Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.29
Liaison Kevin Kirsche
Submission Date Dec. 22, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Georgia
EN-7: Employee Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.02 / 3.00 Kevin Kirsche
Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total number of employees (staff + faculty, headcount):
10,665

Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program (avoid double-counting):
57

Percentage of employees served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
0.53

Name of the employee educators program:
Green Arch

Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
57

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:

Formerly the Sustainable UGA Office Program, the Green Arch Program was designed to educate, engage, and empower groups of staff and faculty who want to promote a culture of sustainability at the University of Georgia. By joining this program, any department, team, or office made Seven Basic Commitments to actively improve environmental, social, and economic sustainability at UGA during day-to-day activities. The program, run by the Office of Sustainability, provided staff with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to conserve resources, reduce waste, protect the local environment, and enhance social wellbeing at UGA and beyond.


A brief description of how the employee educators are selected:

1. Offices designate an "office champion" to serve as a liason to the Office of Sustainability. 2. From there, they get the department head's approval and make sure colleagues agree to make the Seven Basic Commitments.
3. Register online.
4. Schedule a walkthrough. Office of Sustainability staff conduct a walkthrough of the building and office space to determine relevant sustainable strategies they can implement.
5. Hold a 20 minute meeting, where Office of Sustainability staff will brief the office on sustainable campus operations and steps they can take to do their part.
6. Continue to stay connected to the Office, and regularly pursue Green Arch "electives" to earn badges for the office. (Some examples of electives: Composting, Alternative Transportation, Volunteerism, Lactation room, Diversity and Inclusion, LGBT Safe Space Training, Being a Vocal Participant)


A brief description of the formal training that the employee educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:

The Office of Sustainability meets / communicates regularly with Sustainable Office - Green Champions to provide information and resources to facilitate peer-to-peer education. Resources include optional breakroom composting service, access to our Resource Library (with books, reusable event supplies, etc.), weekly email with current events, opportunities, and green tips, and educational posters and signage.


A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or paid faculty/staff coordination):

A full-time program coordinator in the Office of Sustainability administers this program, along with student interns. In addition to staff support, UGA provides recycling facilities, "side saddle" trash bins, compost bins, signage, posters, etc. to Sustainable Offices.


Name of the employee educators program (2nd program):
Building Service Worker Academy

Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount) (2nd program):
600

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):

The BSW academy is a training program administered by the Building Services Department. It teaches (among other things) the green cleaning program and the recycling/waste reduction/composting program to all building service workers at the University of Georgia.


A brief description of how the employee educators are selected (2nd program):

Two services trainers are hired by the services department


A brief description of the formal training that the employee educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):

Building Service employees and supervisors are required to attend a two-week hands-on and academic training session prior to beginning their permanent assignment. Employees eligible to advance in building service positions are required to participate in the Building Service Worker Academy,. The academy is an established and consistent method of standardized work methods based on green cleaning practices, waste reduction, worker safety training and customer service.


A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or paid faculty/staff coordination) (2nd program):

Paid staff trainers


A brief description of all other employee peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs, including the number of employees served and how employee educators are selected, trained, and supported by the institution:
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Total number of hours employee educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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