| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.65 |
| Liaison | Kelly Nowicki |
| Submission Date | May 20, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
EN-1: Student Educators Program
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Rob
Tyser Professor Biology |
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):
Eleven Peer Health Educators (PHE) are employed at the Wellness Resource Center. Each of the Peers is assigned to one of the residence halls on campus. The PHEs provide health and wellness programming to student residents in partnership with Residence Life. Our programming primarily focuses on health issues that are relevant to college students, including sexual health, alcohol consumption, harm reduction, stress and balance, and primary prevention for sexual assault. The PHEs also do other outreach programming on campus including campus Farmer’s Markets, and the #TakeABreak campaign which promotes stress reduction by getting students out in nature. These areas are consistent with the STARS health-related subcategories within the "Planning & Operations" categories.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (1st program):
The Wellness Coordinator and Violence Prevention Specialist reach out to various campus partners and academic departments for recruitment including the Recreational Eagle Center, Campus Climate and Diversity, Pride Center, Multicultural Student Services, Eta Sigma Gamma, Multicultural Student Senate, Women and Gender Studies, Psychology, and Health Education and Promotion. Interested students can attend an informational panel discussion with current PHEs. Interested students then apply online and top candidates are interviewed by staff from the Wellness Resource Center. Desired qualities include interest in healthy lifestyle practices, being a good role model, being able to approach and speak to students and student groups, etc.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (1st program):
Students selected to be PHEs participate in an initial training that is organized by the Wellness Resource Center. This training educates the PHEs on program expectations and responsibilities, community health education best practices, confidentiality, how to interact effectively with collaborators, business principles, and housekeeping items. The PHEs meet weekly throughout the semester for two hours. The first hour of the meeting is spent going over programming for that week and the second hour I spent providing the PHEs with professional development opportunities. These might include opportunities like Ally training through the Pride Center, how to be an effective campus resource person, attending community coalition/task force meetings, or resume tips from career services.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (1st program):
The PHEs are paid a stipend of $400 per semester in two $200 installments at mid-semester and at the end of the semester. The Lead PHE is paid a stipend of $1,500 per semester in three $500 installments. In addition to this financial compensation, the PHEs are provided with professional development opportunities as described above.
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 Sustainability Peer Mentor (SPM) develops and promote sustainable practices directly with UW-L students. The primary position duties will focus on development, implementation and promotion of three sustainability initiatives:
1. Promote RecycleMania and UW-L's existing recycling program to UW-L students.
2. Develop, implement and promote an electronic scrap, rechargeable battery and toner cartridge recycling program, limited to UW-L students.
3. Enhance, implement and promote collection of campus generated food-based compostable materials and coordinate delivery to the Green Fund sponsored vermicomposting unit. This duty will require collaboration with UW-L Dining/Sodexo, Western Technical College and the Hillview Urban Agriculture Center.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (2nd program):
Interested students volunteer to serve in this group.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (2nd program):
Students meet weekly with a residence hall staff member (a graduate assistant) to brainstorm and plan activities.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (2nd program):
The graduate student advisor is paid a yearly stipend.
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):
The Sustainability Peer Mentor (SPM) develops and promote sustainable practices directly with UW-L students. The primary position duties will focus on development, implementation and promotion of three sustainability initiatives.
1. Promote RecycleMania and UW-L's existing recycling program to UW-L students.
2. Develop, implement and promote an electronic scrap, rechargeable battery and toner cartridge recycling program, limited to UW-L students.
3. Enhance, implement and promote collection of campus generated food-based compostable materials and coordinate delivery to the Green Fund sponsored vermicomposting unit. This duty will require collaboration with UW-L Dining/Sodexo, Western Technical College and the Hillview Urban Agriculture Center.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (3rd program):
Interested students applied to the UW-L University Centers office.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (3rd program):
The SPM student was familiarized with UW-L's recycling program, including our need to collect and recycle e-waste.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (3rd program):
Students are typically paid on a per-semester stipend.
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):
This position facilitates students interested in implementing sustainable developments on UW-L’s campus. The Environmental Sustainability Director is also responsible for staying active in the student organization Students For Sustainability, which allows face-to-face contact with students who are dedicated to campus sustainability.
A brief description of how the student educators are selected (all other programs):
Applicants submit a letter of intention and resume to UW-L Student Association and then interview with the President and Vice President of this organization. After interviews, a single person is selected for the position.
A brief description of the formal training that the student educators receive (all other programs):
Training is very minimal. This position is mainly based on past experiences with environmental sustainability and how the person plans to encourage sustainable actions on campus.
A brief description of the financial or other support the institution provides to the program (all other programs):
This position is paid $1,000 per semester.
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 Sustainability Peer Mentor program has not been not continuously funded.
Hours spent (rough estimate):
PHE: 6 hrs/week* 14 weeks* 11 * 2 = ca 1,800 hours/year
Greener Living: ??
SPE: 5 hrs/week *14 weeks * 2 = 140 hours/year
Environmental Sustainability Coordinator: 15 hrs/wk *14 weeks * 2 = ca. 400 hours/year
Total: ca 2,500 hrs/year (??)
The Sustainability Peer Mentor program has not been not continuously funded.
Hours spent (rough estimate):
PHE: 6 hrs/week* 14 weeks* 11 * 2 = ca 1,800 hours/year
Greener Living: ??
SPE: 5 hrs/week *14 weeks * 2 = 140 hours/year
Environmental Sustainability Coordinator: 15 hrs/wk *14 weeks * 2 = ca. 400 hours/year
Total: ca 2,500 hrs/year (??)
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.