Council of Student Sustainability Leaders

OVERVIEW: The Council of Sustainability Leaders (CSSL) brings together Harvard undergraduate and graduate students who are passionate about campus sustainability, fosters multidisciplinary collaboration across Harvard’s schools, and provides sustainability-related professional development opportunities for future leaders. Through CSSL, students work together on sustainability challenges, learn from and network with sustainability leaders, and provide feedback and recommendations on Harvard’s sustainability initiatives. The Harvard Office for Sustainability manages the Council and its flagship volunteer consulting program, “CSSL as Consultants.”

CSSL as Consultants: Launched in 2025, this innovative program connects Harvard offices/departments (“clients”) with small teams of talented student volunteers (“consultants”) from the Council of Student Sustainability Leaders (CSSL) and an Office for Sustainability staff member (“mentor”). The program aims to provide meaningful and collaborative professional development opportunities for students while strengthening networks and building staff capacity to advance sustainability across campus.

MemberExpectations: CSSL members are expected to be active and involved throughout the academic year, which includes attendance at every-other-week virtual meetings and/or participation in collaborative projects (such as the CSSL as Consultants Program). Members are also encouraged to attend professional development and networking events organized for the Council by the Office for Sustainability. If you have any concerns about these expectations, please connect with david_havelick@harvard.edu. 

INFO SESSION (required): Please RSVP here by September 8 to attend the CSSL Info Session on September 9 @ 5-6pm. If you cannot attend, you must watch the recording (which will be posted here on September 10) before applying.

APPLICATION (due Sept 14): APPLICATION LINK WILL BE ADDED HERE ON SEPTEMBER 10. Apply by September 14, 2026 – after attending (or watching the video of) the CSSL Info Session.

Here are the application questions in case you want to start planning out your responses.

CONTACT: Please contact david_havelick@harvard.edu if you have any questions.