Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.21
Liaison Olivia Wiebe
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Idaho
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Jeannie L. Matheison
Director
Sustainability Center
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
12,517

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):
12,517

Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
100

Name of the student educators program:
UI Sustainability Center Student Grant program

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
12,517

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

Eight student leaders (peer-to-peer educators) work collaboratively to promote the Sustainability Center Mini-Grant program to the University of Idaho student body (directly targeting 100% of graduate and undergraduate students). This program is led by a student projects coordinator.

Each year the University of Idaho Sustainability Center (UISC) awards $10,000 in grants to fund student-led, campus sustainability projects. Grants are available to any UI undergraduate, graduate, or law student.

All project ideas are welcome; however, special consideration is given for projects that focus on climate change & carbon neutrality, campus food systems, campus waste reduction, and campus culture shift.

Examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities in support of the grants program include five steps:

Step 1: Development of student designed marketing materials such as webpages, electronic posters, and social media.

Step 2: The student project coordinator hosts a Grant Info Forum to educate student applicants about the grant application process.

Step 3: The student project coordinator hosts a Writing Workshop. UISC student educators, led by the student program coordinator, review draft proposals and educate applicants on what it takes to write a compelling grant proposal, how to submit a well thought out budget, and how to secure permission from appropriate campus partners.

Step 4: A student-led advisory board selects projects and awards funding.

Step 5: And finally, the UISC student program coordinator mentors grant recipients for the life of their project, ensuring that timelines are met, and budgets are spent according to contract guidelines.

A student-led and student fee funded organization, the UI Sustainability Center (UISC) supports efforts to create an active culture of sustainability. We are committed to developing and maintaining healthful, educational living environments while fully integrating sustainable practices at the University of Idaho. Sustainability involves reorganizing our life support systems: climate, energy, biodiversity, food, water, waste, transportation, and built environment. We do this through projects that reduce our environmental footprint and increase collaboration among students, faculty, staff, and community members in addressing sustainability-related issues.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected:

Student educators are selected through a competitive hiring process including online applications, and interviews. Positions are open to all students enrolled at least half-time at the University of Idaho. Openings are advertised to the student body through a Sustainability Center all-student email, social media posts, and MY UI a listserve hosted by University Communications and Marketing.


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

Student educators are required to attend 35 hours of training the week prior to the beginning of the academic year. Training covers job responsibilities, work plans, what it is like to work at the Sustainability Center, as well as background information on campus recycling, composting, and energy systems. The Mini-grant Projects Coordinator is trained in all aspects of this program from outreach, hosting educational workshops, facilitating an advisory board, budgeting, RFP's, and how to mentor grant recipients.


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):

General state funding provides for 2-full time, permanent, staff positions including a Sustainability & Student Engagement Coordinator and a Sustainability Center Director.

In addition, student-fees provide an annual sum of approximately $80,000 for student salaries, student-led sustainable projects, operating expenses, and overhead.


Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
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Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
0

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):
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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):
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Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
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Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
0

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
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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):
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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:
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Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
5,000

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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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.