Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.07
Liaison Andrew Horning
Submission Date June 30, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Michigan
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.57 / 4.00 Donald Scavia
Director
Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution coordinate one or more ongoing student, peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs that meet the criteria for this credit?:
Yes

Number of degree-seeking students enrolled at the institution:
43,625

Name of the student educators program (1st program):
Planet Blue Student Leaders

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (1st program):
28,000

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (1st program):

As part of the campus-wide Planet Blue Ambassadors program, this initiative gives students valuable training and tools to foster a culture of sustainability on campus. Student Leaders conduct educational programming, lead waste audits, and serve as peer-to-peer mentors in their U-M Housing communities.

There are two primary parts of being a Planet Blue Student Leader (PBSL): an academic component via a one-credit seminar on campus, and a volunteer component, with the requirement of dedicating three to five hours per week toward Planet Blue Ambassador service and/or learning during the semester.

The one-credit seminar provides skills training and intellectual frameworks for students to be effective sustainability leaders and “change agents” in campus housing units. The PBSL course draws from leading research and best practices and explores sustainability from the perspective of behavioral change, communication, and organizational change. Multiple guest speakers and lecturers are featured throughout the seminar, helping participants to learn about sustainability from multiple experts and stakeholders.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):

Applications are accepted for fall & winter semesters. Students from diverse academic backgrounds and interests are encouraged to apply for the program. Any student living in a University Housing apartment or residence hall is eligible. To participate in the program students must: Live in University Housing, Enroll in a 1-credit Credit/No-Credit seminar (UC 227), Attend Bi-Weekly Working Sessions, Agree to spend approximately 3-5 hours per week as a Planet Blue Student Leader (including but not limited to time in the seminar). Applications are reviewed by U-M staff & selections made prior to the start of the semester.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):

Students in the seminar will gain necessary skills and training as well as the intellectual framework for being effective Planet Blue Student Leaders in the residence halls. The seminar is designed to: provide a solid foundation for success through direct linkages with key University staff and faculty; ensure accountability to peers and instructors; and create an environment for co-learning via peer-to-peer mentoring.
Seminar Goals Include:
*Train Planet Blue Student Leaders (PBSLs) in theory and practice for encouraging environmentally responsible behaviors amongst students in residence halls, based in part on community-based social marketing literature and practice. The ultimate programmatic goal is to create a culture of sustainability in U-M residence halls and beyond.
*Orient PBSLs to the people and resources available to provide assistance in implementing sustainability-related programming including resources at the Office of Campus Sustainability, University Housing, various schools and colleges (e.g., SNRE, LS&A, Engineering), the Graham Sustainability Institute and other centers (e.g., Michigan Sea Grant, Center for Sustainable Systems).
*Provide a forum to encourage peer-to-peer learning about tactics to influence environmental behavior and support sustainability education.
*Provide training in effective leadership, organizing, communication and organizational change and link with campus communications and public outreach resources.


A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (1st program):

In the fall of 2011, the University of Michigan announced a suite of Guiding Principles and 2025 Sustainability Goals. One of these was U-M’s goal to change behaviors and cultivate a campus-wide ethic of sustainability by investing in programs to educate our community, track behavior, and report on progress over time. With a funding commitment from the President, the Planet Blue Ambassadors Program was launched as part of a university-wide commitment to meet campus sustainability goals. This expansive program trains, educates, and encourages students, faculty, and staff to be "models" of sustainability.


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):
---

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

A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):
---

A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
---

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):
---

A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
---

A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (3rd program):
---

A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
---

Name(s) of the student educator program(s) (all other programs):
---

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by all other student educator programs:
---

A brief description of the program(s), including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (all other programs):
---

A brief description of how the student educators are selected (all other programs):
---

A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (all other programs):
---

A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (all other programs):
---

Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually:
---

The website URL for the peer-to-peer student outreach and education program(s):
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

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.