About

About

 

Mission

The aim of the Green Action Fund is to reduce the ecological footprint of UCCS and promote sustainable environment, social and economic values through a variety of student-sponsored projects. 

History

In 2008, Brandon James, while serving as UCCS SGA President, proposed the Solar Fee, which the UCCS student body passed in April 2008. The goal was to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels with a simple $5.00 student fee. The Solar Fee funded three solar projects before it was repurposed in 2011 to fund a broader range of sustainability projects. In Spring 2011, an amendment to the $5.00-per-semester student Solar Fee Referendum passed, expanding the purpose of the solar fee from strictly solar energy projects to include a broader range of sustainability-related projects on the campus. In Fall of 2011, the Green Action Fund formed, approving the first projects in Spring of 2012. In the Spring of 2013, the sunset of the solar fee was extended and the name changed to the 'Green Action Fee' in a special election.

The Process

Below is a short description of the process from start to finish of a project proposal:

  • The Idea
    It all starts with an idea of how to make UCCS more sustainable. As long as the student, faculty, or staff member has an idea that links to sustainability and moving UCCS forward, they may submit a project application within the academic year.
     
  • Project Liaisons
    Once an idea is formulated, the project proposer is encouraged to contact the Green Action Fund Grant Coordinator. They will guide the proposer through the process and help fine tune their proposal to make it strong in terms of the five pillars the committee uses to rate the project for potential funding.
     
  • Grant Applications
    After initial discussions with the Green Action Fund Grant Coordinator, the project may be submitted to the GAF committee for review. The application is evaluated based on its contribution to each of the following GAF pillars and the University's Sustainability Strategic Plan

Green Action Fund Pillars

  1. Reduction of ecological footprint
  2. Increased student involvement
  3. Education and outreach
  4. Long-term feasibility
  5. Scope of impact at UCCS

There are a few variations of grant applications which include a small grant ($1-$14,999), a large grant ($15,000+), a seed research grant, and a sustainable conference grant. Please review the deadlines to make sure you are in compliance with the specific grant you are pursuing. 

  • Presentations
    Proposers will schedule a time with the GAF Grant Coordinator to present to the GAF committee at one of their general meetings. This presentation will provide more in-depth information for the committee to review along with scheduled time for questions and answers for clarification.
     
  • Kickoff Meeting
    If a project is approved, a kickoff meeting will be scheduled with the proposer and the GAF Grant Coordinator along with any other engaged persons. The purpose of this meeting is to complete an agreement of mutual understanding in regards to funding, project completion, and maintenance.
     
  • Follow Up
    The committee will ask the proposer(s) to complete a final document on their project. They may also be asked to present a follow-up on the project as it is meaningful to the committee to see what happened with the projects and how they can continue to support the proposers by spreading awareness.