Cornell University
EN-1: Student Educators Program

The ALS 2000: Leadership for Sustainability Program is a course taught each semester that focuses on developing climate solutions for first-year and upperlevel residential communities. The course is co-taught by Professor Jane Mt. Pleasant, Professor Mike Hoffman, and staff members Sarah Brylinsky, Kimberly Anderson (Campus Sustainability Office) and Amy Kohut, Karel Hilversum, Marcus Brooks (Cornell Team and Leadership Center). Any student can take the course for one or two semesters. The course description follows: "This course uses engaged learning approaches to develop leadership and peer education skills while improving campus sustainability through educating students in campus residential facilities. You will learn how to plan, coordinate, and implement sustainability education activities in collaboration with residence hall staff. You will work with others students in and outside the class in developing your competencies in persuasion, education and social marketing." In Spring 2016, 10 students completed six projects which impacted approximately 2000 students. http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/blogs/news/posts/register-now-als-2000-leadership-for-sustainability

The ALS 2000 program includes both returning and new students. Recruitment began with a variety of general-interest orientation events as well as events and outreach targeted for students interested in sustainability. Information was provided about the ALS 2000 program and the course enrollment process was explained. In addition to attending events, Residence Hall Directors and Resident Advisors promoted the course and encouraged residents to apply.

The course meets once a week throughout the fall and spring semesters, and begins with a one-hour leadership training and sustainability orientation session. Class time each week is divided between introductions to three sustainability themes, introduction to social marketing strategies, introduction to behavior change strategies, and in-class project planning. Climate change, energy usage, and transportation are topics in the Spring semester; Food, waste management (composting and recycling), purchasing, and water reduction are the themes in the Fall semester.

Two faculty members from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences oversee the course. The Campus Sustainability Office and the Office of Residential and New Student Programs fund leadership development trainings. The ALS 2000 program also provides student leaders with access to a $1000/semester fund to purchase any supplies needed to run programs with students. Both offices also provide computer and print support to help advertise the programs run by the student leaders.

EcoRep Orientation volunteers lead the effort to educate all incoming first-year students and transfer students about composting and recycling during New Student Orientation. These volunteers monitor composting and recycling stations at events and educate their peers about recycling and composting at each site. http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/initiatives/freshman-orientation

EcoRep Orientation volunteers were recruited during the summer through email announcements and presentations to club leaders. The Campus Sustainability Office also partnered with the Office of Residential and New Student Programs (Orientation) to add the EcoRep Orientation Team volunteer role on their Orientation Leader application form. Many members were already involved in sustainability activities on campus and volunteered for this additional responsibility.

EcoRep Orientation volunteers receive a one-hour training on how to encourage proper composting and recycling at events. The Student Sustainability Coordinator (employed by the Campus Sustainability Office) ran the training session.

The EcoRep Orientation program was developed and managed by a paid student intern in the Campus Sustainability Office with resources provided for communication materials and website development. Composting and recycling bins were provided by Cayuga Compost and R5 Operations. The Orientation Office also supported the recruitment and organization of the program.

Student operated organic farm offers tours to agriculture classes in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, sells produce to the cooperative residences on campus, holds yoga classes for students on the farm, recruits farm managers and workers, provides an on-campus farm stand and offers produce shares to students. Offers tours, events, and classes on land supplied by the university since 1996. http://www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/initiatives/dilmun-hill-student-farm

The farm managers are in paid positions under the supervision of a professor and can register for an agricultural practicum course as Teaching Assistants. The farm managers go through a competitive application process every spring. The Outreach and Education section of the farm makes use of managers, volunteers, and student researchers as appropriate and are under the supervision of professional staff.

The farm hosts regular work parties where volunteers learn about sustainable agricultural practices. Student researchers help with daily operations through 2-4 hours of work in the fields a week and propose and apply to conduct research projects. There is a faculty, staff and student advisory board that creates policy and provides continuity of knowledge and operations. A professional organic coordinator is employed by the farm and there are four faculty/staff board members. The steering committee and farm managers receive independent study credit as they do hands-on learning and management.

Student managers are in paid positions, the university provides and land and facilities to operate the farm, the organic coordinator is a full time university position, and numerous faculty and staff support the operations and make use of the farm for instruction and research. The farm is housed under the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station and engages a number of Cooperative Extension specialists and volunteers as well.

The largest concentration of student project teams is in the College of Engineering (http://blogs.cornell.edu/teams/) where teams recruit students from all undergraduate colleges. Projects include (but are not limited to) engaging in supplying water to under-served communities around the world (Agua Clara) and participating in the international Solar Car Competition. Architecture students compete in the national sustainable architecture design group. In every case, students develop business and management plans as well as interact with other universities and community groups around the world.