| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.33 |
| Liaison | Larry Cook |
| Submission Date | Feb. 13, 2012 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of South Carolina
ER-1: Student Sustainability Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.00 / 5.00 |
Margaret
Bounds Sustainability Coordinator Housing |
Total number of degree-seeking students enrolled at the institution:
Program name (1st program):
Number of students served by the program (1st program):
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):
Students are recruited to the EcoReps program during New Student Orientation and during the first two weeks of the fall semester. Interested students must submit an application (see URL below for link to application) at the beginning of September. The Housing Coordinator for Environmental Sustainability and the EcoReps Graduate Assistant review the applications and select the best candidates (for Fall 2011 there are 12 positions open).
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):
The EcoReps attend a full day orientation that includes community building activities, an overview of the program and their position description, and training on how to be a peer leader. The entire fall semester is dedicated to training the EcoReps to be leaders in their residence halls and educating them about different environmental issues through weekly activities. They will also be tasked with completing 4 long-term projects throughout the year (with guidence from the GA and advisor in the Fall Semester and more independence in the Spring Semester).
A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (1st program):
The Housing Coordinator for Environmental Sustainability is the advisor to the EcoReps and dedicates a portion of her time to overseeing the program. University Housing also funds a Graduate Assistant for the program who works 20 hours per week. The Residence Hall Association and Hall Governments allot money to support the EcoReps events.
The website URL for 1st Program:
Program name (2nd program):
Number of students served by the program (2nd program):
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
Students at the University of South Carolina are recruited and selected from varying disciplines, student organizations, and Residential Learning Communities. Students are recruited from many departments, including Political Science, Anthropology, Environmental Studies, and Social Work. Students are also recruited from both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. In addition to recruiting students in degree programs, Sustainable Carolina reaches out to students in the Green Quad Living and Learning Community, students who have already committed to exploring and implementing more sustainable practices. Applicants submit a series of questions focused on their experience and goals pertaining to sustainability. After interviews, students are then selected to participate in the program as an intern or paid staff member. Sustainable Carolina had approximately 70 student participants and leaders on staff for 2010.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):
After students are accepted into the Sustainable Carolina Leadership Program, they are a part of our staff. The Sustainable Carolina Program focuses on a series of Learning Outcomes, which provide leadership development for individuals, but also support the success of our Project Teams. The first part of training for staff is a two-day orientation. The first day is for new staff members and the second is for all staff members. During orientation, staff are introduced to Green Values, the Social Change Model of Leadership, and how to use organizational tools for effective team leadership. Staff also participate in community building and have shared meals, something we consider very important for developing our community.
At Sustainable Carolina, training goes beyond orientation. Staff are offered workshops throughout the semester, each of which helps them reach out Learning Outcomes. Some workshop topics include the following: Consensus Decision Making and Facilitating Effective Meetings, How to Develop and Plan Semester and Annual Goals, How to Understand Motivation and Promote Shared Responsibility, and Living a Sustainable Life-Enhancing Pace. Each new staff member is also paired with a returning staff member as his or her mentor. Through these relationships, both the mentor and mentee learn and grow. Community building events are also offered to encourage the development of these relationships.
In addition to individual support, each Team receives support from the Green Leadership Team and the Assessment Team. Each member of the Green Leadership is assigned a number of Project Teams. Throughout the semester, this individual attends the Team Meetings offering support and additional training. Assessment Team members also serve as support for each team. They review team goals, progress reports, and assess the success of the program.
By providing support and training on the level of the individual and the teams, while also assessing the training. By assessing the training and staff throughout the semester, Sustainable Carolina continues to refine and improve the training provided to students so they can better educate and lead the campus and community.
A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
Sustainable Carolina receives funding through a reoccurring budget, grants, Graduate Assistants funded through various departments, and student fees. The reoccurring budget provides funding for most of our hired staff (student and full-time staff), while grants and student fees provide a programming budget. Individuals and teams receive both internal and external grants to support programming. We also have Graduate Assistants receiving financial support from departments such as Housing and the Environment and Sustainability Program. The final important piece to Sustainable Carolina funding is support through a Faculty Principal. This is a full-time faculty member who is released from half of their teaching responsibilities to support Sustainable Carolina. Sustainable Carolina has grown greatly over the past few years and continues to receive financial support from across the campus in order to continue to grow and reach more of the campus.
The website URL for 2nd program:
Program name (3rd program):
Number of students served by the program (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 staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
The website URL for 3rd program:
Program name (All other programs):
Number of students served by the program (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 staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (All other programs):
The website URL for all other programs:
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.