The Effect of Shared and Inclusive Governance on Environmental Sustainability at U.S. Universities

Dragana Djukic-Min, James Norcross and Elizabeth Searing ()
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Dragana Djukic-Min: School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
James Norcross: School of Engineering, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Dallas College, Dallas, TX 75243, USA
Elizabeth Searing: School of Economic, Political, and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-27

Abstract: As climate change consequences intensify, higher education institutions (HEIs) have an opportunity and responsibility to model sustainable operations. This study examines how embracing shared knowledge and inclusion in sustainability decision making facilitates green human resource management (GHRM) efforts to invigorate organizational environmental performance. The study examines the effects of shared and inclusive governance on campus sustainability via a regression model and the mediating role of employee participation via a structural equation modeling approach. The results show that shared governance and inclusive governance positively predict the commitment of HEIs to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and campus engagement mediates these relationships, underscoring the importance of participation. These findings align with stakeholder theory in demonstrating that diverse voices in decision making can enhance commitment to organizational goals like sustainability. The findings also highlight the importance of shared and inclusive governance arrangements at college campuses not only for ethical reasons but also for achieving desired outcomes like carbon neutrality. For campus leaders striving to “green” their institutions, evaluating cross-departmental representation in governance structures and promoting inclusive cultures that make all students and staff feel welcome appear as important complements to GHRM practices.

Keywords: shared governance; inclusive governance; higher education institutions; green human resource management; stakeholder theory; campus sustainability; employee participation; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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