| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 57.04 |
| Liaison | Larry Cook |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of South Carolina
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Namita
Koppa Assistant Director for Program Management Office of Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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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
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Number of degree-seeking students enrolled at the institution:
30,199
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Name of the student educators program (1st program):
Sustainable Carolina
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Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (1st program):
30,199
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A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (1st program):
Sustainable Carolina is the student branch of the Office of Sustainability. Students of Sustainable Carolina are empowered to address real world problems through intensive beyond the classroom leadership opportunities and hands-on experiences. They work to galvanize change throughout our university and community by collaborating within our project teams, attending community programs and conceptualizing and implementing campus-wide events. Examples: Sustainability Showcase, Green Networking Breakfast, Reclaimed Runway, Green Career Fair, Food Week, Earth Jam, Green Office Certification, independent projects
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):
application, meeting with staff
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):
Students attend a four hour orientation at the beginning of each semester where they learn about office procedures, discuss requirements for maintaining their Sustainable Carolina internship, review the projects and programs they will be working on during the semester, and build community with each other. Following orientation, students meet with assigned Office of Sustainability staff supervisors and receive professional development training and 4 sessions of one-on-one coaching with a trained staff member on their performance, as well as guidance for other concerns they have.
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A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (1st program):
The Assistant Director for Leadership and Engagement and three part-time graduate assistants are funded by UofSC to manage Sustainable Carolina. Students receive credit toward Graduation with Leadership Distinction (USC's QEP).
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Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
EcoReps
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Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
7,000
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A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):
The EcoReps are a peer leadership program working within University Housing to educate students about sustainability and environmental issues through fun interactive events. Each EcoRep is responsible for hosting 7 events per academic year in their residence hall and for working with their hall government to make other events more sustainable. They also run the Green Dorm Room Certification program and encourage students in their hall to get certified. They work 3-4 hours per week and are paid a stipend of $100 per semester. Some events they have hosted in the past include a lightbulb swap (incandescent for CFLs), vegan cooking demonstration, movie screenings, and the tap water challenge.
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
The EcoReps are selected through an application process. Final decisions are made by the student leadership team, the Graduate Assistant, and the full time staff advisor. Decisions are based on the quality of the application and also on the residence hall in which the student lives
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):
The EcoReps attend a day long training retreat before beginning their work. At this training we discuss their job description, working in teams, and mutual expectations. The first 7 meetings of the fall semester are each focused on a different environmental issue so that they all have basic knowledge in key areas like food, energy, water, climate change, and social justice.
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A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
University Housing Facilities Operations provides a budget of $8,000 for the program. University Housing also provides funding for a graduate assistant.
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Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
Darla Moore School Ambassadors
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Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
30,199
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A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
A Darla Moore School Student Ambassador’s primary function is to help students and guests of UofSC understand the benefits of attending the Darla Moore School of Business, and to recruit students who are interested in attending. Ambassadors show leadership, professionalism, pride and the desire to promote the Moore School while delivering superior customer service at all times.
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
The Darla Moore School of Business Ambassadors are selected by an application and interview process.
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (3rd program):
The Darla Moore School of Business Ambassadors receive formal training on the history, programs, and sustainable building design and performance of DMSB.
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A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
Each ambassador receives $10 per hour.
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Name(s) of the student educator program(s) (all other programs):
Carolina Community Farm & Garden Guides
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Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by all other student educator programs:
30,199
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A brief description of the program(s), including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (all other programs):
Carolina Community Farm & Garden Garden Guides are student leaders who undergo special training to serve as knowledgeable workers in the garden, leading all volunteer participants while creating a fun and safe space in which anyone can learn and serve. These student leaders are the primary caretakers of the F&G, maintaining all of the crops, farm features, essential organization, and integrity of the operations. This program requires participants to complete a formal 6-session training and a suicide prevention training, read and study the farm’s SOP manual and excel at welcoming and guiding new and returning volunteers. They are also the primary people who interact with anyone participating in garden activities and they are the biggest voice in volunteer recruitment and retention. This program is built on peer-to-peer outreach.
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (all other programs):
Consistent and dedicated weekly volunteers are presented the opportunity to lead their own weekly shift and become a garden guide in the upcoming semester. Interested students then must attend an Introduction to Garden Guides workshop to demonstrate gardening skills competency. At the end of the workshop, they can choose to make the commitment to becoming a Garden Guide for one entire semester. If the number of interested students is greater than the number of open Garden Guide positions, students are selected based on the number of past volunteer hours, consistency in their volunteer record, involvement with Sustainable Carolina, and their academic standing.
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (all other programs):
In addition to the introduction training, students complete a 6-session “Garden Guide Training” to become a program leader. Students must read and learn the Garden Guide Training Manual in parts, after each training session to solidify the material, and they are encouraged to study it and bring questions along to each following training day. The training spans over three weeks, two sessions per week, each session being one and a half hours long for a total of 9 hours of program training before they are able to lead volunteer participants in the garden. The training itself consists of basic permaculture and farm technique practice, greenhouse training, certified kitchen use and Good Agricultural Practices training, an educational introduction to the farm business and partnerships, and two training days of leadership activities, professional development, scenario role play, and mindful motivation activities.
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A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (all other programs):
The Office of Sustainablity provides operating costs for the garden, including one full-time Garden Manager. Students receive credit toward Graduation with Leadership Distinction (USC's QEP).
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Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually:
26,260
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The website URL for the peer-to-peer student outreach and education program(s):
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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