Sustainability Leadership Program Internships
SLP Internships allow students to function as an extension of staff in the Office of Sustainability while empowering partners across campus.
Student interns can expect to gain concrete knowledge of sustainability solutions, collaborate on exciting, impactful initiatives with fellow interns, and acquire experience tackling complex challenges within sustainability to apply throughout their time at DePauw and beyond. SLP Interns are given personalized mentoring and coaching by Sustainability Staff to promote hands-on experiences, systems thinking, and collaboration between campus partners such as fellow interns, campus offices/departments, and student organizations.
Note: Students of all majors and interests are eligible to apply!
To inquire about sustainability internships, please email sustainability@depauw.edu.
Below are potential internship opportunities. The goals of each internship change to meet the interests/goals of the student intern.
Sustainability Internships
Bike/Transportation
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Running bike-loan/rental program
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Conducting bike repairs by appointment for all students
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Co-running Greencastle Bike Party
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Promoting a culture of walking/biking on DePauw’s campus
Possible Goals:
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Outreach to local schools
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Uplifting community bike programs (library etc.)
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Applying for a Mini-Grant
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Partnering with Putnam Parks and Pathways to encourage safe biking along the People’s Pathways
Intersectional Sustainability
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Identifying the intersections of campus sustainability issues and diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice
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Researching the ways in which campus sustainability challenges and solutions disproportionately affect vulnerable communities
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Assisting with MLK Day programming
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Identifying, planning, and executing partnerships or events with DePauw Student Government, NAACP, CDI, the Women’s Center, NAIPA, etc.
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Seek out and encourage opportunities for collaboration between SLP interns/Office of Sustainability and DePauw communities that may face barriers to engaging in sustainability
Possible Goals:
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Understand and break down barriers to engaging with farming and nature
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Design a climate justice panel with Environmental Fellows
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Plan a trash-fashion show in collaboration with the Thrifty Tiger and House of Opulence
Sustainability Consulting/Event Planning
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Running the Green Events Certification process
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Providing consultation services to groups planning Green Events
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Planning and assisting with the Harvest Festival
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Encouraging and planning campus-wide use of the Ullem Center for events
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Promote a culture of sustainable events and programs within all areas of campus
Possible Goals:
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Connect with local sustainable businesses for Harvest Festival and workshops
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Coordinate with Green Greek Intern to promote sustainable events within FSL
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Connect with Coordinator of Campus Activities for campus-wide Green Certified Events
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Apply for a mini-grant
Media/Campus Engagement
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Managing Office of Sustainability social media posts
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Editing and maintaining Office of Sustainability website
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Creating educational visual materials to highlight of sustainability events, issues, job postings, and more to DePauw’s campus
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Assisting with promotion of Mini-Grant opportunities and deadlines
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Designing and creating the SLP bulletin board once per semester
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Documenting related programs/events through photos and videos
Possible Goals:
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Create a mini-documentary on a sustainability topic of interest
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Highlight professors conducting sustainability-related research on campus
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Utilize a drone to create visuals of the Ullem Campus Farm or DePauw Nature Park
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Apply for a mini-grant
Dining/Food Waste
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Promoting the sustainability efforts of Bon Appetit
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Assisting with the Green-to-Go program
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Planning an Earth Month menu with Bon Appetit
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Coordinating collection of compost and recyclables from the dining and residence halls
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Encouraging sustainability-related programs and challenges in residence halls
Possible Goals:
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Adjust composting policies within residence halls to allow for worm bins
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Collaborate with the Center for Spiritual Life to give away leftover Hoover food
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Pass a resolution though DSG to reduce plastic in C-Stores or encourage local food options
Fraternity & Sorority Life
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Collaborate with the Director of Greek Life to engage our chapters in lasting sustainability initiatives
Possible Goals:
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Low-waste recruitment
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Environmentally-focused philanthropy
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Clothing donations, composting, and recycling in the houses
Design Your Own Internship Opportunity
Do you see a sustainability-related need on campus that is not being addressed? Submit a request to design your own internship!
Past examples include AASHE STARS, Nature Park, Facilities/Landscaping, Conservation, Environmental Policy, and more!
Campus Farm Internships
Hydroponics
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Tending and growing year-round produce such as Swiss chard, strawberries, lettuce, and more (you decide!) to deliver to Hoover Dining Hall
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Ensure the functionality of the system by maintaining and logging nutrient levels, setting the pumps and timers, and keeping the tank and growing medium clean
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Connecting with hydroponic growers in the area to exchange ideas
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Identifying and problem-solving any issues with the system
Possible Goals
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Creating a comprehensive “How To” guide for maintaining the system
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Leading educational hydroponic lessons for local youth
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Transitioning the hydroponics system to aquaponics by incorporating tilapia fish
Composting
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Designing and maintaining a functional system for compost production at the farm
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Leading coffee ground and food scrap pick-ups with Bon Appétit, campus cafes, and Greek houses
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Coordinating with Farm Interns, volunteers, and university partners for managing the system
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Researching and connecting with other composters and university farms
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Keeping detailed documentation of the process and research
Possible Goals:
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Installing educational signage about the “what, why, and how” of composting
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Tending to and harvesting compost from the farm’s vermicomposting worms
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Working with Housing to implement worm or composting bins in residence halls
Farm Hand (Multiple Openings)
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Completing late summer to early spring work such as field prep and tear down, seeding, preparing beds, transplanting, weeding, watering, harvesting, washing, packing, delivering, and documenting produce
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Using mechanized and non-mechanized tools for weeding and preparing beds
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Participating in DePauw and Greencastle community events that promote the farm (such as Sustainability Fridays and Taste of Putnam County)
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Working with and directing youth, peer, and adult volunteer groups
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Maintaining organization of the Ullem Center, greenhouse, wash and pack, and farm shed
Possible Goals:
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Developing lesson plans about sustainable agriculture and the environment for local elementary schools
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Aiding the Farm Manager in planning hoop house crop varieties and growing strategies
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Leading farm beautification projects and use of the non-farm field property