| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.08 |
| Liaison | Andrew Horning |
| Submission Date | June 25, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Michigan
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.59 / 4.00 |
Andrew
Horning Managing Director Graham Sustainability Institute |
Number of students enrolled for credit (headcount):
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):
Percentage of students served by a peer-to-peer educator program:
Name of the student educators program:
Number of students served (i.e. directly targeted) by the program (headcount):
A brief description of the program, including examples of peer-to-peer outreach activities:
As part of the campus-wide Planet Blue Ambassadors program, this initiative gives students valuable training and tools to foster a culture of sustainability on campus. Student Leaders conduct educational programming, lead waste audits, and serve as peer-to-peer mentors in their U-M Housing communities and across campus.
There are two primary parts of being a Planet Blue Student Leader (PBSL): an education component via weekly meetings on campus, and a volunteer component, with the requirement of dedicating three to five hours per week toward Planet Blue Ambassador service and/or learning during the semester.
The weekly meeting provides skills training and intellectual frameworks for students to be effective sustainability leaders and “change agents” in campus housing units as well as across campus. The PBSL course draws from leading research and best practices and explores sustainability from the perspective of behavioral change, communication, and organizational change. Multiple guest speakers and lecturers are featured throughout the academic, helping participants to learn about sustainability from multiple experts and stakeholders.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected:
Applications are accepted for fall & winter semesters. Students from diverse academic backgrounds and interests are encouraged to apply for the program. Any student living in a University Housing apartment or residence hall is eligible as well as off campus students. To participate in the program students must: Agree to spend approximately 3-5 hours per week as a Planet Blue Student Leader (including but not limited to time in the weekly meeting). Applications are reviewed by U-M staff & selections made prior to the start of the semester.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach:
Students in the program will gain necessary skills and training as well as the intellectual framework for being effective Planet Blue Student Leaders on campus. The program is designed to: provide a solid foundation for success through direct linkages with key University staff and faculty; ensure accountability to peers and instructors; and create an environment for co-learning via peer-to-peer mentoring.
Weekly meeting Goals Include:
*Train Planet Blue Student Leaders (PBSLs) in theory and practice for encouraging environmentally responsible behaviors amongst students in residence halls and across campus, based in part on community-based social marketing literature and practice. The ultimate programmatic goal is to create a culture of sustainability in U-M residence halls and beyond.
*Orient PBSLs to the people and resources available to provide assistance in implementing sustainability-related programming including resources at the Office of Campus Sustainability, Student Life (Housing and Dining), various schools and colleges (e.g., SNRE, LS&A, Engineering), the Graham Sustainability Institute and other centers (e.g., Michigan Sea Grant, Center for Sustainable Systems).
*Provide a forum to encourage peer-to-peer learning about tactics to influence environmental behavior and support sustainability education.
*Provide training in effective leadership, organizing, communication and organizational change and link with campus communications and public outreach resources.
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):
In the fall of 2011, the University of Michigan announced a suite of Guiding Principles and 2025 Sustainability Goals. One of these was U-M’s goal to change behaviors and cultivate a campus-wide ethic of sustainability by investing in programs to educate our community, track behavior, and report on progress over time. With a funding commitment from the President, the Planet Blue Ambassadors Program was launched as part of a university-wide commitment to meet campus sustainability goals. This expansive program trains, educates, and encourages students, faculty, and staff to be "models" of sustainability.
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):
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
A brief description of the formal training that the student 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 faculty/staff coordination) (2nd program):
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):
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive to prepare them to conduct peer outreach (3rd program):
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):
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:
Total number of hours student educators are engaged in peer-to-peer sustainability outreach and education activities annually (all programs):
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.