Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison Jennifer Lamy
Submission Date March 6, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Emerson College
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
6,116

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):
6,116

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

Name of the student educators program:
Emerson Eco Reps

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
5,130

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

Emerson Eco-Reps promote campus sustainability through peer-to-peer education, outreach and awareness. Eco-Reps meet weekly with Emerson’s sustainability coordinator to discuss campus sustainability issues and goals, plan activities and events for campus housing, and share challenges, solutions, and successes towards raising awareness.
Eco-Reps are engaged in campus affairs to better understand how individual behaviors affect the local environment and how these behaviors collectively create a significant global impact. Eco-Reps build foundational knowledge surrounding sustainability issues and discuss how to best raise awareness of these issues among their peers. While increasing overall campus awareness of environmental, economic and social justice issues, the Eco-Rep program advances environmentally responsible campus initiatives such as energy efficiency, recycling and composting, sustainable food, and efficient resource use. Through education and activities, Emerson Eco-Reps increase their own environmental literacy in order to become effective sustainability leaders on campus.
The work of this program is based on the value of individual, day-to-day change in improving our relationship with the environment. Currently, the Eco-Rep program includes all of Emerson’s residential halls and campus populations and is recognized as an influential student group on campus. The Eco-Rep program is open to all undergraduate students interested in sustainability, leadership, and campus affairs.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected:

There are eight Eco-Reps positions that represent the Emerson College community—Piano Row (2), the Little Building (2), the Colonial Building, the Paramount Center, off-campus students and graduate students.

Emerson students have the opportunity to apply for the position during the first two weeks of the fall semester and are required to hold the position for the entire year. The chosen Eco Rep will demonstrate leadership skills, strong communication skills, environmental awareness and will participate in the group they represent (i.e. live in the associated Residence Hall, be a grad student, or live off campus).


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

Eco Reps receive a guidebook and 2 hour training session to prepare them for the position. Additionally, the Eco Reps meet monthly with residential directors to provide them with suggestions as to the most effective ways to get involved with campus occurrences. The Eco Reps also attend a yearly consortium during the fall semester where they learn from student sustainability leaders and staff on other campuses.


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):

Eco Reps are provided with an annual budget allocated from the sustainability coordinator and are compensated at a rate of $11/hour. Eco Reps are expected to work 5 hours per week.


Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
Earth Emerson

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
6,116

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

Earth Emerson is the student-run environmental action organization committed to thinking globally about the environment and acting locally to effect change at our college and in our community. Earth Emerson activities and events include tabling on environmental issues, field trips, a Vegan Food Festival, film screenings, and potlucks.


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

All students are eligible to join and meetings are held weekly. Leadership is selected by vote.


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

Staff advisor to the group gives leadership a training session each semester to be disseminated to the larger organization.


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):

Earth Emerson receives funding from the Student Government Organization. Leadership is unpaid.


Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
Green Gala

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
6,116

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

The Green Gala is a night of sustainable food, fashion, and student performances at one of our historical theaters. The evening features art dedicated to environmental awareness, interactive demos, booths, and 2 hours worth of environmental-themed performances. The event is advertised in all Emerson departments and students are encouraged to submit their work to win a $1,000 cash prize in the respective categories.


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

The event is organized by student volunteers. Leadership roles are filled by students who are nominated and voted on by incumbent and incoming staff.


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

Student leadership meet with the sustainability coordinator for planning and execution recommendations and receive knowledge on publicity and marketing from the previous year's leadership.


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 Green Gala is funded by the Campus Services department and Sodexo.


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.