University of Colorado Boulder
PAE-15: Employee Sustainability Educators Program

All CUSG-funded employees (students and professionals) receive this training. This program is conducted by students and staff delivering trainings and support to students and staff. Each of these groups are selected by the Environmental Center to be trained as peer to peer trainers.

The CUSG adopted 72LCB15 as policy in April 2010. Section 3 of the University of Colorado Student Government Zero-Waste and Materials Management Policy section on training and education includes the following directions to achieve a student employee sustainability training and education program: Section 3: Zero Waste Training and Education A. In order to support the efforts of cost centers to comply with CUSG zero waste standards, all student fee-funded staff and student positions shall be required to participate in a sustainability training program administered by either the CUSG Sustainability Director or an Environmental Center representative. B. It is recommended that student groups and individual students are offered opportunities to receive similar training based on their continual use of CUSG-supported facilities. C. The CUSG Sustainability Director and cost centers shall determine an appropriate training system that fits within the current allotted hours for CUSG employees in order to avoid budget increases related to the sustainability training program.

In order to provide long-term fiscal sustainability to cost center zero waste operations, the CUSG Sustainability Director will hereby work with Facilities Management and all related parties to create an effective variable rate structure to incentivize waste-reduction efforts. The bill approved a one-time $15,000 dollar earmark from the Student Operations Reserve (SOR) to accommodate one-time expenses required for zero waste conversion. These expenses include: Signs, Collection receptacles, Loading dock and space expansion, Staff training programs and related materials, All zero waste operations related to student group and cost center events shall be financed through an account managed by the Student Organizations Finance Office (SOFO) and the Student Group Funding Board (SGFB).

The educational program integrates many of CU’s campus sustainability initiatives, including transportation, recycling, and energy. The program also has large environmental and financial impacts with very little time commitment. The faculty/ staff campus sustainability program is coordinated by the CU Environmental Center and has two components: Department Eco-Leaders (Individuals) and the Green Office Certification (Departments).

In 2005, the Environmental Center initiated the first year of a more formal faculty and staff Environmental Liaison Program. Over 50 building proctors, office managers, and department heads attended brown bag lunches on conservation topics tailored toward office practices, attended Eco-Leader orientation training sessions, and received a monthly e-newsletter. The duties of the Eco-Leader include: Attend one one-hour orientation training session, Utilize and maintain an Eco-Leader Manual of resources and guides for office environmental practices. The manual is provided by the Environmental Center. Receive a monthly e-newsletter and disseminate relevant information to their departmental colleagues. Facilitate an assessment of office practices. The assessment is conducted by trained student staff of the Environmental Center. If a department chooses to pursue Green Office Certification, the Eco-Leader will facilitate this process by scheduling the training programs for their department. It is suggested that these programs be incorporated into existing departmental meetings in order to increase participation. The trainings will be conducted by Environmental Center staff. Eco-Leaders receive a Reference Manual containing: Welcome letter Green office certification instructions Campus Environmental policy Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus Recycling: deskside guide printing guidelines RecycleMania pledge Purchasing: green products guide Energy: office guide lights out fact sheet juice stickers sleep stickers renewables Integrated Pest Management: office flier Transportation brochure Environmental Center brochure Water: brochure magnet Green Computing guide EHS Hazardous Waste generator guide brochure

This program is funded as part of the Environmental Center's Operations Budget, $289,564 in FY11. One student staff coordinator position is also budgeted at $3K/yr.

Numbers of people employeed by the institution is derived from Fall 2009 census data by Institutional Research and Analysis and includes student employees.