Student Council Sustainability Officers Program

Collaborating with high school sustainability leaders

The Student Council Sustainability Officers Program (SCSO) empowers high school students to become sustainability leaders on their campus and in their communities. Through leadership development, sustainable education, and civic engagement, the SCSO Program equips students with the tools, resources, and connections needed to drive meaningful environmental action while preparing students for future environmental careers and civic leadership.

Core program goals

Leadership development

Build student leadership, advocacy and project management skills.

Sustainability education

Increase understanding of environmental issues, their solutions and ways students can make a difference.

Community impact

Support student-led projects that improve school and neighborhood sustainability.

Civic engagement

Connect students with local entities and encourage students to be active members of their communities.

Mission and Vision:

To empower high school students to lead sustainability efforts on their campuses and in their communities by building leadership skills, increasing sustainability literacy, and fostering civic engagement.

The program envisions a future where students are active leaders in shaping sustainable, equitable, and resilient schools and communities. By connecting youth with leaders in the community, higher education, and beyond, the program cultivates the next generation of sustainable leaders prepared to address environmental challenges and contribute to a healthier community.

History

Program history

The SCSO Program was originally launched by the City of Phoenix to support high school student leaders in advancing sustainability initiatives on their campuses in 2013. The program was designed to align student leadership with the city’s long-term sustainability goals while strengthening civic engagement. At the core of the program are Sustainability Officers, elected leaders from their high schools.

What is a Sustainability Officer?

The Sustainability Officer is an amended position in the student government constitution with the purpose of enhancing their campus through developing sustainability leaders, improving civic engagement, and embedding sustainability on school campuses.

Sustainability Officers may be appointed from elsewhere, including highly active environmental clubs, if there is no student government.

Join the next generation of sustainability leaders.

Email us for more details

What makes SCSO different?

Unlike traditional environmental clubs, SCSO is a formal position partnered with your student government. This structure gives Sustainability Officers a recognized leadership role, direct access to university resources, and a platform on which to help implement campus sustainability initiatives.

Circular resource system

Promoting Zero Waste by adapting the goods we consume to maximize their use before sending them back into the economy for the most productive use possible.

Climate positive

Working towards a net positive impact on the climate.

Collaborative action

Leveraging interdisciplinary and cross-departmental efforts to design and implement enterprise sustainability solutions.

Community success

Integrating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles throughout ASU practices.

Food reconnection

Fostering a strong relationship with food, knowledge of its sources and impacts on the health of our planet, and encouraging plant-forward diets.

Optimizing water

Striving to use the right quantity and quality of water for the right purpose at the right time.

Personal action

Engaging ASU students, faculty and staff in individual behavior that supports sustainability goals on campus and in their personal lives.

Climate resilience

Ensuring ASU thrives in the face of climate change.

Eligibility

The SCSO Program is open to high schools in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, interested in elevating sustainability leadership through student government.

Eligibility

Schools must have an elected or identified Sustainability Officer through Student Council or a student strongly identifying with sustainability.
- Ex. Leading an environmental or earth club at their school.
Schools must have an elected or identified a participating educator.
The SCSO program is open to high schools throughout the Phoenix Metropolitan area.

Expectations for participation

Students must attend monthly meetings.
Students must participate in the sustainability challenge.
Students and educators encourage the implementation of campus projects.
Students collaborate with peers from other schools.
Participating Educators will be an accessible point of contact and support the Sustainability Officer in their role.

Previous participating high schools

Bioscience High School
Alhambra High School
Phoenix Coding Academy
Metro Tech High School

Non-Phoenix metro schools

Schools outside of the Phoenix metropolitan area can participate through the following opportunities:

SCSO monthly meetings
SCSO Sustainability Challenge
Receiving the monthly newsletter

To sign up for questions of how to connect or to receive the monthly newsletter, please contact Michelle Jimenez at [email protected] .

Events

View the Google calendar

Youth climate summit

This event is an opportunity for high school students to learn about sustainability, develop the skills to lead sustainability initiatives on their campuses and in their communities, and explore future career paths and opportunities in the environmental sector.

Monthly meetings

Once a month, Sustainability Officers expand their knowledge of sustainability by participating in monthly activities, all while connecting with other SCSO students. These brainstorming sessions serve as the guide to creative sustainability themes for the next year’s challenge.

Annual sustainability challenge

The Annual Sustainability Challenge is a 5-week event held in the Spring Semester in February. These activities are designed by the Sustainability Officers at their schools, and each activity corresponds to a set of points upon completion.

Campus sustainability projects

Students are encouraged to start sustainability projects at their schools, which they can earn points for throughout the program. This allows students to have a direct approach to solving a sustainability challenge and lead to better environmental outcomes in their communities.