Portland State University
ER-1: Student Sustainability Educators Program

The Sustainability Leadership Center's mission is to integrate sustainability into the student life experience at Portland State University. The SLC is built around three core student leadership programs: The Sustainability Volunteer Program (SVP), The EcoReps Program in partnership with University Housing and Residence Life, and the Student Sustainability Leadership Council (SSLC). The SLC also utilizes partnerships with departments and student initiatives across campus to create a web of opportunities for student leadership development through programs, events, and projects. SLC programs are led using a peer-to-peer mentoring model that forms connections between student leadership, sustainability education, and learning organization theories. With support from the Sustainability Leadership and Outreach Coordinator, six student staff and one graduate assistant offer students opportunities to take part in creative sustainability-focused initiatives that benefit the PSU campus and surrounding Portland community. Each SLC program is unique in terms of learning focus areas and leadership processes. Together, the core SLC programs offer a web of opportunities for students to develop their own unique sustainability leadership identities while creating momentum toward campus sustainability goals.

Students may apply for a variety of opportunities in the SLC: Student Staff (paid positions): Students apply for one of seven student positions. Six of these positions are paid hourly, and one is a graduate assistant position with tuition remission. Positions are posted online and shared through campus networks. Interested applicants submit resumes and cover letters and are selected by a committee of students and staff. Sustainability Volunteer Program (SVP) - Students apply for one of up to twenty five volunteer positions offered for fall, winter. Participants commit to 2-4 hours per week of service for at least one term in one of five task forces: Gardens, Cultural, Communications, Food Systems, and Waste Management. Applicants select a first and second choice of task force and are placed in a task force after attending orientation. Link to online application: http://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/svp-application. Student Sustainability Leadership Council - Students are selected to represent strategically-identified campus partner initiatives and organizations from across PSU. Examples of partners include: Campus Recreation, United Indian Students in Higher Education, Food Action Collective, EcoReps, Associated Students of PSU, the School of Education, Multicultural Center, Environmental Club, the Campus Sustainability Office, and Food Action Collective. In 2013-14, 15 organizations are represented. Delegates attend one two hour meeting every other week to influence the direction of sustainability at PSU, network and share initiatives, connect with administration, practice leadership skills, and organize a quarterly student craft market. Link to online application: http://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/sslc-application. EcoReps - Student residents apply for one of up to 15 positions in fall term and commit to participating in EcoReps for fall, winter and spring term. EcoReps commit to 2-4 hours of service per week for the academic year. Link to online application: http://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/ecoreps-application. Interns - Internships are generally offered to students who are current or past participants in SLC programs (SSLC, EcoReps, SVP). Position descriptions are distributed through the SLC newsletter which is sent to all program participants. Internships are offered for 1-3 terms; students may request to continue their internship each term with decisions made by the SLC Coordinator and student mentor based on performance and learning. On occasion, internships may be offered to a student leader for one term to work on a specific project with the SLC Coordinator or student staff. Field Trips - Each term, one field trip is planned by the SLC Graduate Assistant. Current SLC program participants are given first priority registration, and then spots are opened to the general campus community. Students apply via RSVP to email invite. Past field trips have included visits and service at Mercy Corps, Portland Development Commission, Edible Portland, EcoTrust, Growing Gardens, The Rebuilding Center, Yoga on Yamhill, Awakenings Wellness Center, and Hopkins Demonstration Forest.

Prior to the start of the academic year, incoming SLC student staff participate a week-long training. The first day is co-facilitated by the past year's student staff and the SLC Coordinator. The second day of training allows outgoing and incoming student staff to discuss the prepared transition/legacy binder that has been created by the outgoing staff member. This day is also a time for the students to meet with key campus partners (ex: Housing staff, Dining Services, Waste Management Coordinator, faculty partners). The rest of the week focuses on trainings that will help the students be successful in their positions. Topics include: - Position expectations and goal setting - Values, mission, and vision - Organization charts for the university - Partnerships - Overview of programs - Lessons learned by outgoing team - What is sustainability to us? - Leadership training with Civic Leadership faculty and SLC Coordinator - Supporting students in distress with Director of Counseling Services - Facilitation with university faculty - Cultural Competency and Anti-oppression Training with Womens Studies faculty - Sexual Assault Awareness with director of Womens Resource Center - Campus Sustainability Tour with SLC Coordinator - Paperwork and organizational processes with support staff - SLC Learning Outcomes Prior to the start of the academic year, student staff work with the SLC Coordinator to identify their own learning goals for the year as sustainability leaders. These goals are revisited throughout the year. Student staff are encouraged to attend conferences and professional development that pertain to their positions and goals.

This program employs one full-time Coorinator, a 20 hour/week Graduate Assistant (out of the Leadership for Sustainability Education Graduate Program) and six additional hourly 10-15 hour/week student positions. The SLC is funded through a $155,000 recurring grant from the university through the James and Marion Miller Foundation grant which is administered through the Institute for Sustainable Solutions.

