| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.79 |
| Liaison | Larry Cook |
| Submission Date | Dec. 4, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of South Carolina
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Caroline
Zerhusen Project Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
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):
Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
Name of the student educators program:
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:
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, Earth Day Festival, Green Office Certification, and Green Event Certification, as well as many independent projects.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected:
Interested students fill out an application. They then meet with a staff member to discuss what they hope to gain from the program, and are placed by a staff member onto a project team that most aligns with their goals.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:
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 monthly professional development training and 4 sessions of one-on-one coaching a semester with a trained staff member on their performance, as well as guidance for other concerns they have.
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 Assistant Director for Student 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).
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):
EcoReps are committed to furthering University Housing’s commitment to sustainable living through teaching and demonstrating sustainable living best practices while building an inclusive community of sustainability leaders on the UofSC campus. EcoReps engage UofSC students in sustainable living practices through: 1) Planning 7 interactive and educational events in residence halls, 2) Completing a building waste management plan and update, 3) Through participating in a minimum of 2 community outreach and volunteer campaigns throughout the year, 4) Offering Sustainable Residence Certification, 5) Supporting four large Housing Sustainability events including the end of the year move out program, Give-It-Up-For-Good. EcoReps work 3-4 hours per week and are paid a stipend of $150-$350 per semester, depending on their role. Event examples include: Sustainable Thanksliving, EcoBrick building, t-shirt bag making, recycling knowledge trivia nights, and stuff swap.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
The 20-28 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 the needs of the various residential communities.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):
The EcoReps attend a day long training retreat before beginning their work. The training includes: their job description, expectations for working in teams, key campus knowledge training (such as recycling and information on LEED buildings) and expectations. The students also receive their contract, mentor and semester checklist at this training. Through the semester, students attend 3 additional 1:1 training meetings to complete their training. The first 7 meetings of the fall semester are focused on different environmental issues, so students have basic knowledge in key areas like food, energy, water, climate change, and social justice. The spring meetings are focused on becoming a sustainability leader and what the elements of leadership include. Students present a 5-minute ignite presentation on a sustainability topic of their choice to diversify their knowledge.
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):
University Housing Facilities Operations funding for the Housing Sustainability Coordinator, and one part time graduate assistant. University Housing provides an additional budget of $8,000 for the operation of the EcoReps 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):
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.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
Garden guides are interviewed by a member of our office to determine if they are a good fit to serve as a leader in the Garden. Most garden guides start off as volunteers and gain basic knowledge of our processes before progressing into the Garden guide role.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
Over the course of the semester Garden Guides attend 6 training sessions, led by the full time Garden Manager and a graduate assistant. These trainings are focused on leadership development, as well as general gardening principles. Garden Guides learn effective communication skills, how to manage conflicts, and outreach strategies. They then apply these principles during their weekly garden shifts and while volunteering at the Healthy Carolina Farmers Market.
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):
Student assistant Garden Manager gets paid a semesterly stipend, as well as a full time garden manager. The rest of the garden guides serve in an unpaid internship role.
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:
The Universities Student Government has both a Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Environmental Affairs who serve on the Student Body Presidents Cabinet and advise the group on sustainability issues affecting the entire student body. Residence hall governments program activities for their dorms that practice zero-waste principles and focus in sustainable practices. Green Scholars are members of the Green Quad dorm that plan volunteer and outreach events for students on campus and take a special seminar class each spring to learn more about sustainable practices and leadership.
Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.