| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.56 |
| Liaison | Ruairi O'Mahony |
| Submission Date | Feb. 15, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Massachusetts Lowell
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
James
Kohl Dean of Student Affairs & Enrichment Student Affairs |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
18,316
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):
18,316
Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
100
1st Program
Student Society for Sustainability
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
18,316
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:
The Student Society for Sustainability promotes sustainability on campus and in the Greater Lowell area through education and campus and community action for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The SSS is a student run organization that works with various organizations to help promote sustainable practices and educate others on the importance of environmental issues. They maintain open meetings where all students of all levels are welcome to engage and perform community service events with them.
The Student Society for Sustainability (with support from the Office of Sustainability) annually runs an open event called "Sowing S.E.E.D.S." each fall and spring which engages students, faculty and staff in conversations around sustainability ultimately working to connect our students to each other and staff/faculty to foster applications to the campus sustainability fund called the S.E.E.D. Fund.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected:
The organization is volunteer but seeks those with a background applicable to the mission of education and action for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. As a result, members have diverse academic backgrounds.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:
Students attend regular academic lectures, documentary film series and interact with experts in the community to develop a foundation of what sustainability is and to also understand what resources exist in the community. With this knowledge they are empowered to direct peers to those resources to engage with the academic or external community. They become experts in understanding the broad sustainability network that exists within the university and surrounding community.
The organization's staff advisor is in the Office of Sustainability and works very closely with the organizations leadership and club members. They often engage in Office of Sustainability training and work closely with their club advisor.
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):
The organization receives financial support from the Student Government Association.
Additionally, they have taken advantage of a number of campus sustainability fund grants.
As noted above, the organizations staff advisor is in the Office of Sustainability and works very closely with the organizations leadership and club members. They often engage in Office of Sustainability training and work closely with their club advisor.
If reporting students served by additional peer-to-peer programs, provide:
2nd Program
Leaders for Environmental Advocacy of the Future (L.E.A.F.) Living Learning Community (LLC)
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
18,316
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):
The Leaders in Environmental Advocacy for the Future (L.E.A.F.) Living-Learning Community leads students in exploring the ways in which they can become an agent of environmental change, and make an impact on our campus, as well as within our local and global communities. With engaged faculty and staff advisors whom are experts in their fields, this LLC is a great fit for students who intend to declare a major or minor related to environment, clean energy, climate change, or sustainability.
The L.E.A.F. LLC is designed for any student who has a passion for sustainability, social justice, environmental activism, and for those whom want to create change within their community and the ever-changing planet we call home. This LLC is sponsored by the Francis College of Engineering, Kennedy College of Science and the Office of Sustainability.
As a result of living in the Leaders in Environmental Advocacy for the Future (L.E.A.F.) Living-Learning Community, students will have the opportunity to:
- Explore careers within the realms of environmental science, clean energy, and sustainability.
- Create positive change in the local community and environment.
- Understand the impact local, state, and regional actions have on the global environment.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
The organization is volunteer. This program is based in Residence Life and focused on residence hall students who elect to live together.
However, the core LLC's programming is open to all. It includes 4 events each semester where other students, staff, faculty and community members are brought together.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):
Training is rooted in the programming put on by the LLC and run by the Office of Residence Life and the Office of Sustainability that empowers getting students more actively engaged with the university community. As part of that programming these students will engage in sustainability events and bring their friends along and serve as ambassadors for sustainability at UMass Lowell.
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 program is funded by the Office of Residence Life and includes some financial support from the Office of Sustainability.
The staff advisor for the program is housed in the Office of Sustainability and Residence Life professional staff provide additional support,
If reporting students served by three or more peer-to-peer programs, provide:
3rd Program
Climate Change Initiative
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
18,316
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
The Climate Change Initiative (CCI) brings faculty, students, and communities together to address one of the greatest challenges facing humanity: climate change. The Initiative draws its members from disciplines as diverse as environmental science, public health, engineering, education, management, sociology, political science, art, and others.
The CCI will regularly run lecture series and work with students through their classrooms to engage them in becoming powerful peer educators working with other students across the campus.
The goal of the Climate Change Initiative (CCI) is to address climate change through education, research, and developing solutions to transition to a more sustainable and resilient society. Scientific research must be the foundation for informing society about ongoing climate change and its potential future impacts. We also recognize that climate change is more than a scientific problem with a technical solution. The CCI is committed to examining the physical, ecological, environmental, social, economic, historical, and political facets of climate change impact, mitigation, and adaptation.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
The CCI regularly works with students through their academically diverse classrooms and engages them there.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
The formal training for student educators is primarily classroom, small group, or one-on-one based. It is faculty led, which allows students to gain a more professional experience.
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):
The CCI derives their funding through grants and through collaborative work funded by its faculty members. Additionally, the office of sustainability provides funding for specific requests.
Additional Programs
UMass Lowell offers a variety of opportunities for students interested in sustainability and related outreach activities. These opportunities are mostly related to the student's area of study. All of the clubs listed have their own charters and objectives that promote different areas of sustainability.
Optional Fields
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The total number of hours of student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually is not measured.
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.