Hi all!
I am a student and sustainability intern at Colgate University in NY. I am launching a program targeting first-year students, encouraging them to simply change one of several advertised behaviors for about a month. The problem is, students here are very busy. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to garner interest in such a program, especially aiming towards people who do not necessarily already behave in an environmentally-conscious way? Any help would be appreciated!
Eric Spencer
United States
How to Get Students Involved?
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Eric,
Lura Consulting, the company I work for, did similar work in Algonquin College in Ottawa, Canada a few years ago. The targets were staff, students and faculty.
Check out their website for details, but if you cannot find anything, let me know. I am on the road at the moment, but can look for info when I get back to my office, if necessary.
Cheers,
Ken Donnelly
Ken Donnelly
Vice President, Atlantic Canada
Lura Consulting
Canada
www.beyondattitude.com
Hi Eric,
Some suggestions.
I see that Colgate already participates in 'Recyclemania' (www.recyclemania.org) . Perhaps extend 'recyclemania' to 'sustinamania'?
A friend of mine was sustainability co-chair at Babson College in Boston a couple of years ago. Write directly to me and I'll put you in touch with him.
They held a 'sustainability event' and were able to attract NPR's OnPoint host Tom Ashbrook (Boston) to attend and speak. Good turnout.
Perhaps consider what students like to do, and then hold an event that fills one or more of those needs.
Sustainable wine and beer anyone?
Norm Ruttan
President
iWasteNot Systems
Canada
www.iwastenotsystems.com
Hi Eric, the Alliance to Save Energy's Green Campus Program has been supporting student interns on college campuses for 8 years -- this is a student leadership program focusing on energy efficiency and also water efficiency. One of the areas of focus is student awareness and outreach, and there is a wealth of information on the web site, http://ase.org/programs/green-campus-program on best practices for getting students involved in saving energy.
The other areas are achieving measurable energy savings on campus,integrating energy efficiency into curriculum, and introducing students to energy efficiency as a career choice, in case you are interested in those areas also. Lots of good information!
Let me know if you'd like more information.
Best,
Merrilee Harrigan
Vice President, Education
Alliance to Save Energy
United States
ase.org