The Advantages and Challenges of Incorporating Greek Life into an Eco-Rep Program

1. The Advantages and Challenges of Incorporating Greek Life into an Eco-Rep Program Presented by: Teresa Chamberlain and Houda Ferradji Lehigh University Greek Eco-Rep Coordinators

2. Agenda • University Profile • History of our Eco-Reps Program • Stats • Current Structure • Successes • Challenges • Moving Forward

3. Lehigh University • Private University in Bethlehem, PA • 4,869 undergraduates • 40% of undergraduates are members of Greek house • The Hill • 9 sororities and 17 fraternities on-campus • On-campus houses owned by Lehigh

4. History of our Eco-Reps Program • Pilot program established Fall 2010 • Green Fund • Sustainability Program • Met casually with few successful events • No Greek Houses • Expanded greatly Fall 2011 • Permanent Residential Services and sustainability funds • Course credit option • Met weekly with monthly events • Most first year and upperclassman dorms • Some Greek Houses

5. Statistics • Fall 2010 • 2 Residential Buildings • 12 Eco-Reps • Fall 2011 • 9 sororities, 6 fraternities • 18 Greek Eco-Reps • Spring 2012 • 8 sororities, 8 fraternities • 19 Greek Eco-Reps • Fall 2012 • 9 sororities, 6 fraternities • 34 Greek Eco-Reps

6. Roles

7. Structure Event planning • Second hour • Split into Greeks and residential halls • Group brainstorm of upcoming event • Delegate tasks and break into smaller groups Class • First hour • Guest speaker/lecture • Sustainable behavior change project

8. Successes • Tailored events • Measuring impacts • Outreach and incentives

9. Tailored Events • Planning events for best friends • Able to learn from mistakes • Planet Earth documentary shown outside • Water inSTALLment and jeopardy game • Transportation Survey • Energy Competition

10. Measuring Impacts • Waste Audits • Energy Competition data • Feedback survey at beginning and end of semester

11. Outreach and Incentives • No posting policies within houses • Platform at weekly chapter meetings • House email chain • Ability to make changes in our houses • Accreditation requirement • House points

12. Challenges • Recruitment • Accountability • Lack of education • Passive campus • Active Greek social life

13. Recruitment • Young program • Lack of visibility • Unresponsive Greek houses • Used the tight-knit Greek community to spread the word • Electronic application sent to all house presidents

14. Accountability • Shadows are not graded • Each rep is responsible for their house events • Lack of accountability made planning events more difficult • Lack of trust • Contracts signed by all Greek Eco-Reps

15. Lack of education • Greek shadows are not required to be enrolled in the course • Events aligned with course speakers/topics • Eco-Reps are peer-to-peer educators • Lack of balance between getting interest and keeping the program serious and structured

16. Passive Campus • General sense of apathy at Lehigh • “Lehigh Bubble” • Very active Greek social life • Greek students are leaders and involved in other activities • Lack of excitement or interest towards sustainability • Sustainability is relatively new at Lehigh

17. Moving forward • More trainings before the year begins • Leadership skills • Bonding • Logistics of planning events • Improved recruitment • More Greeks enrolled in course • All fraternities have a rep • Tailoring programs toward individual house needs • Increase educational value of events

18. Contact information • General email: LUEcoReps@Lehigh.edu • Teresa Chamberlain tac314@lehigh.edu • Houda Ferradji hof211@lehigh.edu • Twitter: @LUEcoReps