The University of British Columbia
ER-1: Student Sustainability Educators Program

The Sustainability in Rez (formerly Residence Sustainability Coordinator) program was created in 2003 to engage undergraduate students living in residence. The Campus Sustainability Office (CSO) collaborates with Residence Life to support Sustainability in Rez and its related sustainability committees and initiatives in Totem Park, Place Vanier, Gage, Fairview, Thunderbird, Fraser Hall and Marine Drive residences. The CSO also supports sustainability committees in two private graduate residences, St. John’s College and Green College. The program seeks to support, promote, monitor and evaluate the adoption of sustainable practices in residences at UBC, targeting water conservation, energy efficiency and waste reduction, along with the integration of a variety of student-led initiatives including 100-mile dinners, stuff swaps, lecture series, documentary screenings, green cleaning workshops, and energy competitions. In Totem Park and Place Vanier (the "dorm-style" residences), student educators on Sustainability Committees include one assigned Residence Coordinator and six to seven self-appointed Residence Advisors. In September, an Involvement Fair is held where residents can sign up to get involved in the Sustainability Committee. In Gage, Fairview, Thunderbird, Fraser Hall, Marine Drive, and Ritsumeikan-UBC House (the "suite-style" residences), student educators are self-selected and receive training from the Residence Life Managers (RLMs). In St. John's and Green College, student educators are appointed.

The Campus Sustainability Office (CSO) supports Sustainability Committees in residence by: • providing relevant information on energy conservation, waste reduction, sustainable food systems and sustainable transportation; • facilitating workshops and experiential learning opportunities to highlight sustainability in action both in residence and at UBC; • supporting leadership and initiatives developed and promoted by sustainability committee reps; • offering both in person and online networking opportunities to share resources, ideas and best practices between the various student residences on campus. Residence Coordinators and Residence Advisors in Totem Park and Place Vanier receive additional skills-building training through Residence Life and transition reports from previous Sustainability Committees are included as part of the training. In suite-style residences, a new sustainability component is being incorporated for Residence Advisors, who will participate in a waste sorting and Intro to Sustainability workshop. In St. John's and Green College, student educators receive training from previous Committee members. CSO staff will be working with Residence Life staff over Summer 2011 to provide the opportunity for further education for Residence Coordinators and Residence Advisors through ongoing training. In 2010, Campus Sustainability developed Residence Sustainability Guides on energy conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable food choices, tailored for both dorm-style and suite-style residences, which will be launched in 2011.

The Campus Sustainability Office's Engagement Coordinator provides 0.25 staff time for overall support of the program and a CSO Student Intern is hired for 20 hrs/week in the summer and 10 hrs/week in the fall. Residence Life provides staff support through Residence Advisors and Residence Coordinators, which are paid student staff positions.

The goBEYOND Project was developed, and is run by, student groups at post-secondary institutions across BC. goBEYOND’s mission is to educate, inspire, engage and support students in implementing climate action on campus and in the community to go beyond carbon neutrality. At UBC, the goBEYOND Project is operated as a partnership between the Campus Sustainability Office, the Sierra Youth Coalition and Common Energy UBC. goBeyond UBC and Common Energy UBC coordinated numerous peer-to-peer events and campaigns on campus in 2010, including climate change presentations to students living in residence, the goBEYOND Teach In for climate justice, the Invent the Future Design Lab, and the Do It In the Dark/ Campus Conservation Nationals. In 2010, goBEYOND UBC directly reached over 2660 students via presentations, events, challenges, and teach-ins. The goBEYOND UBC student intern is hired through the Campus Sustainability Office.

The goBEYOND UBC student intern receives training and support through the UBC Sustainability Office’s Engagement Coordinator.

The Campus Sustainability Office (CSO) funds a goBEYOND intern annually. This position is a part-time paid position (20 hrs/wk in the summer and 10 hrs/wk in the spring and fall). The CSO also provides office space.

The Alma Mater Student Society (AMS) hires a full-time student staff Sustainability Coordinator to coordinate sustainability initiatives that serve the student body at UBC. The AMS Sustainability Coordinator is the primary point person for the implementation of the AMS Lighter Footprint Strategy (http://www.ams.ubc.ca/campus-life/ams-sustainability/ams-lighter-footprint-strategy/), sits on relevant committees, works closely with the Impacts Working Group, hires and manages student interns and volunteers, oversees the strategy’s projects, supports sustainability education and outreach initiatives across campus and fulfills other responsibilities outlined in the strategy to enhance sustainability at UBC. As an active partner in the SEEDS program (http://sustain.ubc.ca/seeds), the AMS Sustainability Coordinator also oversees student sustainability research projects. In 2011, 21 student projects have informed the development of the new ultra green Student Union Building, which is targeting LEED Platinum and the Living Building Challenge. As a result of running a successful student referendum in 2011, the AMS is launching a new $100,000 Sustainability Projects Fund for students, which will enable students to apply for a peer-evaluated sustainability funding program to increase student's abilities to implement sustainability programs on campus. The AMS hires its Sustainability Coordinator through an open application process.

The AMS Sustainability Coordinator trains student interns and volunteers to implement sustainability projects on campus and manages and supports SEEDS student research projects. The AMS Sustainability Coordinator also attends the annual AASHE conference as part of their training and professional development.

The AMS hires one full-time paid student Sustainability Coordinator. A new $100,000 Sustainability Projects Fund has been created for students. In addition, the AMS has a $33,147 Lighter Footprint Strategy Fund to support sustainability projects that reduce the organization's ecological footprint.