Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 57.29
Liaison Jennifer Kleindienst
Submission Date Dec. 1, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Wesleyan University
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.46 / 4.00 Jennifer Kleindienst
Sustainability Coordinator
Finance and Administration
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
3,390

Total number of students enrolled for credit that are served (i.e. directly targeted) by a student peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program (avoid double-counting to the extent feasible):
1,234

Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
36.40

Name of the student educators program:
Eco Facilitators

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
842

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:

The Eco Facilitators are peer-to-peer sustainability educators who promote sustainable lifestyle habits on campus. EFs are part of a 3-semester program managed by the Sustainability Office that includes a student forum designed to equip them with the tools to collaborate with first-year students to encourage behavior changes. All programs are designed with inclusivity and equity in mind. Outreach activities are up to the individual Eco Facilitators have included recycling and compost education, campaigns to conserve energy, use reusable dinnerware, use reusable towels, and more.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected:

Each fall, notification goes out to the student body asking for applications to the program. Preference is given to first- and second-year students.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:

All Eco Facilitators are required to take a half-credit forum in which they learn about social psychology, habits, environmental behaviors, social justice, and how to create effective habit-influencing campaigns.


A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination):

The program is in its third pilot year and receives funding each year through the Sustainability Office. The Sustainability Director manages two student program coordinators, who manage the day-to-day program activities and run the student forum and subsequent meetings.


Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
Program House Window Project

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
392

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

The twenty-two program houses on campus voluntarily participate in a workshop, "The Talk," in which they learn about the importance of having discussions in each house (10-20 people) about heating (how it works, what level of control students have, and the importance of communication to ensure that everyone is comfortable). Students are quizzed before and a month after the workshop to see if behaviors have changed.


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

The program is run by the two Sustainability Interns, who are hired by the Sustainability Office with student input.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):

Sustainability Interns are trained in social psychology and meet with Physical Plant employees to learn about the idiosyncrasies of each of the houses.


A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination) (2nd program):

The student positions and related supplies are funded through the Sustainability Office.


Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
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Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (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 to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
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A brief description of the financial and/or administrative support the institution provides to the program (e.g. annual budget and/or faculty/staff coordination) (3rd program):
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A brief description of all other student peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs, including the number of students served and how student educators are selected, trained, and supported by the institution:
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Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.