Captains
While it is possible to have one student captain for a green living program (GLP), the Harvard Green Campus Initiative (HGCI) only has experience with two students filling this role. Co-captains bring a diversity of leadership input, double the amount of individual connections and experiences, a team approach to decision making, and the option of splitting tasks and responsibilities to work more efficiently and thoroughly. In the captain role, students do the following:
- work 10 hours per week, except during finals period
- manage 15-17 student employees
- plan and monitor themed activities in two-week periods, using proven educational and marketing tools
- plan and run biweekly meetings and fall orientation
- work closely with their co-captain and the GLP coordinator (and at the HGCI, the "Yard captains")
- meet regularly with the steering group
- work with the student government, dean's office, campus publications and other organizations
- meet many deadlines with short notice
- write email updates three times per week
- document GLP successes and methods for improvement
- research and write information sheets for the GLP reps to use
- recruit and interview GLP candidates
- serve as captain for two consecutive semesters
Rotating Versus Joint Captains
If you have two captains, you could use a rotating captain system, in which you would have one new captain each semester. Another option is a joint captain system, in which you would have two new captains at the beginning of the school year.
In the first scenario, you always have a captain with experience on the team to help orient the incoming captain. In the second scenario, the two new captains can strengthen their partnership and develop a routine or co-work habit during the first semester, setting themselves and the program up for a strong second semester.
Relational Benefits
From the GLP captains, the coordinator gains:
- a vision for the program's yearly calendar;
- advice for approaches to campaigns;
- student leaders to craft campaign work plans;
- mentorship support;
- insight into the current student population’s collective thinking.
From the captains, the reps gain:
- guidance on how to run campaigns;
- suggestions for how to approach problems;
- networking opportunities through the captains' campus connections and experiences;
- feedback on their performance;
- leaders to look up to—professionally and personally.
From the captains, the steering group gains:
- a visible connection with student leaders;
- advice on communicating and connecting with the student body;
- feedback on reps’ perceptions and findings.