Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.19
Liaison Ian Johnson
Submission Date July 14, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Colorado College
EN-7: Employee Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.87 / 3.00 Ian Johnson
Sustainability Director
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total number of employees (staff + faculty, headcount):
931

Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program (avoid double-counting):
269

Percentage of employees served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
28.89

Name of the employee educators program:
Sustainability Across the Curriculum

Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
232

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

Sustainability Across the Curriculum was created to provide faculty with an opportunity to learn how to engage elements of sustainability into their courses. The workshop provides faculty with the skills to incorporate sustainability into all courses, covering all departments. This allows faculty involved in the program to engage with members both within and outside of their department and help faculty members who did not engage in the program integrate sustainability issues into their curriculum. Faculty who participate in the workshop are expected to encourage and facilitate the incorporation of sustainability in all courses.


A brief description of how the employee educators are selected:

Faculty may apply to become Faculty Sustainability Scholars and participate in the Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop. Faculty wishing to apply must fill out an application.


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

The faculty engage in exercises that foster a broad and deep understanding of sustainability, including reflection, field trips, and group discussion to support the development of a greater sense of place. The workshop provides formal training on how to incorporate facets of sustainability into all classes across various departments. At the end of the workshop, participants will have an outline or course module that integrates a model of broad sustainability into an existing course, develops a sustainability focus within an existing course, or creates a new course that includes or focuses on sustainability. Additionally, faculty sustainability scholars meet once per semester to evaluate ongoing progress and to provide and advice and support to each other in their ongoing endeavors.


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

The institution offers a $1000 stipend to faculty that participate in the program. Faculty receive $500 for completing the 2-day workshop and the additional $500 for submitting a course design and lesson plan for a class after the workshop.


Name of the employee educators program (2nd program):
Sustainability Council

Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount) (2nd program):
37

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

The Campus Sustainability Council (CSC) is made up of staff, faculty, students, and community representatives. The council meets once a month to discuss issues regarding sustainability. The main goal of the CSC is to keep sustainability on the forefront of both the college's and the greater Colorado Springs area's missions. Staff and faculty who serve as members of CSC are responsible for carrying out this goal among their peers outside of the council.


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

Faculty and staff are both recruited and selected through the President's Office. Once appointed by the President's Office they also report to them as well.


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

No formal training is required to join the Campus Sustainability Council (CSC), however once appointed, the CSC meets once a month for an hour and a half to discuss issues involving sustainability. The mission of the CSC is to make Colorado College a model for campus and community sustainability. In regards to employees educating employees, members of the council collaborate during meetings and then spend the following weeks before the next meeting educating their fellow employees on topics discussed. Employees elected to the Sustainability Council serve as representatives to their fellow staff and faculty members. The CSC is an advisory committee that works to design, promote, and implement initiatives that are ecologically viable, economically sound, and socially just. The employees involved in the CSC gain information on current events relating to sustainability as well as learn ways to keep sustainability in the classroom and it is their responsibility to share that information with fellow employees.


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

Sustainability Council has purview over $50,000 of the $250,000 that is allotted to facilities. They vote on and use the funds for various projects.


A brief description of all other employee peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs, including the number of employees served and how employee educators are selected, trained, and supported by the institution:
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Total number of hours employee educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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