Higher education residential life peer-education programs: facilitating more inclusive perspectives

The focus of sustainability in residential living areas at many US institutions of higher education is to reduce energy and water consumption and increase gross recyclables. Peer-education programs have emerged as a viable tool to prompt student behaviour changes to meet campus sustainability goals. This qualitative case study addresses outcomes in a sustainability-focused peer-education program, Sustainable Peers Reaching OUT, that engages students in discourse, critical reflection and outreach. Analysis of interviews and discussion observation indicates higher education co-curricular programs may realise increased peer educator impact by incorporating opportunities for discourse and critical reflection into program design.