| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 83.80 |
| Liaison | Breeana Sylvas |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of California, Merced
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Breeana
Sylvas Assistant Director Sustainability |
Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
Total number of students enrolled for credit that are served (i.e. directly targeted) by a student peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program (avoid double-counting to the extent feasible):
Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
Name of the student educators program:
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:
Energize Colleges is a branch program from the non-profit organization Strategic Energy Innovations. The program supports a network of community and institutional partners that prepare students to become leaders in the energy economy. The objective of the program is to develop student's knowledge, skills, and experience for energy and green workforce options by providing them with real world projects and experiences.
Although many of the internships provided through the Energize Colleges Program consisted of living laboratory research projects, there were outreach interns that provided energy and water conservation campaigns on the campus that impacted behavior changes and initiatives that saved water and energy within the campus. Additionally, the Energize Colleges Fellow, a recent university graduate who manages and coordinates the program provides outreach and engagement in the community, and on campus about sustainability efforts and current projects.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected:
The Energize College Fellow was interviewed and hired through the Office of Sustainability. The interns were selected via an interview from the campus Energize Colleges Fellow. All students, educators, and partners of the program are selected based on energize colleges 8 career pathways listed below.
• Energy Engineering
• Environmental Controls Technology
• Solar
• Installation & Maintenance
• Energy Auditing
• Energy Storage
• Energy & Environmental Management
• Building Construction & Architecture
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:
The Energize Colleges Fellow is brought up to speed about the program from the office of sustainability. The interns receive a group training from Energize Colleges’ campus fellow before they start their internships. The students meet weekly with their supervisors and the Energize Colleges fellow monthly. These opportunities have provided the necessary skills, education, and practices for peer outreach.
A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination):
Each intern is paid $14/hr and is expected to work 75-96 hours over the course of one semester. Supervisors can apply for faculty grants for materials. The Energize Colleges fellow is provided a monthly stipend.
Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):
The EcoRep Program is a sustainability peer to peer educator program that focuses on educating students on sustainable practices that benefit both on and off campus communities and the environment. EcoReps encourage behaviors in the following environmental disciplines: resources and waste management, energy efficiency, and water conservation. The EcoReps have also supported outreach and engagement throughout the entire campus.
Example of EcoRep outreach activities and events have included, zero waste event training's, careers in sustainable transportation, sustainability career panel. These outreach activities were promoted through social media and tabling events. Another example of EcoRep outreach efforts include encouraging both residents and the campus constituency to participate in the campus community garden. Both residents and community members can volunteer to maintain the garden and participate in harvest days. The Ecoreps also have a strong presence at Campus Sustainability Day and Earth Day, where students are provided information on sustainable living both on and off campus.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
Student educators are selected through interviews. The Ecorep program looks for students who are actively engaged and have a passion for sustainability. Minimum requirements include:
· Excellent organizational skills including the ability to handle multiple tasks and job functions
· Demonstrate excellent teamwork skills
· Demonstrate initiative and creativity
· Ability to work proactively and independently
· Enthusiasm, motivation, and a positive attitude.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):
EcoReps receive intense orientation where they learn about the program and ways to increase residential environmental friendliness. EcoReps also learn about current environmental issues, how that affects residence lives, and solutions they can implement.
A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination) (2nd program):
The EcoRep Program and Eco-Rep interns are supported financially by the UC Merced Housing and Sustainability departments.
Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
The Global Food Initiative (GFI) Ambassadors' role and project incorporates identifying how to increase student and public awareness on food security, health, and sustainability. The GFI Ambassador leads campuswide student engagement and communications efforts for the initiative. The role also draws on perspectives toward open dialogue within UC Merced and among UC campuses.
The Carbon Neutrality Engagement Fellows role is to work with their campus sustainability office and staff to communicate UC‐wide sustainability goals and programs, and to engage undergraduate, and graduate students in programming efforts. The Carbon Neutrality Engagement Fellow's efforts should enable and empower students to provide feedback about campus and UC‐wide sustainability programs.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
Fellows were selected by the office of sustainability through applications.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
The GFI Ambassador and CNI Engagement Fellow were brought up to speed by the office of sustainability on campus-wide efforts, and progress on each initiative to support their engagement activities.
A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination) (3rd program):
Both the GFI Ambassador and CNI Engagement Fellow position's are funded through the UC Office of the President. The students are offered a stipend for the Academic Year.
A brief description of all other student peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs, including the number of students served and how student educators are selected, trained, and supported by the institution:
Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The number of students reflected are from Academic Year 2017-2018.
For more information please visit:
https://www.ucop.edu/global-food-initiative/student-involvement/index.html
https://ucop.edu/carbon-neutrality-initiative/cni-fellows/index.html
The number of students reflected are from Academic Year 2017-2018.
For more information please visit:
https://www.ucop.edu/global-food-initiative/student-involvement/index.html
https://ucop.edu/carbon-neutrality-initiative/cni-fellows/index.html
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.