Resource Efficiency Program @ Harvard Green Campus Initiative

Read these reflections from previous years' Reps! Explore our site to find out about the huge difference we've made on campus and beyond! Check out our photos (opens Yahoo Flickr) to see how much fun we had doing it! Follow links to find out why campus greening is so important!

Where can I learn more about REP and speak with you in person?

We'd love to meet you at one of the fall activities fairs. Look for us near the Environmental Action Committee (EAC) at these events:

Monday, September 11	Freshmen and Transfer Student Activities Fair, 11:00 am-1:30 pm
Friday, September 15	Upperclass Activities Fair, 2-4:30 pm

Can you tell me who will be reading my application?

Scot Miller is an Earth and Planetary Sciences concentrator from Winthrop House. He has been active with the Environmental Action Committee since arriving at Harvard, and has served as a member of the REP Steering Group prior to entering his current role as a REP captain. This summer he is studying field geology and working on his senior thesis in atmospheric science.

Hayley Fink has been involved with REP from the beginning of her undergraduate time here. Having served as a Yard Rep and the Cabot Rep, she is entering her junior year as a REP captain. She studies in the Earth and Planetary Science department.

Meredith Lanoue is this year's Yard Captain, a mentor for the three Yard Reps and the freshman volunteers. She has served two years as the Lowell Rep. She is a senior studying Environmental Science and Engineering.

Philip Kreycik '06 is this year's REP Coordinator. As an undergraduate he was a Rep for Adams, and was heavily involved with the Harvard Outing Club. You might see Philip in the dining hall if you live in Adams, where he is also a house master's assistant.

What are the next steps after I apply?

You should receive a confirmation email that your application was received. If you don't receive one within a week, please don't hesitate to write or call to confirm that your application was received. Depending on the number of applications we receive for each position, we may then contact you in September to schedule an interview. All candidates will be contacted with a decision after interviews are completed in September. Those selected as Reps will attend a mandatory orientation on the afternoon of Monday, September 25th, 4:00 to 8:00pm.

How can I prepare for my interview?

First, learn more about how REP works to see if it feels right for you. Reading this Q & A is a great first step. Browse our website. Based on what you've learned about the Rep job, why do you think you're a strong candidate? What aspects of being a Rep might be more challenging for you, and how might you address those challenges?

Second, if you were on campus last year, think about REP campaigns you experienced last year - what did you like about them and how could they have been improved? Think about some projects you'd like to carry out in your dorm or House.

Third, part of the interview will be a roleplay where we see how you interact with a student who doesn't agree with or understand a change you're asking them to make. This is hard to prepare for unless you've had training in dialogue skills, but we're mainly interested in learning more about your natural style.

Finally, please bring your scheduler so we can talk about which biweekly meeting times and orientation date would work best for you.

How would I contact my Rep from last year if I have specific questions for that person?

Check last year's roster for their name and email . You're welcome to contact your house/Yard Rep from last year, but please respect their time - for example, you might email your questions, but let them know you can call if that's easier for them so they don't have to write you a long email in response. If selected, you'll have access to the written reports of the Rep from your House or the Yard.

Can two people share one House Rep position?

No, except in special circumstances. We've found that less than four hours per week doesn’t give any one person enough time to build the necessary relationships to be a successful Rep. Also, there would be many tasks and meetings that both people would need to be involved with, thus increasing paid hours more than REP can afford. Don't forget the volunteer opportunities available to everyone else in the house.

What new positions will become available to me after I am a Rep for a year?

We count on Reps to return as part of the leadership team. REP captain positions open once or twice a year. Reps are also welcome to apply to be Reps for a second year, in which case they will receive recognition as a returning Rep and have the opportunity to act as a mentor to new Reps. Several Reps have gone on to become EAC co-chairs and sat on the REP Steering Group. Finally, graduating Reps are encouraged to apply for the REP Coordinator staff position (when available) and other Harvard Green Campus Initiative jobs. And of course, the REP captains and coordinator are happy to provide Reps with recommendations for jobs and fellowships.

What is the overall administrative structure of the program?

REP works through 16-17 dedicated and enthusiastic Resource Efficiency Program Representatives (Reps) - one in each House, one in DeWolfe, and at least three for the Freshman Yard. Reps are guided by two student captains, experienced in campus environmentalism, and a Program Coordinator, an employee of the Green Campus Initiative. As a Rep, you will work most closely with the student captains and fellow Reps on your day-to-day efforts. The staff coordinator will also follow your work closely through the meetings and written reports and is always available if you have questions. The staff coordinator will work with you directly on payroll, website and newsletter contributions, other administrative issues, and special projects.

What is expected of a Rep?

