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

Agenda University Profile

History of our Eco-Reps Program

Stats

Current Structure

Successes

Challenges

Moving Forward

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

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

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

Roles

Sustainability

Coordinator

Greek Coordinator(

2)

Upperclassmen (res hall

and apt.) (1)

First Years/Residential Halls (2)

Program Coordinator

(GA)

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

Successes Tailored events

Measuring impacts

Outreach and incentives

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

Measuring Impacts Waste Audits

Energy Competition data

Feedback survey at beginning and end of semester

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

Challenges Recruitment

Accountability

Lack of education

Passive campus

Active Greek social life

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

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

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

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

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

Contact information General email: LUEcoReps@Lehigh.edu

Teresa Chamberlain tac314@lehigh.edu

Houda Ferradji hof211@lehigh.edu

Twitter: @LUEcoReps