Princeton University
EN-1: Student Educators Program

The Princeton University Ecology Representative Program (EcoReps) was founded in 2004 in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, which administers the program. The mission of the EcoReps is to promote the integration of sustainability into campus life. Through their efforts, the EcoReps aim to see every Princeton student adopt at least one aspect of sustainable living into their daily lives, and to understand the value of sustainability for themselves, their communities, and the environment.

The Office of Sustainability trains EcoRep Leaders at a half-day retreat upon hiring them, and offers additional training as needed.

Examples of the EcoReps' peer-to-peer outreach activities include:

Greening Dorms: Greening Dorms EcoReps focus on integrating Princeton's sustainability goals into residential college life, with a focus on hosting educational study breaks and advancing everyday, sustainable living practices. Each semester they also organize a clothing swap for students to “swap” their gently used clothing with each other to promote reuse and divert clothing from the landfill.

Greening Princeton Reunions: Every spring, EcoReps help to raise sustainability awareness and integrate eco-friendly practices into Reunions. They accomplish this by promoting recycling at headquarters sites and along the P-rade route, where they collect an average of 70 bags of recyclables each year; and by being available for any questions that alumni may have.

Greening Athletics: Greening Athletics EcoReps focus on integrating Princeton’s sustainability goals for purchasing and waste into athletics events.

Greening Events: Greening Events EcoReps focus on integrating Princeton’s sustainability goals for purchasing and waste into events on campus, both large and small.

Greening Move Out & Resale: Greening Move Out & Resale EcoReps focus on integrating Princeton’s sustainability goals for purchasing and waste into the annual Move-Out and Move-In process. Their main objective is to plan, organize, and carry out the logistics for the Greening Move-Out collection and subsequent Move-In Resale.

The target audience is Princeton University undergraduate students

Mend's mission is to encourage sustainable attitudes and reduce waste surrounding clothing and fashion by teaching Princeton University community members how to repair, reuse and upcycle clothing. Mend Leaders host weekly Mend Repair hours where they provide all the materials for community members to repair their items and demonstrate easy repair tips. They also host events and a social media account where they share information and spread awareness of the environmental and economic impacts of the fashion industry. Students train each other and also learn repair tips from other available trainings either online or offered through partners on campus.

The target audience is Princeton University undergraduate students