DePaul University
ER-1: Student Sustainability Educators Program

Students are selected through a formal application process through the Division of Student Affairs Common Applications. All applications are reviewed, 200-250 application received each year. After reading essays and ensuring applicants have at least a 2.5 GPA, 30 minute interviews are offered to most qualified candidates. Between 100-140 interviews are conducted by OMSS professional and paraprofessional staff. After all interviews have been conducted, those with the highest remarks are offered positions. Additionally, current mentors have the opportunity to return a second year to the peer mentor position. Those staff members write a reflection on their year thus far and interview with the Assistant Director and Graduate Assistant who oversee the program.

STARS Peer Mentors first participate in a common leadership experience during the spring quarter prior to the start of the position, this year an off-campus retreat providing a foundation on socially responsible leadership. Next, prior to the start of the fall quarter, mentor participate in a week long Immersion Training which lasts 5 day, approximately 9-5pm each day. This training provides information on the following: Transitioning to a Leadership Position, General Office and Program Overviews, Team Development, Strengths Assessment, Diversity Education, Mentoring College Students, and Mentoring Mission College Students. Additionally, mentors receive ongoing training throughout the academic year during staff meetings, 2 hours each week.

The Peer Mentors are supported by a full-time Assistant Director and a graduate assistant. Both provide support in their own professional development as well as assisting them in working with their mentees. The Peer Mentors are paid a $2500 stipend and scheduled to work 10 hours per week during each quarter of the academic year.

Students apply to be a Peer Mentor through the Division of Student Affairs Apply to be a Leader online application. The online application is open from November through mid-January for students to apply through Campus Connection. Once the online application is closed, all applicants are reviewed and invitations to interview are sent out to candidates that meet the criteria. Thirty minute interviews are conducted with candidates over the course of a month and a half. Students are informed of their status by the start of spring break.

All new hires within the Division of Student Affairs are required to attend a weekend leadership training that is focused on the Socially Responsible Leadership Model during the Spring Quarter prior to the start of their position. During the week prior to the start of the Fall Quarter, Peer Mentors go through a 40 hour, week-long training to prepare them for their position. In their training, students receive information about the following: Transitioning to a Leadership Position, General Office and Program Overviews, Team Development, Strengths Assessment, Diversity Education, Mentoring College Students, and Mentoring Mission College Students

The Peer Mentors are supported by a full-time Assistant Director, a graduate assistant and an undergraduate intern. These academic and student staff positions are designed to assist the peer mentors in working with their respective mentees. The Peer Mentors are paid $9 an hour and are scheduled to work 10 hours per week during each quarter of the academic year.

2008 – 4 MOC Mentors served 85 MOC Participants
2009 – 8 MOC Mentors served 162 MOC Participants
2010 – 6 MOC Mentors served 220 MOC Participants

Selected via application submission, group interview process, and individual interviews.

Resident Advisors are trained for 11 days prior to the beginning of Fall quarter; additional training sessions occur throughout the academic year. Training topics include, but are not limited to: crisis response, university policies, university and community resources, community building, confrontation, mediation.

Programming, staffing, and supply funding comes from the university. Department is staffed with 10 professional staff, 1 graduate assistant, and 1 administrative assistant in addition to student staff. Professional staff and graduate assistant all interact with, supervise, and support the Resident Advisor staff.

2008 – 57 RAs serve 2544 residents/students
2009 – 57 RAs serve 2544 residents/students
2010 – 57 RAs serve 2544 residents/students

VOICES Interns:
2008: The VOICES Interns were a part of the University Ministry office. They were selected through the application process used to hire the VIA (Vincentians In Action) Senior Leaders process. Students submitted applications and responded to an essay question as part of the process.
2009: The VOICES Interns were hired through the Division of Student Affairs Student Leadership application process. They were interviewed by SLI staff and selections were made based on ability to promote Socially Responsible Leadership.
2010: The VOICES Interns were hired through the Division of Student Affairs Student Leadership application process. They were interviewed by SLI staff and selections were made based on ability to promote Socially Responsible Leadership.

Winter Leadership Conference Peer Facilitators:
Students apply to be Peer Facilitators through an application process in the fall quarter. Students participate in a group interview process and are selected for their ability to facilitate conversation, work well with others, and role-model leadership for emerging leaders.

DePaul Leadership Scholars:
DePaul Leadership Scholars apply to be a part of the University’s scholarship program after being admitted to DePaul. Applications are reviewed and approximately 60 students are selected for an interview. After interviews the pool is narrowed down to 20 DePaul Leadership Scholars.

DePaul University College of Law Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative (PBCSI):
The student leaders of PBCSI are selected from a pool of law student applicants. The leaders are 2nd or 3rd year students who have shown a commitment to community service and community building at the College of Law. They have also demonstrated leadership, administrative and relational skills – all of which are necessary to be an effective PBSCI student leader. They submit written applications and are evaluated by the PBSCI coordinator (an attorney on staff at the College of Law), the outgoing student leaders and others (e.g. the Law School Chaplain). After which, selections are made.

DePaul Student Interfaith Scholars (SIS):
SIS’s are selected based upon their commitment to their own faith and spiritual development as well as their commitment to and involvement in interfaith dialogue and activities. Applicants are evaluated based on a written application and interview demonstrating their leadership, organizational and relational skills and passion for interfaith relationships and community building at DePaul.

