Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 80.84
Liaison Alex Davis
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Arizona State University
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Corey Hawkey
Assistant Director
University Sustainability Practices
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
88,106

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):
88,106

Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
100

Name of the student educators program:
University Sustainability Practices Program Assistants

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
88,106

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

USP’s Program Assistants are responsible for creating, researching, and implementing sustainability projects on Arizona State University campuses in support of ASU’s sustainability goals: Climate Neutrality, Zero Waste (solid/water waste), Principled Practice, and Active Engagement. Program Assistants go through an orientation process and are trained throughout their experience by the USP staff and are occasionally mentored and supported by ASU faculty. Funding support is provided by the USP budget as well as the Sustainability Initiatives Revolving Fund. Students lead education and outreach efforts that target the entire ASU student population.

The Program Assistants hold a variety of events and activities in a variety of locations on all ASU campuses to ensure access. These events include:

Caught Green Handed: Students ride green sustainability bikes around campus and reward students that they catch doing sustainability actions.

Walk the Green Carpet: Students ask fellow students to “walk the green carpet” and share their commitment to sustainability publicly.

Community Gardening: Students educate fellow students about gardening. ASU has several gardens on a couple campuses.

Students in Residence Halls are targeted directly when the Program Assistants set up their events and activities in the residence hall communities. The Assistants also support Aramark’s Weigh the Waste program that targeted all students that dine in the ASU dining halls on all campuses. Students educate each other about the amount of food that goes to waste.

The Assistants also organize and implement Campus Sustainability Week.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected:

Potential University Sustainability Practices Program Assistants are asked to submit resumes and then undergo a thorough interview process. Candidates are selected based on skills, matched interest levels, compatibility and needs of the department.


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

All University Sustainability Practices Program Assistants go through Arizona State University's student orientation and take all pertinent safety classes such as “driving on the mall” for vehicle use as needed. The Program Assistants also undergo a mentoring process with the Director of University Sustainability Practices and other staff members of the department. They meet weekly to set goals and track progress with their manager.


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):

University Sustainability Practices staff provide oversight to the Program Assistants as needed. Each assistant is paid an hourly wage. Program and event marketing and supply needs are funded through department funds and Sustainability Initiatives Revolving Fund grants.


Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
School of Sustainability Student Ambassador Program

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
1,000

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

The School of Sustainability Ambassadors are a group of student leaders who assist the School of Sustainability with recruitment and retention activities. They provide the face and voice of the student at a variety of recruitment events, both at ASU and in the greater community. They volunteer at a several large SOS programs, including undergraduate Fall Welcome, Family Weekend, Homecoming, Night of the Open Door, and the Sustainability Solutions Festival. They assist with New Student Orientation.

The primary focus of the School of Sustainability Student Ambassadors is on prospective students and their families; they may interact with several hundred people through recruitment events. They provide leadership services to about 60 new students each year at Fall Welcome and Camp SOS.


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

All returning SOS students are invited to apply to the program and answer some application questions. Candidates traditionally have an informal one-on-one interview with the program adviser and then participate in a group interview process with other candidates and returning Ambassadors. Final selections are made by the program adviser.


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

Ambassadors have an initial training prior to the start of the school year to review expectations and provide information on the School of Sustainability. They also have a weekly class meeting where ongoing training and support of recruitment functions is provided.


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):

Each member of the SOS Ambassadors is provided with a polo shirt and name tag for use when representing the school. The School of Sustainability also provides funds for a spring learning trip, for the Ambassadors to visit a city and connect with Sustainability leaders from business. The program is supported by the School of Sustainability.


Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
Zero Waste Ambassador Program

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
1,000

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):

The Zero Waste Ambassador Program fosters both a culture of zero waste through leadership development of ASU student organizations via peer to peer education, as well as provides student organizations additional sources of funding. Student organizations register to participate in pre-determined ZW Ambassador opportunities and, in exchange for their completed service, are awarded funding for use within their organization. Outreach activities include; bin guarding at staff BBQ, and various athletic events.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):

1. Opportunities are posted onto SunDevilSync- the platform all student organizations use to register and promote organization and activites
2. Organizations complete a form through SunDevilSync
3. Organizations are selected based on the order in which the forms are submitted
4. The organization completes the agreed upon service and in exchange the organization is awarded funding directly from the Zero Waste Department, typically the funding is $500/opportunity with a max of 15 individuals per opportunity. Opportunities range from 3-4 hours in length.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):

Before each opportunity the organization receives the service checklist via email with the criteria the Zero Waste Department uses to verify the service. Ambassadors meet with a representative of the Zero Waste department prior to the opportunity to receive an overview on the expected service. Upon completion of service the Zero Waste Department attend a general meeting of the organization to provide an overview of the university Zero Waste goal and to discuss opportunities for the organization to incorporate zero waste practices into their organization (this is changing this year. The presentation and training will be combined and will take place before the service opportunity)


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):

The Zero Waste Ambassador program is funded through the Zero Waste Department which provides the monies for the organizations. The funds are dispersed to the organizations through the Educational Outreach and Student Services through their Student Organizations and Programming office.


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:

Walk-only zone ambassadors, Changemaker, Wellness Ambassadors


Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
---

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Susan Norton


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.