SLS is the center for service leadership and volunteerism at Portland State University. SLS is most known for its group of 20 students that serve with community partners in Portland and work to connect the PSU community to volunteer opportunities. Additionally, SLS also facilitates monthly and annual days of service, plans several alternative break trips, and coordinates the Alder Elementary mentor program. Students have opportunities to participate in a variety of programs with various levels of commitment: Short term/one day service opportunities: - Portland State of Mind Service Day - MLK Jr. Day of Service - Earth Day of Service - Serve Your City: Group Service Day! Longer term/more than once a month: - Alder Mentor Program - Village Building Convergence - Alternative Spring Break Committed for the academic year: - Student Leaders for Service Members - Interfaith Leadership Team - MAPS Mentors

Students are recruited through the following process: - Positions are widely publicized to the entire university - Online application, see attached SLS description. Both SLS and Interfaith members have to maintain a 2.5 undergrad/3.0 grad GPA and take at least 6 undergrad/5 grad credits. - Interviews by Coordinator and Student Lead and Americorps VISTA volunteer)

Student Leaders for Service (SLS) is designed to intentionally build students' leadership capacity and civic engagement skills by serving and learning with non-profit and community organizations in the Portland metropolitan region. SLS members serve as a key link between the university and the community, making manifest PSU's motto: Let Knowledge Serve the City. Trainings for student educators: - Orientation and retreat at the beginning of the year - Weekly meetings that incorporate a mixture of leadership development and skill building - Leadership conference 1x/year For the MAPS mentors: - Orientation at the beginning of each term Student Leaders for Service Member Learning Outcomes: - Student participants will become increasingly self aware, reflective and ethical leaders that promote social change within their various communities. - Students will critically reflect on engagement experiences - Students will increase their understanding of issues underlying social problems; students will understand themselves as agents of social change - Students will have a heightened understanding and value of personal difference and commonality - Students will sharpen their abilities to solve problems creatively and work collaboratively students will serve as leaders for increased community engagement with PSU students, faculty & staff Student Leaders for Service Community Partner Outcomes - SLS member placement and programming will assist Community Partners in having increased assistance to broaden delivery of existing services or to begin new ones - SLS member will aid Community partners in having additional approaches to solving problems - Community partners will have increased access to resources (be made aware of ways to partner with CBL courses, additional PSU volunteers, and get projects completed through service days) - SLS member placement and programmatic involvement will assist in diversifying the community partner setting, therefore increasing appreciation for personal difference and commonality - Day of Service Participant Outcomes - All service learning programs/experiences are structured around best practices informed by service-learning theory. - Students involved in a service-learning program will critically reflect on the community engagement process. - Students involved in a service-learning experience will demonstrate increased awareness of social problems underlying our community. - Students involved in a service learning experience will report increased awareness of and value in diversity - Service-learning participants will collaborate with others.

- The office receives funding for a full time staff person, 2 student leads, 3 days of service, the orientations for the leadership programs and a small marketing budget and Oregon Campus Compact membership from Student Fees. This year the university was also able to support funding of an Americorps VISTA volunteer.

At Portland State University, we consider our campus a laboratory for sustainable practices and we’re eager to share what we’re up to by providing campus tours to groups interested in learning more about our green campus operations. Students, as well as staff and community partners, may apply to take a tour by completing an online to request. Advance notice of at least two weeks prior to the date of the tour is preferred. Tour specialties that can be chosen are: - Green infrastructure: Focus on green buildings, district energy systems and other campus sustainability initiatives. - Transportation: PSU is the city’s most active transit hub and a hive of bike commuters. - Built envrionment: Tour LEED-certified buildings and learn about PSU’s green building strategy. - Student initiatives and projects: Students at PSU often lead the way in sustainability. This tour focuses on some of their changemaking work - Native plants and campus gardens: From the native plant gardens to a community orchard, PSU is proud of its green spaces. - Cultural sustainability: Visit centers and spaces around campus that focus on the intersections of cultural, social and environmental issues. - A little bit of everything: The general tour that touches on the many aspects of sustainability taking place at PSU.

Students work from within existing programs on campus to either lead sustainability tours or incorporate sustainability into existing campus tours. Full time staff also participate as tour guides. Students who lead tours include: - Orientation leaders - Ambassadors - Cultural Sustainability Coordinator - Volunteer Coordinator - Garden Coordinator

Students receive training for their positions prior to the start of the academic year that focuses on: - The basics of giving a tour and public speaking - History of PSU - Information about the PSU campus which includes sustainability highlights - Student demographic information

Because tours are provided through existing programs, no additional funding is needed to implement sustainability tours. SLC Staff - Funding provided by the Institute for Sustainable Solutions Orientation Leaders - Funding provided by Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Ambassadors - Funding provided by Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

Community Garden Coordinator - This student position manages the PSU Community Garden in partnership with University Housing and Residence Life (UHRL). The Garden hosts 50 plots that can be tended by individuals living on campus. Associated Students of PSU (ASPSU) Sustainability Director - This position includes sustainability in student government activities.

Garden Coordinator - A position description is distributed through UHRL networks. Sustainability Director, ASPSU - Appointed from within the Student Senate annually

Garden Coordinator - Students are selected based on prior knowledge. No formal training is provided. ASPSU Sustainability Director - Students are selected based on prior knowledge. No formal training is provided.

Garden Coordinator - $100 leadership award is provided per term through Residence Hall Association. Sustainability Director, ASPSU - $300 leadership award provided per term through the Student Fee Committee University Honors - Multiple $5,000 scholarships provided annually by the Institute for Sustainable Solutions

http://www.pdx.edu/honors/sustainability-scholars