd program):
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Name(s) of the employee educator program(s) (all other programs):
N/A

Number of employees served by all other programs:
0

A brief description of how the employee educators are selected (all other programs):

N/A


A brief description of the formal training that the employee educators receive (all other programs):

N/A


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

N/A


The website URL where information about the program(s) is available (all other programs):
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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.