University of Tennessee at Knoxville
EN-7: Employee Educators Program

A four level system designed to aid in UT’s progress towards becoming a top 25 research university by instilling sustainable practices in the variety of workplace settings across the campus. Green Office partners will receive an initial ranking from the Office of Sustainability, and then we will work with partners on creating a personalized, strategic road map with specific objectives aimed at increasing an office’s ranking, and, thus, their eco-friendliness.

Invite, however we also accept offices and their employees if they reach out to us directly. This is done to roll out the program in phases, targeting those with the highest potential in terms of energy, waste and water reduction or perhaps have a high visibility with students and higher administration.

The formal training to prepare employees to conduct peer to peer outreach is handled in a one on one basis when the sustainability employee conducts monthly office visits. We identify a category of the program that the employee is most comfortable with, be it energy savings, recycling, etc. and then expand their knowledge on the subject, both in the context of the local, state, and national implications but also how the category of the program is managed and improved within the campus boundaries. They are then asked to relay this information back to our office to ensure they have become experts in the category of the program chosen, to confirm their understanding and dissemination capabilities, but more so to correct any off the cuff comments that may lead to politically sensitive situations. Although we cannot and should not control the entire sustainability dialogue and message on or off campus, we must strive for a common message across our employee educators within the Green Office Program, as they essentially become an extension of our office and further the program when educating others through time, specifically those within or nearby their workspace.

All expenditures are funded through the Office of Sustainability.

A voluntary workshop provided to faculty and staff to understand sustainability on campus, covering the history of sustainability on campus and then focusing on each category of work with a shift in the program to expand upon individual interest such as energy conservation, recycling, etc. The results of the program are two fold, one in that they become an expert in the category of work chosen and secondly, they become a peer educator by passing this information along to other employees via in office gatherings and/or conducting their own sustainability workshop (in tandem with our office).

It is voluntary, however they typically do so after discussing with previous attendees of the program the benefits of attending and the possibility to become an employee educator.

Much like our other Employee Educator Programs we find a topic of interest they have passion with (or immense curiosity) and expand upon that knowledge through a workshop setting, discussing realistic scenarios and solutions. We hold these workshops throughout the year. We then expand this scope of understanding to the local, regional and national levels to emphasis the implications of becoming a more environmentally friendly campus. We stress the need for a common message pertaining to sustainability education of their fellow peers and ask them to report back with any questions they may have, so to further refine their level of expertise in the subject chosen.

All expenditures are funded through the Office of Sustainability.