| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.85 |
| Liaison | Karen Eckert, Ph.D. |
| Submission Date | Nov. 30, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Principia College
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Karen
Eckert, Ph.D. Professor and Director Center for Sustainability |
Does the institution coordinate one or more ongoing student, peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs that meet the criteria for this credit?:
Number of degree-seeking students enrolled at the institution:
Name of the student educators program (1st program):
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (1st program):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (1st program):
The Principia College Sustainability Club hosts a variety of outreach events accessible to all students. These include a weekly Club meeting featuring documentary showings, guest speakers (e.g., climate change, community development, social entrepreneurism), volunteering (e.g., Mississippi River clean-up, endangered species rehab, local food production, renewable energy installations), community events (e.g., Sustainability Weekend, Pollinator Dinner, Earth Day), and various other programming throughout the year to raise awareness of sustainability issues. The Sustainability Club is made up and run by dedicated, energetic students working to make a positive impact in the world. Club activities are chronicled at https://www.facebook.com/PrincipiaSustainability and a FaceBook group page that facilitates scheduling.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):
Anyone may join the Sustainability Club, but members within the Club vote via democratic process for Club Officer positions (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Outreach). These Officers host the weekly meetings, guide the development and implementation of sponsored activities, manage the budget, and inspire others to become involved.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):
The officers for the Sustainability Club receive leadership training from Principia College's Leadership Institute, are sponsored by the Center for Sustainability to attend the annual AASHE Student Summit, and receive ongoing mentoring from a Faculty Adviser and from previous club officers.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (1st program):
The Sustainability Club develops and submits an annual budget request to the Student Senate and receives funding on an annual basis to support core activities. The Club manages the campus book recycling program, which brings in additional funding. For special projects and targets of opportunity, funding requests can also be submitted to the Center for Sustainability. Finally, vehicles, printing, and other programmatic assets are available from the college.
Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):
The Principia College Eco Heads are dedicated individuals elected as members of their House Board (dorms). Their mission, as stated in the campus constitution, is to “coordinate and facilitate the ecological efforts of the campus. This includes working with the Facilities Department to promote and maintain the campus recycling program, as well as updating the campus about the recycling program.” 100% of Principia students live in on-campus dorms, so every student is eligible for election, and every student interacts with and learns from their Eco Head. The Eco Heads manage the annual RecycleMania competition, mentor the Freshman houses in issues of recycling and composting, host recycling games during all-campus events (e.g., Sustainability Weekend, Earth Day), and offer special waste reduction programming (e.g., PeopleTowels, Battle of the Boot).
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
Eco Heads are elected (per semester or per year, depending on house rules) by their residential dorm housemates.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):
An All-Campus Eco Head in the Student Senate (voted into position by the entire college) keeps Eco Heads informed of sustainability happenings around campus and helps them plan and organize events. In addition, all Eco Heads receive training in what can be recycled, proper methods for recycling, and ways to increase general awareness on campus throughout the year by the College's Center for Sustainability and Facilities Department.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
The Eco Heads receive administrative support and mentoring, as well as financial support, as needed, from the College's Center for Sustainability. Vehicles, printing, and other programmatic assets are available from the college.
Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
The student-run Principia Beekeepers Association (PBA) (https://www.facebook.com/principiabeekeepers) is an activity of the Sustainability Club. Five PBA officers maintain the campus apiary, participate regularly in professional beekeeping associations in Illinois and Missouri, and host a variety of outreach activities available to all students. These include workshops (e.g., hive building), weekly hive assessments, campus films and speakers, maintaining pollinator gardens, hosting an annual Pollinator Dinner, and volunteering in the community.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
Members of the PBA are self-selected, anyone can join the Association and become involved in beekeeping.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (3rd program):
Training is available on a weekly basis - any interested student can participate in regularly scheduled (weekly) hive assessments or other scheduled activities (e.g., winterizing the hive, hive maintenance, re-queening), join the PBA at professional meetings (e.g., Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association monthly meeting), etc. For advanced study, a selection of books and films are available to borrow from the Center for Sustainability,
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
The PBA is financially supported by the Sustainability Club. Vehicles, printing, and other programmatic assets are available from the college. The goal is for honey sales to underwrite the financial upkeep of the apiary.
Name(s) of the student educator program(s) (all other programs):
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by all other student educator programs:
A brief description of the program(s), including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (all other programs):
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (all other programs):
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (all other programs):
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (all other programs):
Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually:
The website URL for the peer-to-peer student outreach and education program(s):
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.