Bowdoin College
EN-7: Employee Educators Program

In 2008 Bowdoin initiated an Office Eco Rep program as a means to engage employees in pro-environmental behaviors in the workplace. For nearly 10 years the program participation rate hovered around 30-40 staff members, mostly representing different departments across campus. Over time the Sustainability Office felt the program needed more structure and 10 years later, in 2018, the office transitioned the program into a Green Office Certification program. There has been strong interest from numerous departments across campus to participate in the program. While only five offices have completed the certification process in the first round of certifications (representing 74 faculty and staff members), 4 others are in process of completing their assessment (representing an additional 50 faculty and staff members). Those employees, added to our team of Eco Reps (29 if removing those engaged with the Green Office Certification to avoid double counting)consist of the employees counted for this credit. To participate, each office needs at least one Office Eco Rep to guide them through the program as well as coordinate the certification process with the Sustainability Office. For offices to receive the Green Office Certification, office eco-reps will lead their office in fulfilling three required eco-efforts in the following categories: Energy and Water Use; Waste and Recycling; Food, Drink, and Kitchen; Paper, Printing, Office Supplies; and Transportation. Additionally, offices must pick at least five additional green efforts from any category. Offices can also create their own additional task if it is not included in the pre-populated list. A total of 20 eco-efforts are needed for the basic certification – the 15 required and 5 additional.

The employee educators are self-selected. The Sustainability office publicizes the program and asks volunteers to sign up if they are interested.

An hour long training is conducted with Office Eco Reps to share and discuss items on the Green Office Certification checklist as well as successful tips/strategies for communicating this information to their co-workers. We have had experienced Eco Reps who have already gone through the certification process join meetings for potential new participants in order to share their personal experience of getting their co-workers on board with achieving the Green Office Certification. We also take time to discuss the college's big picture sustainability goals and how this program fits into the larger campus goals. Follow up check-ins are conducted with each participant by the sustainability office to answer any questions or concerns that arise and see what further support we can provide to help them through the process, including visits to departmental staff meetings where the program can be reviewed and questions answered.

Office EcoReps are volunteers, and receive guidance from the Sustainability Office's Associate Director, Outreach Coordinator, and other student workers, beyond EcoRep meetings when requested.