Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.23
Liaison Daimon Eklund
Submission Date Oct. 17, 2012
Executive Letter Download

STARS v1.2

University of Washington, Seattle
ER-1: Student Sustainability Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.80 / 5.00 Ruth Johnston
Associate Vice President
Finance & Facilities; Office of the Provost
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Total number of degree-seeking students enrolled at the institution:
43,307

Program name (1st program):
SEED (Students Expressing Environmental Dedication)

Number of students served by the program to whom peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education is offered (1st program):
6,000

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (1st program):

The mission of SEED is to promote sustainability in the UW's Residence Halls and campus community. SEED's efforts focus on composting, bottled water, tabling, pilot programs and many other activities to address a broad array of issues. SEED not only raises student awareness about sustainability, but also works with administrative staff to create institutional change on campus.

Some of SEED's activities include creating posters and games to educate students, a “Forget the Fragrance” project, a “Think Outside the Bottle” project, a hand towel pilot project, organizing campus clean ups, maintaining a p-patch for residence hall students, and "Trash Talkers" - an ongoing program in which students educate other students on what can be composted, recycled, and trashed at mealtimes.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):

Elections with question and answer sessions are held for most of the official board positions, except for the executive director. The executive director goes through an application process, with questions and interviews with Housing and Food Services, and then the final decision is confirmed with votes from members of SEED. Liaisons from Residence Hall Councils apply for positions for their halls to be in SEED. All other members are volunteers and receive training from the board committee members.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):

A transition retreat is held at the end of each school year for the old executive board to train the new incoming board. At the transition retreat, students share past experiences, provide documents, share photos, offer advice, exchange items (games etc), and share contacts. General leadership trainings/conferences are provided by Housing and Food Services to leaders of SEED and other groups through the Residence Hall Student Association.


A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (1st program):

Housing and Food Services provides some funding to SEED for supplies, activities, events, and outreach campaigns. Staff support is also provided by Housing and Food Services. Also, since SEED is a Registered Student Organization, they receive an advisor and can receive funding and other resources from the Student Activities Office.


The website URL for 1st Program:
Program name (2nd program):
EcoReps at the University of Washington

Number of students to whom peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education is offered (2nd program):
9,600

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

The EcoRep Program is designed to encourage sustainable behaviors in students, faculty, and staff of the University of Washington through peer-to-peer communication, motivation and education.
The University of Washington as an institution is a leader in sustainability, but that does not fully imply that its constituents are. This program’s goal is to make sustainability a social norm. Focuses are in alternative transportation, waste diversion, energy reduction, and water management. Although constituents do not have total control over these elements, there are still many measures whereby they can reduce their ecological impact. The first activity organized by this group was a Trashion Show on Earth Day.


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

Currently, the student educators are volunteers, but the program is developing an application and recruitment process.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):

The educators will receive formal training and education on sustainable habits, such as transportation choices, energy and water use, and compost and recycling standards. They will also receive formal leadership training, learning their communication styles and how best to communicate with others.


A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):

Currently there is one paid EcoRep coordinator, and a small fund from UW Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability. Additionally, the Student Activities Office provides standard Registered Student Organization resources to the student group of EcoReps.


The website URL for 2nd program:
Program name (3rd program):
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Number of students to whom peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education is offered (3rd program):
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A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (3rd program):
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A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
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The website URL for 3rd program:
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Program name (All other programs):
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Number of students to whom peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education is offered (All other programs):
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A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (All other programs):
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (All other programs):
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (All other programs):
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A brief description of the staff and/or other financial support the institution provides to the program (All other programs):
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The website URL for all other programs:
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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.