The Rep looks after the environmental interests of the House or dorm area, frequently through education and awareness-raising to influence the behaviors of dorm residents. Reps work an average of four hours per week - and many Reps have put in additional volunteer hours - organizing campaigns that are coordinated on a College-wide basis, with a primary focus on waste reduction/recycling, energy conservation, and water conservation.

In addition to specific tasks, the Rep serves as "ecological eyes" for the residential area. Thus, if a Rep sees an ecological "faux pas" occurring, he or she has an official position that makes addressing the issue more comfortable and feasible. For example, you might notice there is no recycling bin in the mailroom. As a Rep, you'll learn how to arrange to have a bin placed there and collected from. Reps also serve as liaisons between the sponsoring organizations and students. The Rep is the key to two-way communication, and thus better resource efficiency!

Each semester, every Rep will be assigned to a small subgroup to plan one upcoming campaign and develop campaigning materials in collaboration with other Reps, the Coordinator, and the Captains.

Finally, Reps are expected to attend all bi-weekly REP meetings, read the captains' email bulletins for essential updates, report hours regularly, and complete biweekly reports on time. The captains and coordinator want to spend time helping you green your dorm, not reminding you about missed deadlines!

What kinds of activities would I be doing each week?

Campaign activities may include distributing educating house residents on energy conservation, holding a "food for thought" studybreak, or designing an educational display about how much laundry detergent to use in the front-loading washers. Take a look at last year's calendar for more specifics. Regular tasks include monitoring recycling areas, keeping in touch with the House Committee and house staff, sending out messages to the dorm open-list, working with Green Cup project teams, selecting Envirocitizens, promoting multi-week competitions such as Recycle Mania, and updating your Eco-Board.

How structured are my four hours of work each week?

An average of three of the Rep's four hours will be relatively structured, including meetings, trainings, postering, emailing, tabling, and holding events. Some assignments can be completed at any point during the week, and others will occur during scheduled times in the House or as a group. The remainder of the Rep's time is dedicated to answering questions, troubleshooting in the House/dorm, and undertaking an individual project. Also, if you do not complete four hours in the first week, you can work additional hours in the second week, as long as your total is eight hours for the two-week period between meetings.

What would some of my goals be as a Rep?

REP hopes to reduce the consumption of resources on campus, create a norm of sustainable behavior among Harvard College students on campus and in their future roles, and increase the proportion of waste that is recycled (supporting Harvard's goal of 45% waste diverted to recycling by 2006). We hope to achieve these goals by helping our fellow students learn about the effects that their daily actions and decisions have on the environment, and empowering them to make choices that minimize the negative effects whenever they can. REP helps students: save money (using the necessary amount of laundry detergent or borrowing rather than buying), be more comfortable (learning techniques to deal with drafty or overheated rooms), be healthier (using fewer chemicals in your living space), and build community spirit (through studybreaks, the Green Cup, and sharing tips).

We also aim to improve communication between students and staff by letting providers of student services know our ideas about how to overcome barriers to student conservation. We help students get access to information they may need about environmental issues and to think about ideas they may have overlooked. In achieving these goals, you will also be improving your own communications and leadership skills.

What happens at REP meetings?

Reps come together at least every two weeks at the mandatory biweekly REP meetings, which last 1 to 1.5 hours, to discuss the past weeks' campaigns and prepare for the Reps for the next two weeks. A key function of the meetings is to provide feedback to captains on what Reps have learned are the most effective means of communicating with dorm residents and to let the Steering Group know about opportunities to increase resource efficiency on campus. REP meetings also provide a chance for Reps to get help with individual projects and to share advice with fellow Reps. We also brainstorm about future campaigns (though much of the planning happens in small-group meetings with the captains and Reps who are particularly interested in a campaign topic). At some meetings, Reps or Steering Group members will give short presentations related to an upcoming campaign. We also catch up, celebrate birthdays, and plan REP social events.

How does REP work with the EAC?

Formally, a core aspect of our program structure is that at least one of the two co-chairs of the EAC (or future active and representative student environmental group in the College) is a member of the REP Steering Group. Informally, we have overlap in membership, particularly with EAC sub-committees such as Sustainable Allston. REP captains or Reps have concurrently served as or gone on to become EAC co-chairs, and EAC co-chairs have gone on to be Reps or REP Captains. EAC volunteers are welcome to help and have provided key support on large REP projects such as Mt. Trashmore/Recyclemore. Both organizations work together on projects such as the 2004 Climate Conference at Harvard and Earth Day. Finally, the REP student founders hoped that EAC efforts to address off-campus and institutional issues would be given additional legitimacy by the demonstrated willingness of many students to do their part through making the kinds of lifestyle choices REP promotes.

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