Gig Work & Campus Sustainability

Using Gig Work to Boost Student Engagement & Work Opportunities

Frontline got its first major signal about the potential for gig work from ODU students. We worked with ODU Leadership to gauge students' perspectives on campus cleanliness and their interest to get paid on an hourly, on-demand basis to support campus clean-ups. They said yes! And when? This led to our first campus clean-up gigs near student housing locations that were perpetually messy due to tailgates and other student activities.

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Environmental Sustainability & Waste Management

Waste management is central to any plan for campus sustainability and a low carbon future. Landfills are the third-largest industrial emitter of methane, a greenhouse gas approximately 25 times more potent than the carbon dioxide emissions of automobiles. Simply put, it is impossible to address the environmental threats without addressing the problem of waste. Any steps that can be taken to reduce the amount of waste generated or divert waste from landfill goes a long way to creating a more sustainable future. University campuses hold  significant potential to prepare future leaders to engage and get active.

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Lessons Learned

Students are hungry for new opportunities to engage on green, sustainability and climate. Providing employment while sparking curiosity about human behavior and leading change is an untapped opportunity that we're excited to explore through gig work.

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