University of Victoria
EN-1: Student Educators Program

The goal of this program was to generate support for environmental change through the development of leadership efficacy, openness to the ideas and struggles of others, and the understanding that we are interconnected in our social systems. Participants of the program worked to become a living-learning community committed to implementing a change project and were motivated to continue making change for the betterment of society. The program included 6 workshops on different related themes and the development of a group project.

All undergraduate students living in the sustainability-themed student residence were invited to participate. Posters were put up and emails sent inviting interested students to attend an information session. Six students participated directly in the workshops and approximately another 15 participated in the group project.

The program consisted of 6 skill development workshops led by a graduate student and the development of a change project: - Perspectives on bringing about change - Creating positive group dynamics - Building coalitions on campus - Effecting change on campus - Understanding the bigger picture - Reflection and recognition The group choose to host a screening of the film "Last Call at the Oasis" and followed by a discussion, for other students living in residence as their leadership project.

This program received financial support from the Residence Office, which sponsored the food and provided the space, and from the Sustainability Office, which supported the training.

Students living in one of the residence complexes (Gordon Head) were targeted to participate in a study on composting and recycling behaviors by receiving specialized training in the psychology of social change. A total of 15 students received training and support to become "eco-champions of waste diversion" by attending 4 weekly "agents of change" workshops. These students encouraged other students to improve their waste diversion behaviors through various means of peer-to-peer outreach. This included hosting guided group discussions held on each floor of the residences and attended by approximately 50 students (with free pizza to act as an incentive). Guided group discussions are an empirically-supported method of presenting information that successfully encourages participants to, not only learn, but also take action on information that is discussed. After the discussions, several floors voluntarily chose to get compost bins for their common rooms that students would take shifts emptying.

This program was only made available to students living in the group of residence buildings known as Gordon Head which is home to 400 undergraduate students in total. Volunteers were recruited via posters, email, social media and through community leaders.

The volunteer "eco-champions of waste diversion" attended 4 weekly "agents of change" workshops led by a grad student specializing in environmental psychology. As part of the workshops, participants set weekly goals of speaking to people about waste reduction and generally working toward a climate of sustainability in residence. These workshops were highly appreciated by the eco-team volunteers who believed they made significant changes to the waste-diversion behaviour of others around them. The larger group discussions were less formal in terms of training, but were sucessful at conveying the desired behaviors and outcomes to a larger group of less committed students.

The program was supported by the UVic Sustainability Office (provided funding for workshops including food), the Residence Services (funding for pizza at group discussions and free meeting space for workshops, and voluntary staff support), and Facilities Management Group (staff time to support the recycling study logistics).

The Sustainability Community is designed to engage students in their development by exploring sustainable living as an individual, as a community, and as a society. Living in this building, students engage in activities to better understand human influences and their effects on the environment while reducing their own carbon foot print. They also identify changes to their behaviour that contribute to environmental sustainability and integrate the sustainable practices learned into everyday activities. They engage in practices and initiatives beyond daily activities in order to have a positive impact on the environment. The sustainability theme lends itself to a variety of programs which encourage students to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. These include special events, workshops, talks, discussion groups, and various types of competitions. See: http://www.housing.uvic.ca/winter/themed-communities.php.

The program is available to all students living in the South Tower sustainability-themed community.

Students may participate in training programs offered by staff and the student community leaders throughout the school year on a variety of themes: - Sustainable Student - Sustainable Wellness - Sustainable Impact - Sustainable Ciitizen - Community Building Students are also encouraged to develop their own initiatives to offer to other students, for example events A video about the themed-community can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuVoLME217c

The program is run by the Residence Life group of Residence Services, allocating regular staff time and budgeted resources.

UVic offers students living in the student residences different opportunities to participate in voluntary student educator programs focused on sustainability. The largest is the ongoing Residence Life Sustainability Themed Residence program in South Tower, home to 106 students. It is designed to engage students in their development by exploring sustainable living as an individual, as a community, and as a society. Living in this building, students engage in activities to better understand human influences and their effects on the environment while reducing their own carbon foot print. They also identify changes to their behaviour that contribute to environmental sustainability and integrate the sustainable practices learned into everyday activities. The sustainability theme lends itself to a variety of programs which encourage students to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. These include special events, workshops, talks, discussion groups, and various types of competitions. See: http://www.housing.uvic.ca/winter/themed-communities.php. In the past couple of years there have also been special training programs offered to students living in the South Tower and other residence areas. One was the Environmental Sustainability & Leadership Development Program designed to generate support for environmental change through the development of leadership efficacy, openness to the ideas and struggles of others, and the understanding that we are interconnected in our social systems. Participants of the program worked through a series of workshops to become a living-learning community committed to implementing a change project and were motivated to continue making change for the betterment of society. Approximately 20 students were directly trained in this program. Another program was the Agent of social change workshop series - Eco-champions program. Students living in one of the residence complexes (Gordon Head) were targeted to participate in a study on composting and recycling behaviors by receiving specialized training in the psychology of social change. A total of 15 students received training and support to become "eco-champions of waste diversion" by attending 4 weekly "agents of change" workshops. These students encouraged other students to improve their waste diversion behaviors through various means of peer-to-peer outreach. This included hosting guided group discussions held on each floor of the residences and attended by approximately 50 students (with free pizza to act as an incentive). Students living in one of the residence complexes (Gordon Head) were targeted to participate in a study on composting and recycling behaviors by receiving specialized training in the psychology of social change. A total of 15 students received training and support to become "eco-champions of waste diversion" by attending 4 weekly "agents of change" workshops. These students encouraged other students to improve their waste diversion behaviors through various means of peer-to-peer outreach. This included hosting guided group discussions held on each floor of the residences and attended by approximately 50 students (with free pizza to act as an incentive). Guided group discussions are an empirically-supported method of presenting information that successfully encourages participants to, not only learn, but also take action on information that is discussed. After the discussions, several floors voluntarily chose to get compost bins for their common rooms that students would take shifts emptying.After the discussions, several floors voluntarily chose to get compost bins for their common rooms that students would take shifts emptying.