| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.31 |
| Liaison | Keaton Schrank |
| Submission Date | June 12, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Westminster University - Utah
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.85 / 4.00 |
Meg
Wolf Sustainability Fellow Environmental Center |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Does the institution coordinate one or more ongoing student, peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs that meet the criteria for this credit?:
Yes
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Number of degree-seeking students enrolled at the institution:
3,151
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Name of the student educators program (1st program):
Campus Sustainability Fellows
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Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (1st program):
275
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A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (1st program):
The Westminster Environmental Center selects 2-6 students to be employed on campus as Sustainability fellows. These students work with the Environmental Center Director to identify the campus's weaknesses in sustainability and implement at least two projects that promote widespread student learning about sustainability and increase campus-wide sustainability efforts. These students promote widespread sustainability, reduction of Westminster's carbon emissions, and energy saving behaviors. Fellows are paid as student employees.
None
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):
The Westminster Environmental Center Director chooses Sustainability Fellows from a pool of applicants.
Desired Qualifications include:
-Commitment to improving Westminster's campus sustainability
-Excellent written and communication skills
-Success working with peers
-Desire to learn more about effective methods for institutionalizing sustainability
Campus Sustainability Fellows submit a cover letter and resume in the spring prior to the upcoming school year, or in the fall at the start of a new school year. The position is open to all undergraduate students.
None
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):
Campus Sustainability fellows work in the Environmental Center and receive constant mentor ship from the Environmental Center Director during weekly meetings. Fellows receive training in community based social marketing, communications, and volunteer recruitment.
None
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (1st program):
Sustainability fellows are paid hourly as student employees of the college.
None
Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
Westminster For Real Food
None
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
670
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A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):
Westminster for Real Food is a student group on campus working for the inclusion of more local, humane, organic and fair trade foods on the Westminster campus. A photo petition was held to show campus administration that students support more "Real" food on campus. Westminster for Real Food also created a resolution within the Student Senate (ASWC) to request that 20% of "real" food be initiated on campus by 2020. This resolution and support from the students led to the implementation of a new food provider on campus with more sustainable food options and a commitment to having 20% of all food on campus considered "real" by the year 2020.
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
Students volunteered time to come to weekly meetings and to help organize photo petition support from students.
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):
Volunteers were educated to understand the background behind the Real food Challenge, which is a nation wide campaign to implement more sustainable food on campus. Volunteers were educated on the definition of "Real Food" and on the social, economic and environmental impacts that "Real Food" can influence compared to conventional food.
None
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
Westminster for Real Food is supported by the Environmental Center on campus to obtain material for a photo campaign and is also supported by the Associated Students of Westminster College senate.
None
Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
Westminster College Eco Team
None
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
651
None
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
The Westminster college Eco- team is a collaborative group of residential student volunteers. Eco Team members help make Westminster a more sustainable campus by educating their fellow students about ways to live more environmentally-conscious lifestyles. The Eco Team members lead their halls in the annual Residence Hall Energy Challenge, help put on Earth day, and have the option to complete their own fully funded project in the spring semester.
None
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
Eco-team members apply through the environmental center assistant director and are expected to have the following criteria.
- Effective communication skills
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Ability to see projects through to completion
- Ability to learn information about environmental topics and relate that information to your peers
- Enthusiastic, engaging individuals who are passionate about environmental and social issues
- Students who can be held accountable for their work
- Creativity and enthusiasm
These students are selected after filling out an application.
None
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (3rd program):
Eco-Team members are initially trained by the Environmental Center Director and Assistant Director, and also working under the Sustainability fellows to learn basic sustainability tactics and to learn about how to reach out to other students.
None
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
The program is funded by the college through the Environmental Center budget and donor funds.
None
Name(s) of the student educator program(s) (all other programs):
Westminster Organic Garden
None
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by all other student educator programs:
652
None
A brief description of the program(s), including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (all other programs):
The Westminster Organic garden includes a volunteer committee, food film series and an active garden community that seasonally grows organic vegetable and fruits. The Garden also includes sustainable food discussions and vegetarian cooking classes. These are overseen by 1-2 Campus Garden Coordinator(s) who are student employees. Additionally student volunteers help organize and coordinate some aspects of the garden, like the Chicken Co-operative. These students are recruited and selected by the Garden Coordinator and Garden Committee.
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (all other programs):
Westminster's Organic Garden student workers apply by submitting a cover letter and resume and are selected by the Environmental Center Director and Garden Committee.
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (all other programs):
Garden coordinators work with the Environmental Center Director in the season previous to their upcoming work year to learn what garden tasks are needed. Seed knowledge and planting times are learned from previous garden coordinators.
None
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (all other programs):
The program is funded by the college through the Environmental Center budget and donor funds.
None
Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually:
4,140
None
The website URL for the peer-to-peer student outreach and education program(s):
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://www.westminstercollege.edu/environmental_center/
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.