| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.22 |
| Liaison | Mary Ellen Mallia |
| Submission Date | Dec. 21, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University at Albany
EN-7: Employee Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Mary Ellen
Mallia Director of Environmental Sustainability Finance and Business |
Total number of employees (staff + faculty, headcount):
Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by a peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education program (avoid double-counting):
Percentage of employees served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
Name of the employee educators program:
Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:
The Sustainability Coordinators program serves as the sustainability committee for the campus. The group plays a vital role in disseminating information about sustainability polices, programs and initiatives. The main focus is on communication and outreach but can also create new initiatives and provide feedback to the Office of Sustainability. The goal is to have as many departments and buildings represented on the committee as possible. The coordinators are expected to serve in two year tenures on the committee but participants are allowed to renew their membership as many times as they desire.
Requirements
Coordinators are expected to complete the following:
Complete required training and/or renewal session every two years (also see #1 under professional development)
Communicate sustainability programs by posting fliers, educational material in buildings/offices. Material will be distributed electronically by the Office of Sustainability.
Agree to be a point person on sustainability. Let your colleagues know about sustainability initiatives at staff meetings, assist in answering campus questions about sustainable practices, bring items of concern to the Office of Sustainability and serve as a liaison for the student sustainability volunteers.
Submit an end of year activity report. This report will be used to craft a letter of recognition which will be sent to your supervisor and personnel file. Coordinators are also encouraged to identify a goal for the year and incorporate this with their professional performance plan. (also see the recording/recognition section)
Attend two meetings/professional development activities per academic year
Below is a range of other activities in which coordinators might be engaged:
• Attend and/or volunteer at main events such as the Energy Campaign Recognition ceremony, Campus Crunch, Trashion Fashion, Earth Day activities and the Give and Go.
• Help populate the following sub-committees: Terra Award selection committee, Sustainability Innovation Grant Program and Green Workspace Challenge/Office Composting.
• Participate in professional development activities. See below for details.
• Participate in any ad-hoc committees that might be formed on specific issues.
A brief description of how the employee educators are selected:
The Sustainability Coordinators are faculty and staff who are interested sustainability and help to communicate and implement initiatives and policies. Coordinators are selected in two ways:
1. self selection
2. nominated by their peer/supervisor to represent their office.
A solicitation for nominations are sent out by the Office of Sustainability.
A brief description of the formal training that the employee educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:
Coordinators attend an initial training on the sustainability programs and procedures of the university. They are expected to attend a refresher training every two years. The training covers an overview of the sustainability program and the major commitments in which the university participates. Coordinators discuss various procedures related to energy and water conservation and waste reduction on a continuous basis at their monthly meetings.
One example of training that occurs is coordinators received detailed education on what is recyclable, compostable and what is trash that not only applies to the university waste stream but their waste stream at home. Items used in campus operations are exhibited for attendees to look over and feel and then determine which is the correct bin for that item. This leads to discussions about contamination, labeling and purchasing. Another training that happens is the sharing of sustainability hacks. A panel of selected coordinators will share how they have incorporated sustainability into their lives and workplace for other coordinators to emulate. The session usually ends with a DIY event. Each year the coordinators take a field trip to enhance their knowledge on certain aspects of sustainability or projects related to the campus. Examples of past tours include: County Waste recycling facility, a UAlbany's professor's sustainable farm, a local composting facility and a Mesonet site at a local apple orchard.
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 sustainability coordinators program is overseen by the office of sustainability. Two staff people in the office focus their efforts on providing regular updates to the members, holding training sessions and conducting professional development opportunities as part of their duties.Letters of acknowledge of service is sent at the end of the academic year to the coordinator's supervisors. This is a recognized activity as service to the community by the university.
Name of the employee educators program (2nd program):
Number of employees served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount) (2nd program):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (2nd program):
A brief description of how the employee educators are selected (2nd program):
A brief description of the formal training that the employee educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (2nd program):
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):
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:
Total number of hours employee educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually:
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:
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.