Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.29
Liaison Kevin Kirsche
Submission Date Dec. 22, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Georgia
EN-1: Student Educators Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.25 / 4.00 Andrew Lentini
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
36,574

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):
11,389

Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
31.14

Name of the student educators program:
UGA Housing Community Council EcoReps

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
15

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

The EcoRep position is an addition to each building’s community council executive board. The EcoReps are responsible for learning about current issues in sustainability and the environment, then educating those in their residence halls about those issues through active and passive programming and bulletin boards or flyers. The EcoReps also assist the rest of the community council executive board and general body in efforts to increase sustainability within their buildings.


A brief description of how the student educators are selected:

Serves on the community council (council may choose how the position is filled)
o Elected: through general election process in the fall
o Appointed: by community council executive board/general body
o Volunteer: email sent out from RHD asking for volunteers from the community


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

Benefits and Special Opportunities

•Annual retreat
•Annual Southeastern EcoReps Conference
•Trip to Athens-Clarke County Recycling
•Opportunities to speak at classes/meetings
•Special guest speakers at bi-weekly meetings
•Trip to UGArden to help with harvesting
•Documentary viewing
•Leadership development


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):

EcoReps meet bi-weekly with the Sustainability Coordinator and an EcoReps Intern. These meetings include presentations from campus and community guest speakers, including organizations working to promote more sustainable government policies, service organizations, and staff/faculty. Funding for EcoRep-planned activities are incorporated into Community Council budgets and supplemented by the University Housing Sustainability Coordinator’s annual budget.


Name of the student educators program (2nd program):
Office of Sustainability Student Internship Program

Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (2nd program):
11,374

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

The Office of Sustainability Student Internship Program provides UGA students with opportunities for hands-on learning and professional development through meaningful engagement with the University of Georgia community. Prospective interns should be committed to practicing sustainability in their personal and professional lives and advancing a more Sustainable UGA. Opportunities are offered each semester in the form of unpaid, credit and paid internships. Specific and intentional peer-to-peer education and outreach occurs through most internship positions, as well as a requirement that each intern participate in a campus-wide sustainability event. Some of these activities include engaging with UGA freshmen in the Green Cup Challenge to reduce energy, water and waste; planning and participation in waste reduction activities through Recyclemania; organizing and educating peers through multiple themed events during UGA's Earth Week; engaging other students in hands-on watershed improvement efforts; etc.


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

Internship positions are selected through an application and interview process. Selections are made by Office of Sustainability and other supervisory staff based on specific projects and skill-sets needed.


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

Interns work closely with staff in the UGA Office of Sustainability and other relevant faculty and staff based on individual projects. The program involves a kick-off event, weekly all-intern meetings, Semester in Review presentations, other relevant activities for each project and campus-wide events led by interns for broad peer engagement.


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):

Interns work closely with staff in the UGA Office of Sustainability and other relevant faculty and staff based on individual projects. The Office of Sustainability budgets for internship personnel costs (for paid interns), program costs to provide supplies and training for interns, and individual project budgets.


Name of the student educators program (3rd program):
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Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (3rd program):
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A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities (3rd program):
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A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
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A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
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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):
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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.