Missouri University of Science and Technology
ER-1: Student Sustainability Educators Program

Missouri S&T students provide peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education through the university’s One Book Program. In 2011-12 and in 2012-13, the book selected for the One Book Program was No Impact Man – the adventures of a guilty liberal who attempts to save the planet and the discoveries he makes about himself and our way of life in the process, by Colin Beavan. No Impact Man is required reading in all sections of English 20 (Freshman Composition), and is recommended reading in other courses, particularly FE 10 (freshman engineering, a course taken by 900+ first year students each fall semester). No Impact Man is also required reading in the 3-credit Hit the Ground Running summer bridge course. English 20 students write a paper about No Impact Man, and many of them are required to attend some ancillary program related to the book. Resident Assistants are provided a copy of the book and are encouraged to use the sustainability themes in the book to create extra-curricular programming for the residents in their halls. Participation is encouraged but not required. Some sample programs from 2012 based on sustainability are described below: • Campus Power Plant Tour- Students toured the campus power plant and learned about electricity usage and plant operational information. • Box Fort Mania- The Resident Assistants collected boxes & reused them to create a fun box fort building program in. The program promoted the concept of reusing materials. • Clothes Drive- Resident Assistants arranged for collection sites in the Residence Halls to promote clothing donation.

Resident Assistants are selected by a peer selection committee combined with an application score.

Resident Assistants go through a two week comprehensive leadership & skills development training program during the Fall semester. There are 18 in-service programs offered over the course of a semester along with a three day training program offered at the beginning of the Fall semester. Supervisors also provide ongoing 1:1 meetings and staff developments.

There are four full-time Resident Director staff members who directly supervise Resident Assistants. There is a full-time staff person assigned to developing and implementing Resident Assistant training. The Associate Director directly supervises the Resident Directors and indirectly supervises and provides support to Resident Assistants.