Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.27
Liaison Suchi Daniels
Submission Date Feb. 22, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of South Florida (Tampa)
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Kebreab Ghebremichael
Director of Water Sustainability Concentration
Patel College of Global Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
40,301

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):
40,301

Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
100

Name of the student educators program:
Sustainability Internship Program, Office of Sustainability at USF

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
40,301

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:

The Office of Sustainability recruits students to become the educators of sustainability to all students on campus. Student educators work to increase sustainability awareness of students and engage them in sustainability initiatives. The students receive training for this position through their involvement in the Office of Sustainability. The students in the program are responsible for coordinating and implementing university sustainability initiatives. Direct student interaction includes updates on day-to-day activities and review of completed materials for both graduate and undergraduate students. Examples of activities include the distribution of sustainability practices and information during weekly Bull Markets, Week of Welcome, EcoFest, facilitation of recycling and water conservation awareness campaigns, and sustainability competitions in the residence halls.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected:

The Office of Sustainability is advised by the Sustainable Initiative Steering Committee with representatives from Facilities Management, Colleges of Public Health, Engineering and Arts that represents different colleges, administrative departments and students. Through the Office of Undergraduate Research students are informed of the various research internship opportunities for sustainability projects. Applications are evaluated by the Office of Sustainability and accepted students are placed on the appropriate projects. The Office of Sustainability assigns mentors.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:

Students work with sustainability faculty and staff to gain a better understanding of sustainability initiatives on campus, outreach best practices, sustainability reporting systems and a practical understanding of equipment and working within an office environment.

The students receive training for this position through the Office of Sustainability. This position is normally unpaid internship program but the Office of Sustainability generously provides a payment to the students.


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 student is provided a stipend of $250 for one semester. The time commitment for this program is roughly 5 hours per week for one semester.


Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
Sustainability Scholars Program

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
40,301

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):

The Office of Sustainability in collaboration with the Office of Undergraduate Research initiated the Sustainability Scholars Program. This service-learning program provides talented USF undergraduate students with the opportunity to work closely with the Office of Sustainability staff and Patel College of Global Sustainability Faculty to make USF a Green University. Sustainability Scholars work collaboratively with stakeholder groups on campus to develop sustainability initiatives and support in the development of sustainability
reports. Sustainability scholars can use the project/research activities they undertake as part of their education. The greater goal of the research effort is to help the USF community become a cleaner, greener place to live and work.


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

Over the past three years, one Sustainability Scholar was selected each fall and spring semester among a pool of applicants for these positions. Applications, consisting of a letter of interest, resume, and letter of recommendation, are screened by the Office of Sustainability and the Patel College of Global Sustainability faculty.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):

Throughout the experience, Sustainability Scholars learn how to construct and implement a formal research design, receive training in research ethics and relevant methods for data collection and analysis, and use the results to help create and evaluate policies and programs for sustainability initiatives at USF. Students work closely with Office of Sustainability staff and work directly with Patel College of Global Sustainability faculty and with many of the sustainability related groups and initiatives on campus.


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):

Each scholar receives a $1000 stipend. The time commitment for this program is roughly 10 hours per week for one semester.


Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
Sustainability Fellows Program

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
40,301

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):

In collaboration with the Office of the Provost, the Office of Sustainability started the Sustainability Fellows Program. This service-learning program provides talented USF graduate students with the opportunity to work closely with the Office of Sustainability staff to make USF a Green University. Sustainability Fellows are actively engaged with all students at USF to generate new sustainability initiatives and to increase sustainability awareness of students.


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

Two Sustainability Fellows are selected each fall and spring semester. Applications, consisting of a letter of interest, resume, and letter of recommendation, are screened by the Office of Sustainability. Reappointment for a second semester is contingent upon satisfactory performance of assigned duties.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):

Sustainability Fellows are trained by staff of the Office of Sustainability staff and fellow alumni on the various initiatives at USF, the reporting requirements and overall aims of the Office of Sustainability. They are also trained on how the Office of Sustainability is engaged with students to increase sustainability awareness.

Fellows serve as 0.25-0.50 FTE Graduate Research Assistants, working 10-20 hours per week to help coordinate sustainability activities on campus, educational and community-based initiatives on sustainability, and other tasks integral to the mission of the Office of Sustainability. Students in this position work closely with Office of Sustainability staff and work directly with many of the sustainability related groups and initiatives on campus.


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):

Each fellow receives a stipend of $3750-$7500 (for Ph.D. students) or $2500-$5000 (for MA students) per semester along with a tuition waiver and the rights afforded to graduate assistants as outlined in the USF/BOT-UFF/GAU Collective Bargaining Agreement.


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:

Members of the Green LLC in Maple B hall have participated in the following:
• RecycleMania along with the entire HRE department;
• Indoor composting with worm canisters;
• Maintaining an outdoor butterfly garden;
• Viewing and discussing documentaries on global issues in sustainability;
• Sustainable programs such as making hair gel, learning to knit, having a hydroponic garden in the hall and an annual Earth Day project each year;
• Volunteering at the HRE Swap Shop twice a year to repurpose, reuse and reduce what is put in our landfills;
• Taking field trips to local organic farms and gardens;
• Meeting with professors who support green initiatives during the House Calls program each fall, with follow up programming throughout the year
• Residents in the Green LLC also volunteer at USF Botanical Gardens, Florida Aquarium and MOSI;
• Helping deliver energy reduction light switch covers to other dorm residents.

http://www.usf.edu/student-affairs/housing/living-learning-communities/green.aspx


Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.