Tips for Students

Tell your friends and neighbors, and even go to other campus group meetings to let them know about your plan of action.
Hold an event. Whether it’s a fundraising dinner or a clean-energy symposium, a public event can be a great way to bring in new faces and energy to your CGI U commitment.
Have a table out on a busy area in campus informing your campus about your new commitment.
Hang up flyers around campus inviting others to join your commitment.
Work with professors. Many professors will be extremely excited to take part in your commitment and spread the word about it to their students.
Hold weekly or monthly meetings. Other than the day-to-day workings of your commitment, have a publicly advertised meeting where others can meet your group and join the team.
Tell the media. Start with your campus paper or a local radio station to inform both the campus community and the general public about what you are doing.

Most of all, be creative. CGI U is about action. One creative idea that becomes a reality could have an impact larger than you’d ever imagine.

Decide which members of the administration would be most useful to meet. The University President? Chancellor? Head of Facilities? Director of the International School? Research their backgrounds, and determine who would be a strategic person to approach first. Write a letter and ask for a meeting. Be sure to follow-up.
Create a formal proposal. If you secure a meeting with an administrator, come with a proposal in hand. If you can’t get a meeting, send the proposal as a follow-up, hard copy and e-mail. Be organized!
Be professional. When you are interacting with administrators, always be on time, with a proposal and necessary background information in hand.
Build support. Seek out other constituents and allies to build your network. Is it the student government? The board of trustees? The local mayor? Campus paper? Make a list, circulate a petition, and be creative.
Open a dialogue. Be sure to be considerate of your administration’s views and ideas.
Agree on a plan of action. Find a plan and a budget that both sides can agree on.
Make it official. Make an announcement. Tell the local and campus media the good news. Spread the word! Be prepared to be contacted as other students will hear about what you are doing and want to get involved.
Follow up. Track your success. If possible, hold regular meetings to discuss what is working and what isn’t, and possibilities to expand.