Mentoring and Management
Situate your green living program (GLP) in close proximity to staff members, if possible. They are aware of the university's political and cultural landscape, and they can offer valuable advice to the GLP coordinator and captains.
Employees of the host department may also be able to serve as mentors to GLP coordinators and students. Some thoughts on mentorship:
- Being mentored will help the coordinator grow as a manager and employee, and she or he will be better able to help the program succeed. This is especially true if the coordinator is a recent graduate.
- Providing the GLP coordinator with insight into the broader aspects of university sustainability initiatives will raise his or her awareness about connections, opportunities and other important facets of the job.
- Some students will want to go above and beyond their normal GLP duties. Mentors can help them deepen their projects.
- Program reps may seek off-campus, summertime or post-graduation employment in the environmental field. Advice and recommendations from mentors will help them in their searches.