University Sustainability Fund
Project Criteria
1. Connection to Campus: Project directly addresses environmental sustainability on the University of Maryland, College Park campus or in the capacity that on-campus activities directly influence environmental sustainability in the surrounding community.
2. Campus Affiliation: Project proposal is submitted by a UM student, staff member, and/or faculty member on behalf of an individual or UM program, organization, office, or department. Non-university affiliated Individuals and organizations may not submit proposals.
3. Innovation: Project is innovative in nature and does not include routine maintenance or code-compliant activities. Fund may support the gap between code-compliant and more sustainable alternatives.
4. Feasibility and Institutional Support: Project is feasible and has support from appropriate campus individuals and entities. Individual students or student organizations must have the signature of a faculty or staff advisor who is committed to advising throughout project implementation.
5. Appropriateness of Schedule and Budget Request
6. Cost/Benefit Analysis (as applicable): Project proposal outlines project payback, lifecycle costs and savings, etc.
7. Environmental Benefits: Project demonstrates a reduction in UM’s carbon footprint or provides other environmental benefits such as water conservation, storm water management, biodiversity conservation, waste minimization, etc.
8. Student Experience: Project includes opportunities for student involvement and/or will positively impact the student experience.
9. Outreach and Education: Project considers education and outreach opportunities and has included them as part of its implementation plan.
10. Accountability: Project includes a mechanism for evaluation and follow-up after funding has been dispersed. At a minimum, a project plan should include appropriate progress reports to the Subcommittee based on the duration of the project and a final report within 60 days following completion of the project. These reports will be reviewed by the Coordinator and the Subcommittee. If a project is expected to have on-going benefits such as annual cost savings, the project plan must include a mechanism for tracking, recording, and reporting these benefits back to the Subcommittee on an annual basis for a minimum of 3 years.
11. Metrics: Project has a clearly-defined, measureable outcome, backed by metrics for assessment.
12. Self Sufficiency: Preference will be given to projects that can obtain matching funds from sources beyond the Student Sustainability Fund or include a plan for sustained funding.
13. Potential for Broad Application: Project has potential to be scalable across the campus.
14. Minimal Funding Level: Project is requesting a minimum cost of $1,000.
The Student Advisory Subcommittee who makes recommendations to the University Sustainability Council about the use of the Fund may determine additional requirements and preferences for each year’s funding cycle provided these criteria are consistent with the overall mission of the Student Sustainability Fund and consistent with the criteria and preferences outline above.