Harvard's GLP and SIP Models
Most campuses have passionate, committed students willing to do what they can to pressure administrators to become more environmentally responsible in terms of campus operations, curriculum and research. To their credit, these students often make headway with no funding, little time, limited access to decision-making arenas and almost no knowledge of campus operations and impacts.
Most campuses also have staff who are concerned about campus sustainability and wish to see changes in practices that show a legitimate effort to address the myriad global environmental problems. To their credit, some staff have also achieved varying degrees of success without much spare time, political protection or support from upper management.
When students and staff come together to share their strengths and work together, great things can and do happen.
The Power of Partnership: Students and Staff
The Harvard Green Campus Initiative has crafted its Green Living Program (GLP) and Student Internship Program (SIP) to build upon the power and leadership of students and staff. The practices that help make these programs successful include the following:
- identifying willing staff sponsors and participants
- interviewing and recruiting students for participation
- partnering with staff and students to establish work plans
- paying students for their time
- mentoring and managing students to ensure success
- meeting staff accountability requirements
- fostering interaction and collaboration between student and staff
- encouraging creativity and initiative from students
- providing clear decision-making structures that encourage student participation while meeting staff needs
- promoting long-term program development so that each year students and staff can build upon the efforts of their predecessors
While the GLP and SIP models differ in many ways, these tenets are the same for both programs.