What is an EcoRep?

EcoReps are enthusiastic incoming freshman with a desire to promote change.

There are 20-22 EcoReps each year—one on each floor of the freshman dorms. The EcoReps are guided by two upperclassmen student leads who are experienced in on-campus environmental efforts.

EcoReps educate the students in their halls on environmental issues like waste reduction and energy conservation by helping to plan dorm activities and events.

At regular training/planning meetings, the EcoReps will discuss new topics, plan activities, and work to effect change in your new community, your way.

Do I have the time?

YES! EcoReps commit to an average of 4 hours a week, plus a 1-hour weekly training/planning meeting.

Since most work is done independently, students can work any time that best suits their schedule — from early morning to the middle of the night!

And what does that mean? Anyone can be an EcoRep!

What is the overall administrative structure of the program?

There are 20-30 dedicated and enthusiastic EcoReps—at least one on each floor of the freshman dorms. EcoReps are guided by two student leaders who are experienced in on-campus sustainability initiatives and familiar with all the contacts you may need as an EcoRep. As an EcoRep, you will work closely with the other student leaders on campus as well as your fellow EcoReps on day-to-day efforts including energy competitions, discussions, hall programs, and volunteer work for local organizations and community events. Basically, you will become an essential part of sustainability efforts and community organizing both on campus, and in the greater Rochester community. The supervisors will follow your work closely through the meetings and are always available if you have questions.

What is expected of an EcoRep?

The EcoReps Program seeks to create a community in which students are making environmentally, socially, and economically responsible decisions by becoming aware of how their daily choices affect the larger picture. Through education and programming, EcoReps will make sustainability a topic for discussion, analysis, and understanding for all the students on their floors. EcoReps work an average of four hours per week - and many EcoReps may put in additional hours - organizing events and ongoing programs with a primary focus on waste reduction/recycling, energy conservation, and water conservation at the university. They will also work on raising awareness about local foods, transportation, conscious consumption, health, and overall climate change.

In addition to specific tasks, the EcoReps serve as "eco-eyes" for the university, meaning that if an EcoRep sees a problem with the way our university or a student handles resources, he or she has an official position that makes addressing the issue more comfortable and feasible. For example, you might notice there are no recycling bins on your floor. As an EcoRep, you would learn how to arrange to have a bin placed there. EcoReps also serve as liaisons between the departments of the university and the students. An EcoRep is the key to two-way communication, and thus better resource efficiency!

Finally, EcoReps are expected to attend all bi-monthly EcoRep meetings, read the email bulletins and updates sent out by Supervisors, and complete their projects and weekly progress reports on time. Each EcoRep is asked to write up a summary of what they accomplished that week, along with a checklist for the week to come, in order to help keep them organized and on track.

What kinds of activities will EcoReps do each week?

Every two weeks, EcoReps will read a chapter of the manual — each chapter is about a different aspect of sustainability—and meet to discuss how to apply what they've learned through programming and events. They will be responsible for creating a small project; it could be a hall competition, a hall event, or an educational display that will make the information easy and relevant to understand for those on their hall. That way, each hall is learning as the EcoReps learn, and sustainability is a constant subject of conversation. For example, one student may decide to hold hall cooking classes on ways of making your own locally grown meals. Another student may decide to host a competition to see who could take the shortest shower. Each EcoRep can take what they are most interested and run with it. Excitement is contagious, and whatever the EcoRep is most excited about is what they will do best.

Other regular tasks will also include monitoring recycling areas as well as any other ongoing projects you may establish, promoting multiweek competitions such as RecycleMania, updating your EcoBoard (a bulletin board with updates on sustainability for your hall to read), and creating new and interesting ways for dorm-mates to integrate sustainable ideas into everyday life.