VOICES Interns:
2008: The content of formation, training, and student development encompassed skill development and reflection on values in the ways of Awareness, Dialogue, and Solidarity as well as more VOICES-specific training for the in-class dialogues for Discover and Explore classes.
2009: The VOICES Interns are trained by the previous year interns and through developmental trainings and conferences. Training focused on 5 components of socially responsible leadership and in-class dialogues for Discover and Explore classes.
2010: The VOICES Interns are trained by the previous year interns and through developmental trainings and conferences. Training focused on 5 components of socially responsible leadership and in-class dialogues for Discover and Explore classes.

Winter Leadership Conference Peer Facilitators:
Peer Facilitators participate in a training program at the beginning of the winter quarter. The training includes an overview of the curriculum and a skill building around facilitation skills.

DePaul Leadership Scholars:
Students attend a meeting each quarter for two hours to help them prepare and a community building event takes place each fall.

DePaul University College of Law Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative (PBCSI):
The PBCSI student leaders receive a variety of training. First, before being selected as leaders they have participated in the PBCSI program, so they have gained comfort and familiarity with the program and how it is run. Second, as they make their way through the leadership application and selection process, there are opportunities for them to learn about the program through review of the job description and interviews with current leaders. Third, once selected as a leader, frequent and regular meetings among the student leaders and various interested staff at the University (for e.g. the PBCSI coordinator, the Director of the Center for Public Interest Law, the Chaplain for the College of Law) take place during which operating procedures are discussed, decisions are reviewed, and instructions and feedback are provided to the student leaders. Also, there is frequent one-on-one contact between the student leaders and the PBCSI coordinator that incorporates training, modeling and information sharing. Finally, there is one retreat a year for student leaders that focuses on the University mission and the students’ deeper interests in community service and their calling to service leadership. At this event, training for the leadership position takes place.

DePaul Student Interfaith Scholars (SIS):
The SIS receive a variety of training opportunities. University Ministry staff engage with the Scholars regularly in group and one-on-one meetings in order to provide direction, supportive advice, mentorship and team building. Student Interfaith Scholars will also participate in skills training around dialogue, faith development, etc. conducted by the University Ministry staff. Student interfaith Scholars participate in University Ministry and DePaul Student Affairs student leadership retreats. Scholars are also encouraged to attend conferences hosted by external partners (e.g. Intefaith Youth Core and other Universities) at which they develop peer relationships and are exposed to further skills-based training.

VOICES Interns:

2008: VOICES were supervised/ advised by University Minister, Karl Nass, and were fully funded by University Ministry.
2009: VOICES were supervised by Director, Dave Borgealt, and Program Coordinator, Kristen Reid Salomon, and are fully funded by Student Leadership Institute.
2010: VOICES are currently supervised by Program Coordinator, Kristen Reid Salomon, and are fully funded by Student Leadership Institute.

Winter Leadership Conference Peer Facilitators:
Winter Leadership Conference Peer Facilitators are support by the Assistant Director, Program Coordinator, and the Director in a range of 5-20% of job responsibility. There is a WLC SLI Intern who spends 80% of position on WLC and a Marketing Intern who spends 20%. The Administrative Assistant spends 5% on WLC. The program is fully funded through the Student Leadership Institute

DePaul Leadership Scholars:
DePaul Leadership Scholars are support by the Assistant Director, Program Coordinator, and the Director in a range of 5-20% of job responsibility. A Graduate Assistant contributes 75% of responsibilities and the Administrative Assistant spends 5% on DeLS. The program is fully funded through programs and services provided by the Student Leadership Institute and University Ministry.

DePaul College of Law Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative (PBCSI):
The following staff of the University provide support to the PBCSI student leaders:

The PBCSI coordinator – an attorney employed part-time by the University
The Center for Public Interest Law (CPIL) Executive Director and Director
The Chaplain for the College of Law
Various law school faculty and staff
These staff of the University provide a variety of support to the student leaders. They supervise PBCSI and meet regularly with the leaders. They participate in the community service. They fund raise for and publicize the PBCSI program. They provide opportunities for personal reflection and professional mentoring and development.

The following financial support is provided by the institution for PBCSI:
PBCSI student leaders receive at $600.00 annual stipend;
Salary for part-time PBCSI coordinator on the staff of the Law School
Salary of other University employees who provide support to PBCSI student leaders (Center for Public Interest Law staff, University Ministry chaplain, other faculty and staff at the College of Law)
College of Law Dean’s Innovation Fund: Approximately $4,000.00 annually
Vincentian Endowment Fund Grant: $3,000.00 over three years
University Ministry in the Loop: Approximately $300.00 annually

DePaul Student Interfaith Scholars:
Each DePaul Student Interfaith Scholar receives a $1500.00 stipend for the year. Student Interfaith Scholars also receive money from SAF-B, UMIN and other university offices to pay for programming and services. This past year, that amounted to approximately $3,500.00. Student Interfaith Scholars also receive institutional support from various staff persons at DePaul including University Ministry Chaplains, faculty in relevant areas (e.g. Religious Studies) and other Student Affairs professionals.

The information provided is limited to DePaul University's Division of Student Affairs, Steans and Egan Urban Centers, and one initiative in the College of Law (DePaul University College of Law Pro Bono & Community Service Initiative), and Campus Recreation.

The number of students to whom peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education is offered is calculated by the most information provided from the most recent academic years.

Additional Websites:

College of Law Pro Bono and Community Service Initiative
http://www.law.depaul.edu/students/pro_bono/

University Ministry, Student Interfaith Scholars
http://studentaffairs.depaul.edu/ministry/interfaith.html