| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.19 |
| Liaison | Jim Walker |
| Submission Date | Jan. 31, 2011 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Texas at Austin
ER-1: Student Sustainability Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.25 / 5.00 |
Jim
Walker Director of Sustainability, Financial, and Administrative Services University Operations |
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):
The senior officers of the UT-CEC are selected through an online application and interview process. The majority of the officers have volunteered in a leadership position or with various committees for at least a year. A few others come from parallel leadership positions within the university. There are 5-7 senior leaders per year depending on the planned scope of the organization's activities.
The UT-CEC leaders have established themselves as the go-to organization for collaboration with the administration and Student Government. One of the two co-directors is traditionally named as the environmental issues chairperson for Student Government, and both sit as the only undergraduate student representatives on the President's Sustainability Steering Committee. The CEC maintains a specific peer-to-peer outreach aspect as part of its tri-fold mission of collaboration, education, and transformation.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):
The CEC provides introductory training for all incoming officers each semester, and holds retreat/planning days twice per year for its senior officers. It also provides funding for senior officers to attend national sustainability conferences such as PowerShift and AASHE 2010, and has developed a close relationship with the Sierra Student Coalition's Summer Program (SPROG). Any CEC student who is available to attend SPROG in the summer can apply for CEC funding to cover registration costs.
A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (1st program):
UT-CEC is funded by student fees and other money from fundraising. Access to part of its current funding (from a vending contract) was thanks to an invitation for undergraduate participation on a contract renegotiation committee. The institution funds a full-time advisor and also offers support from the Manager for Recycling and Sustainability, and the Director of Sustainability. The organization itself is sponsored at the Associate Vice Presidential level.
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):
UT has thirteen (13) residence halls, serving just under 8,000 students each semester. Over 90% of incoming freshmen live in the residence halls, which are governed by the University Residence Hall Association (sponsored by the Division of Housing and Food Service). Each hall has a Residence Hall Council, which sends representatives to the overall URHA.
As approved by URHA in 2005, each Residence Hall Council has an Eco-Rep position written into its bylaws. The position is appointed by the hall president in a manner of his/her choosing. While some halls are filling this position and conducting environmental education and outreach, others have not acted on the position. The Division of Housing and Food Service and the UT Campus Environmental Center are currently working together to make the Eco-Reps program more viable and active, based on this existing approved structure.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):
This is under revision.
A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
The Division of Housing and Food Service has a full time environmental projects coordinator, and the University Residence Hall Association has three part-time advisors (who are employed with DHFS as housing area managers and residence hall staff coordinators).
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.