In launching the USGBC Students program, USGBC will empower a new generation of student leaders to engage in hands-on service learning through the following:
Recruiting a Corps of Student Leaders
- With the 70 USGBC Students groups currently in operation and the dozens more that will get started in 2010, the network of green campus leaders is growing at an exponential rate. In 2010, each USGBC Students group will identify an individual to be their 'Corps Leader.' This individual will be responsible for facilitating training, working with other USGBC Students officers to identify and initiate campus projects, and reporting successes to the larger network of USGBC Student groups through the USGBC website, social media, and relevant online publications.
Equipping Students with Resources and Training
- USGBC will provide the infrastructure for sharing information on project planning, best practices, and documentation methodologies through a webinar platform, podcasts, and video content. These resources will be packaged as a toolkit, which will include the new student documentation guide and Roadmap to a Green Campus publication. These resources will bolster sustainability movements on campus, creating dynamic content to support green campus initiatives while sharpening the talents of student leaders. Throughout the year, USGBC will host 'Train the Trainer' events for Corps Leaders who are committed to empowering their peers to make sustainability and green building a part of their legacy and future careers.
Connecting Students to Inspired Green Building Professionals and Hands-on Learning Opportunities
- USGBC will connect students to green building professionals on campus and in their communities. These volunteers will serve as partners and coaches in the implementation of projects through USGBC's digital platform. USGBC will enlist the help of its 80 local Chapters, including an expansive network of young professionals who stand ready to mentor USGBC Students and connect them to professional opportunities upon graduation.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a national non-profit committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings and communities. Through the USGBC Students Program, they are also creating a groundswell of new leaders for the green building movement. The critically important work that USGBC does is about changing building practices to help secure the future, and through the USGBC Students Program, the future has a face.
Recognizing that students are the best source of energy to drive innovation and advance practical solutions to climate change, the USGBC Students Program empowers students to advocate for green campuses and equips them to initiate sustainability projects.
The program introduces students to triple bottom line opportunities to green buildings, save their colleges money, and amass professional experiences to make them highly competitive candidates in the green job market. USGBC Students create opportunities to work on green building projects on campus, assisting with building audits, educational programs, and LEED documentation. Students who participate as active members of LEED project teams -as volunteers, interns, work study participants, or part time employees - are eligible to apply for the LEED AP credential, an important designation for those students who wish to pursue careers in green building post-graduation. They aim to certify 2,000 students in green building practices, assuming that 20% of our students take the LEED Green Associate or LEED AP exams, demonstrating a mastery of sustainable design skills and knowledge.
Resources Sought:
Financial Resources
Media/ Marketing Opportunities
Other:
USGBC has the core funding it needs to launch a program of this scale and impact, however staff are seeking additional funding for the development of the USGBC Students website. A robust and dynamic digital environment will keep students connected to USGBC and to one another, help USGBC celebrate student group accomplishments, and quantify collective successes. Providing this resource is imperative to supporting the program's growth.
Resources Offered:
Implementing Partners
Best Practice Information
Media/ Marketing Opportunities
Other:
USGBC will provide a host of resources and opportunities for student participants - from fellowships to toolkits, from local mentors to media opportunities.
