Sustainability Fund Guidelines-proposals over $1000

The Sustainability Fund Committee is requesting proposals from students for projects that promote sustainability at Western Colorado University. The purpose of the Sustainability Fund is to provide Western students access to the financial resources to initiate projects that achieve one or more of the following:

1. Support Western’s use of more sustainable and renewable energy
2. Reduce unnecessary consumption of goods
3. Increase reuse of usable goods and recycling of materials
4. Promote the ethical stewardship of all resources and land on Western’s campus

All project proposals must effectively demonstrate how they will meet or exceed the following requirements.

• Projects must support the principles and goals of Western’s Environmental Charter and be consistent with the above stated purpose of the Sustainability Fund.
• Projects must show physical, measurable, or countable evidence that sustainability is being achieved.
• Project outcomes should affect a sizable portion of the student body.
• Project proposals will only be accepted from a member of the Associated Student Body and only with the support of a faculty or staff advisor.

Please provide, in order, the following information and email complete proposals as a single PDF document to Sara Phillips (sphillips@western.edu). Proposal length (excluding student resumes and faculty letter of support) should not exceed five pages.

• Cover Letter (Brief summary of project proposal and objectives)
• Description of Project Proposal
  • Provide a complete description of the proposed project, including a detailed description of the activities required to successfully implement the project
  • Provide a brief description of how the proposed project will meet all Sustainability Fund requirements and how project outcomes will be measured
  • Provide example(s), if available, of similar projects implemented at other locations (college & university campuses preferably) and describe the successes and challenges of these projects
  • Provide an estimated timeline for the proposed project and its required activities
  • Provide a detailed cost estimate of fully implementing the proposed project. Include in your estimate any potential on-going costs such as maintenance, any in-kind services required by the University to successfully implement the proposed project, and any current bid estimates for contractor services or supplies, if applicable.
  • If applicable, provide a list of other funding sources or in-kind services secured or being pursued for this project. If supplemental sources are being pursued but not yet secured, provide information on estimated notification timelines.

  Proposals are due by Oct. 15 (fall semester) or Feb. 28 (spring semester). Incomplete proposals will not be considered for review.

  After review of all proposals, students who submitted the most qualified proposals will present to the Committee, answer questions and provide clarifications of the proposed project. The Committee will consider all qualified proposals and make its decision on funding based on the Sustainability Fund purpose, criteria and cost of implementation.

  Decisions made by the Committee on funding are final and not subject to appeal. If a project is not funded, the Committee will provide information to the student(s) on why the proposal was not funded. Allocation of funds will be subject to availability. Projects must be completed and a final report will be due to the committee within one year of funding.

  If you have questions, please contact Sara Phillips (sphillips@western.edu).

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