Wake Forest University
EN-1: Student Educators Program

The Sustainability Ambassadors program trains student volunteers to become peer educators for sustainability. The mission of the program is to support the development of sustainable behaviors among the student population at Wake Forest University. As of Fall 2016, training occurs in the form of an undergraduate course: ENV 301 - Leadership for Sustainability. Through outreach activities, campaign development, event planning, sustainability assessments, and presentations, Sustainability Ambassadors are able to reach Wake students in a variety of settings. Examples of peer-to-peer outreach include an interactive recycling sorting game, a "Choose to Reuse" quiz to promote the use of reusable water bottles, and tabling to promote alternative forms of transportation on and around campus, among others. Prior to Spring 2015, the program was known as EcoReps.

As of Fall 2016, student educators are required to satisfactorily complete an academic course, "Leadership for Sustainability." Students are selected through the university's standard course registration procedures. Additional students are selected on a case-by-case basis based on their interest in and experience with sustainability. Prior to Fall 2016, students were required to articulate their interest in participating in the program. In 2012 and 2013, a written application was required.

Through their participation in the Leadership for Sustainability course, students are trained in community-based social marketing and learn how to develop, assess, and implement sustainability-focused behavior change campaigns on campus. Class sessions include: sustainability and ecological principles; developing learning outcomes and conducting outreach; developing surveys; the art of discourse; debate, argumentation, and persuasion; and democratic engagement. Students work in groups to develop and present real-world campaigns that can be implemented at Wake Forest. They are also required to conduct multiple tabling sessions on campus throughout the semester. Prior to Fall 2016, student educators were required to attend quarterly meetings that focused on various skills and topics relevant to sustainability on campus.

Funding is provided through the Office of Sustainability. The course is taught by the Chief Sustainability Officer and assisted by the full-time Program Coordinator, who also leads the program.

Each sorority and fraternity on campus is eligible to nominate a member to serve as a Greeks Go Green representative. Representatives make presentations at chapter meetings, conduct outreach, host and promote sustainability-related events, and implement a chapter-wide initiative of their choosing that is both impactful and has a high probability of success. Peer-to-peer outreach activities include, but are not limited to, a recycling sorting game to educate participants on waste diversion, a "Choose to Reuse" quiz to encourage the use of reusable water bottles, and the promotion of carpooling and ride sharing, especially around school break periods.

Representatives are nominated and/or approved by their chapter presidents and serve on a calendar-year basis, due to the timing of leadership turnover within the organizations. In situations where multiple individuals are nominated for the same chapter, a decision is made based on a written application and/or personal interviews. Multiple representatives may be selected from the same organization in the case of one representative graduating or leaving campus to study abroad mid-term.

Training sessions are conducted by the Greeks Go Green student intern and one or more Office of Sustainability staff members. Representatives are introduced to a variety of outreach activities that they can conduct within their chapters and are taught the basics of conducting effective outreach. An introduction to community-based social marketing is also provided and used as representatives develop their own initiatives. Finally, guest speakers on topics such as leadership are brought in throughout the year. The Greeks Go Green intern also coordinates weekly meetings with all representatives and presents on various sustainability-related topics.

The Office of Sustainability funds the Greeks Go Green student internship, as well as supplies. Expenses for chapter-specific sustainability initiatives are either funded by the Office of Sustainability or the individual chapters.

The Student-Athlete Sustainability Network was developed in Fall 2016 with the purpose of empowering student-athletes to assume leadership roles in conserving energy and water and reducing waste within their respective athletic teams. The program is modeled after the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), with each varsity team represented by at least one student. As of the 2016-17 academic year, the program consisted of 13 student-athletes representing nine of the university's 16 teams. Representatives focus on both structural changes -- quick fixes that can reduce their teams' impacts on the environment -- and behavioral changes. Some projects taken on by representatives include encouraging the use of reusable water bottles over disposable cups or bottles, increasing rates of waste diversion, reducing water used to maintain playing surfaces, and educating peers on proper thermostat management to reduce energy consumption. The network is organized and moderated by the Office of Sustainability's full-time Program Coordinator.

Coaching staffs were contacted and asked to nominate student-athletes who exhibit leadership qualities and a passion for the environment. Representatives for teams that did not supply nominations were secured through SAAC and peer-to-peer word-of-mouth.

Student educators are provided with an introduction to community-based social marketing and strategies behind implementing behavioral change. The group typically meets once per month, led by the Program Coordinator, but shares ideas throughout the school year through Google docs and a Facebook group.

The program is supported financially through the Office of Sustainability.

Sustainability Ambassadors engaged in a variety of tabling campaigns that reached the entire undergraduate student body. The number of students served includes all undergraduate students (4955). The total number of students served by Greeks Go Green and the Student-Athlete Sustainability Network was subtracted from 4955 to avoid double counting. Greeks Go Green representatives serve as educators for their peers in Greek Life, but they also assisted with outreach at our Campus Beautification Day/Arbor Day Celebration, reaching many non-Greek students as well.