The Sustainability Ambassador Program (SAP), formerly known as the Sustainability Activation Program, is focused on empowering students to deeply understand and discuss sustainability topics with their peers.
To achieve this mission, the program aims to increase the involvement of non-sustainability majors in conversations about sustainability, encourage students to participate in sustainability-related volunteering opportunities and create a cohort of students who are passionate about advancing sustainability on campus. SAP is currently run by the Hanley Sustainability Institute (HSI) Student Leaders Program’s Education Team.
Until spring 2025, SAP relied on its partnerships with the University's Housing and Residence Life’s AVIATE program. By utilizing the path point system to incentivize participation, SAP was able to successfully reach the student population through student-run presentations and dialogues.
During the fall semester, volunteer SAP members held Flyers Go Green presentations on a variety of topics, including clothing, food and campus sustainability. In the following spring semester, members of the program (SAPlings) were asked to facilitate sustainability dialogues. These small group discussions focused on teaching students how to integrate sustainable habitats into their daily lives.
After shifting away from path points, SAP needed to redirect its attention away from the AVIATE program and focus more on furthering partnerships with HSI. One of our main priorities was to make the program more engaging by incorporating additional events and activities for SAPlings to participate in.
Our last semester of SAP had a much more active, volunteer approach to the program, which was successful. Based on feedback from SAPlings, we wanted to make the program more flexible and accessible to the general student population. We were also inspired by the University of South Carolina’s Eco Ambassadors program, which follows a similar model to our current structure.
What is SAP?
The mission of SAP today is to actively engage students in sustainability activities and allow them to expand their sustainability knowledge. Through this program, students interested in sustainability can attend informational and interactive workshops about sustainability topics and volunteer at sustainability events. By participating in sustainability on campus and exploring sustainability topics, sustainability ambassadors are empowered to be sustainability leaders at UD.
What are the requirements of the program?
To achieve SAPling status, students must attend three informational and/or interactive workshops on a variety of sustainability topics. Workshop topics include education, circularity, food systems, zero waste and energy. They also must attend five events associated with HSI. These events may include, but are not limited to, volunteering with the Food Recovery Network, attending an HSI-sponsored field trip or participating in a clothing swap.
How does this program work?
There is no application necessary to participate in this program. Anybody can participate in any or all workshops and events, with more information about each found on the HSI 1850 page. Every time you attend a workshop, you will be checked into the event on 1850 and receive a badge for the workshop topic. Keep an eye out for future interactive workshops to be announced on HSI’s Instagram page @ud_hsi and newsletter.
With the new changes to the program, we are hoping that SAP can reach a wider audience of UD students who are interested in having an impact on campus sustainability!