Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 71.70
Liaison Marianne Martin
Submission Date Sept. 22, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Colorado Boulder
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Marianne Martin
Associate Director
Environmental Center
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution coordinate one or more ongoing student, peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education programs that meet the criteria for this credit?:
Yes

Number of degree-seeking students enrolled at the institution:
29,850

Name of the student educators program (1st program):
Residence Halls Eco-Reps and RASL's

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (1st program):
24,800

A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (1st program):

RA Sustainability Liaison (30 students): Provides sustainability training and behavioral change models for RAs interested in serving as a resource for students and staff in their residence halls. These RAs facilitate additional training for their RA staff, as well as help to inform students about existing programs and opportunities to get involved on campus. RASL's conduct green room assessments.
EcoRep Program (35 students): The EcoReps Program is a free peer education program for first year students. By giving our EcoReps the skills and knowledge needed to promote sustainably responsible behavior in the residence halls, our program strives to create an engaged and environmentally active on campus community. EcoReps conduct activities such as behaviour and conservation pledges, waste reduction kit giveaways, move-in and move-out support.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):

RASLs are selected by Residence Life staff. EcoReps are selected via Hall Council and Residence Life staff.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):

EcoReps are trained by EC staff and HDS staff in the Fall and throughout the year at monthly meetings. Residence Life Sustainability Coordinator has developed a training manual. Students are trained to perform outreach on sustainability programs and behavior specific to the residence halls. 2 upperclass staff facilitate trainings.


A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (1st program):

For the first 5 years, the Eco-leaders received a $150 stipend or intern credit. Staff from the EC are paid to train the Eco-Reps. EC hires a housing promotions coordinator who manages the eco-leaders and meets with them at least monthly. In 2010-11, the program restructured to have the Hall Councils more involved. Hall Councils appoint a council member to serve as the eco-rep. There is $1000 available from the EC for sustainability activities for the Hall Councils to apply for funding support. As of 2013, HDS Residence Life hired a full-time sustainability coordinator to manage the peer outreach programs.


Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
SCORE-- Student and Community Outreach on Renter Efficiency

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
592

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

SCORE conducts energy audits in student rental households


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

Students are hired and trained to conduct energy conservation audits. Students are hired annually through the EC application process.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):

Student staff are trained in conducting audits, making basic upgrades (weather stripping, window films, bulb switches, shower heads and faucet aerators, pipe insulatin, shower timers), and communicating sustainability.


A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):

Funded by utility company. Managed by Environmental Center Energy Program Manager.


Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
Green Teams (Recycling and Energy)

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
3,441

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

Green Teams conducts energy, water, recycling and waste reduction outreach to student households. Energy green teams visited 1641 homes in 2013. They gave out 500 CFL bulbs. Recycling green teams visited 1800 homes in 2013.


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

Students are hired annually through the EC application process.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (3rd program):

Students on the Recycling Green Teams are trained by the City of Boulder and CU EC Recycling Program Manager about residential recycling and composting procedures. Students on the Energy Green Teams are trained by the City of Boulder and the CU EC energy Program Manager about residential energy efficiency and energy/water conservation measures.


A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):

Supervision is provided by program managers, funded by the City of Boulder (approx $12,000/year) with support from CU Environmental Center.


Name(s) of the student educator program(s) (all other programs):
Green Greeks, Green Labs

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by all other student educator programs:
1,500

A brief description of the program(s), including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (all other programs):

A- Green Greeks has two student coordinators who are working on SCORE assessments as well as working towards increased food sustainability in campus fraternities and sororities and initiating recycling and education programming. (1000 students served). B- Green Labs currently has 140 ecoleaders for research labs. Green Labs conducts outreach in research labs with signage, freezer competitions, audits, waste reduction and special materials recycling. (500 students served)


A brief description of how the student educators are selected (all other programs):

Student coordinators hired via EC student hiring process each fall.


A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (all other programs):

Green Greeks student staff are trained by SCORE program and recycling program. Green Labs ecoleaders are trained by green labs program coordinator.


A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (all other programs):

Environmental Center Recycling and Energy managers support the program with staff supervision and training. Funding secured from city and utility company.


Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually:
34,500

The website URL for the peer-to-peer student outreach and education program(s):
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The basis of the Eco-Reps program is that they are trained and paid to reach all students in the residence halls. Hence, over 4 year, they reach the bulk of undergraduates (minus transfer students and any who opted out of the required year in the residence halls). They Eco-Reps do not reach graduate students normally.

The SCORE and green teams programs focus on students living off-campus.

Students may receive information at multiple times during their college career but it is geared to specific venues (off-campus housing, family housing, residence halls, campus classroom buildings) or different issues (recycling, energy).


The basis of the Eco-Reps program is that they are trained and paid to reach all students in the residence halls. Hence, over 4 year, they reach the bulk of undergraduates (minus transfer students and any who opted out of the required year in the residence halls). They Eco-Reps do not reach graduate students normally.

The SCORE and green teams programs focus on students living off-campus.

Students may receive information at multiple times during their college career but it is geared to specific venues (off-campus housing, family housing, residence halls, campus classroom buildings) or different issues (recycling, energy).

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.