| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.68 |
| Liaison | Tara Pike |
| Submission Date | Dec. 18, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Nevada Las Vegas
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Tara
Pike Solid Waste and Recycling Manager Rebel Recycling Program/FMA |
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):
This internship program provides students a chance to engage in campus sustainability issues. The primary interns cater around the issue of water and the reduction of plastic water bottles at the university. During the fall of 2013, the Reduction Plan of Plastic Water Bottles was approved and highlighted as a university goal and therefore gave access to the possibility of having more interns around this issue. These interns are either directly related to the UNLV Take Back the Tap campaign or work with the student group.
The UNLV Take Back the Tap campaign is a student organization on campus. They dedicate their time to educating the campus and larger community on the issue of plastic water bottles. These students work with the interns around the water initiative largely because the Take Back the Tap campaign was the motivating source to create that internship program at UNLV. All of these students work together to make awareness events on campus and visit classrooms on campus to educate further. The interns are responsible for educating the campus community about the 50+ hydration stations on campus through the web site updates, tabling events, placards, and special event coordination. They created a video to highlight the hydration station and the fact that Rebels are Refilling.
Another major area focused by interns are those catering around the topic of waste reduction and recycling. Currently there are two interns concentrating on compost education, specifically post-consumer compost collection, greening special events and greening the office environment. A video was created for orientation about how to participate in the student union's post consumer compost collection and recycling program.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):
The UNLV Take Back the Tap campaign selects a Campus Coordinator based on the necessary qualifications to lead the campaign. Usually, the Campus Coordinator will also be a university intern focusing on water efficiency and plastic water bottle waste reduction at UNLV.
The sustainability internships focus on various topics such as composting, community gardens, plastic reduction, water, green certificate programs, and STARS. The sustainability internship program is not limited to the above listed and new internships are formed every semester when applicable. The interns apply for the internship and are therefore selected based on their qualifications and desire for the cause. The UNLV Sustainability Coordinator plays a major role in selecting all of the interns mentioned.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):
The interns meet weekly with the UNLV Sustainability Coordinator for guidance on their selected projects.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (1st program):
The Office of Finance & Business and Board of Regents at UNLV funds the sustainability internships. Consolidated Students of the University of Nevada (CSUN) provide funds for resources for initiatives on campus. The Nevada Board of Regents has a Regents Service Program that funds interns.
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 UNLV Dining Sustainability Intern acts as a campus liaison between the university and the dining services. They play an active role in engaging the campus with various awareness events and collaborates with student organizations to make a bigger impact. A monthly Sustainability Newsletter is published monthly.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
The intern applies for the program and then goes through an application process through ARAMARK.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):
The intern works closely with other sustainability interns/coordinators found in other schools to gain pointers. When an intern decides to move on, they are the recommended choice to then train the new person filling the position.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
Aramark has a sustainability fund that finances the internship 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):
This is the sustainability liaison for the Residence Halls. This provides students living in the Residence Halls the opportunity to learn more about sustainability. This program also sponsors several engaging activities to encourage sustainability practices among the residents.
The Office of Housing and Residential Life (HRL) implemented a sustainability initiative where they have a sustainability advocate for each of the four residential complexes. Four advocates put on passive programs in each Residence Hall. Zero waste is one main objective at the housing and residential life events. Each complex has put on programs such as tips on how to be sustainable in the Residence Halls, showing comparisons between the cost of water bottles to gas, and creating posters that encourage residents the recycle. Ambassadors also teamed up with Rebel Recycling and Aramark to do a water bottle trade event where students trade ten plastic single-use water bottles for a nice reusable water bottle. This successful event collected 3114 plastic water bottles to recycle.
The Sustainability Advocate position is a leadership position that promotes sustainability in the Residence Halls. They do so by actively educating students and staff through programming and passively educating students through marketing. Sustainability Advocates also build connections with campus organizations such as Rebel Recycling, which facilitate sustainability education. Ultimately, Sustainability Advocates will set the stage to develop and implement an education program to make Campus Housing practices more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
The advocates are selected through an application process. UNLV's Housing and Residential Life team up with knowledgeable campus facilities such as Rebel Recyling and Aramark and student organizations that focus on topics of sustainability. Advocates must possess general leadership, communication, and innovative skills. Advocates must show that they are passionate about recycling and sustainability (or a strong interest to get involved with sustainability).
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (3rd program):
There had been no formal training of our advocates. Advocates must attend monthly meetings with other Sustainability Advocates and adviser to assess goals, brainstorm, and learn more about sustainability and general marketing skills.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
We currently have been using whatever funds Aramark has and soon we will be reaching out to CSUN for some funding of things that will help us with the efforts. An extra stipend of $50 per month as long as they are in the meeting the requirements of the position and are actively engaged.
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):
UNLVolunteers creates a fun, social atmosphere for students to plan and participate in service projects that benefit our community. The mission of UNLVolunteers is to encourage civic engagement and positive social change by providing and promoting meaningful service opportunities and service-learning experiences for UNLV students, faculty, and staff. UNLVolunteers plans programs centered on the following impact areas: Hunger and Homelessness, Education and Youth, Environment, Health, and General Programs (since not every service program fall under the other four areas).
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (all other programs):
Student educators must apply for positions, interview, and then they are selected.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (all other programs):
The formal training involves how to approach other students/volunteers, using gender neutral language, being able to research on related topics, and listening training.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (all other programs):
Student educators are paid minimum wage.
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.