Global University Climate Forum 2015 Application Guide ThepurposeofthisguideistointroduceyoutotheGlobalUniversityClimateForum,explainthebenefits
andresponsibilitiesofmembership,andwalkyouthroughtheapplicationprocess.
About the Forum SponsoredbytheInternationalAllianceofResearchUniversitieswithadditionalsupportfromthe
InternationalSustainableCampusNetwork,theGlobalUniversityClimateForumisanetworkofstudent
teamsfromuniversitiesaroundtheworldwhocollaborateoninitiativesthatpromotesustainabilityat
theirhomeinstitutions.AsmembersoftheForum,studentteamsproposeandimplementmeasurable
initiativesthatreflectthethreeprioritiesofsustainability–people,planet,andprosperity.Teamsshare
theirprojectswithoneanotherviaanonlineforumandparticipationatForumworkshops,whichare
hostedinconjunctionwithglobalconferencessuchastheUnitedNationsClimateChangeConferences
(UNCCC).TheForumembodiesthesaying,“Thinkglobal;actlocal”byfocusingontangible,campus‐based
solutionsthatultimatelyimpactthedisseminationofstudentawarenessandglobalenvironmental
consciousness.
Past Workshops SponsoredbytheInternationalAllianceofResearchUniversities,thefirstofthisseriesofworkshops
occurredinDecemberof2009withthecoordinatingsupportofYaleUniversityandtheUniversityof
Copenhagen.FifteenteamsfromuniversitiesaroundtheworldconvenedattheUniversityofCopenhagen
topresenttheirprojects,networkandundergopeerreviewinthemidstoftheUNClimateChange
ConferenceofPartiesinCopenhagen(COP15).
InJuneof2012,studentteamsparticipatedinaworkshopinRiodeJaneiro,aside‐eventduringtheUnited
NationsConferenceonSustainableDevelopment,Rio+20.ThisworkshopwasheldbyYaleUniversityin
collaborationwithFundaçãoGetulioVargasandtheUMassBostonCenterforSustainabilityand
Governance.
Upcoming Forum Workshop ThethirdForumworkshopwilltakeplaceinDecember2015inParis,France,duringthe21stConferenceof
PartiestotheUNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(COP21).Selectedteamswillbeinvitedto
sendtwoorthreestudentrepresentativestoparticipateinthisone‐dayevent.Intheeventofahigh
volumeofacceptedapplications,workshopparticipationmaybelimitedtooneortwostudentsper
university,buttheorganizingteamwillendeavortoensurethatthereareadditionalopportunitiesto
participateandnetwork. Werecognizethatitmaynotbepossibleforallteams(orteammembers)toparticipateintheworkshop,
butthisshouldnotpreventyoufromapplyingtobeamember.TheForumoffersmanyothervaluable
opportunitiestoitsmembers,includingacollaborativeonlineforum,mentorshipandacertificateof
completion.Thereisalsothepossibilityofattendingfutureworkshops.
Application Process Eachapplicationwillbereviewedbyrepresentativesfromtheorganizinginstitutions.Someteamsmaybe
advisedtomakechangestotheirproposalsbasedonassessmentbyrelevantstaffandfacultymembers.
Teamsthatsubmitproposalsthatdonotclearlydemonstrateinstitutionalcapacityorsupportmaybe
askedtosubmitadditionaldocumentation. Application Materials: 
EachTEAMmustcompletetheForumApplicationForm,whichincludesaProjectOverviewand
shortresponsequestions.
Key Dates: Inordertoaccommodatethevariedschedulesofuniversitiesaroundtheworld,theGlobalForumwillhold
twoapplicationsessions.StudentswhoplantoattendCOP21andwhowillneedvisastotraveltoFrance
arestronglyencouragedtoapplyduringthefirstapplicationsession.
ApplicationPeriod1
(Recommendedforthosewhomayrequirevisas)
ApplicationPeriodStart:31March2015
ApplicationDeadline:30April2015
FinalistNotification:18May2015
ApplicationPeriod2
(Preferredforteamsthatwillincludefirstyearstudents)
ApplicationPeriodStart:01September2015
ApplicationDeadline:01October2015
FinalistNotification:16October2015
Proposedeventdate:6December2015(tobeconfirmed)
Project Requirements and Recommendations Projects must: 
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Beadministeredatacollege/universitycampus.
Haveasetdeadlineandadetailedscheduleofactivitiesleadinguptotheenddate.
Havecleardeliverablestomeasuresuccess.
Beinterdisciplinary.
BeplannedtocommenceimmediatelyorsoonaftertheDecemberevent,afterbeingpeer‐reviewed
andpresentedtotheForum.
Each project team must: 
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Haveatleast3studentmemberswhowillbeoncampusduringthecomingacademicyear(i.e.
2015‐2016,2016,Spring/Summer/Wintertermsof2016).
Haveatleast1universityadministratororfacultymemberlistedastheiradviser.
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Demonstratethattheyhavethecapacityandsupporttodelivertheirproposedproject.
BewillingtotaketheForum’send‐of‐the‐yearsurveysdesignedtotesttheeffectivenessofthe
projects,theForumaswellasratetheinstitutionalsupportfoundontheteam’scampus.
Teams may: 
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Developacademicallyrigorousprojectsthatwillbeimplementedoffcampussolongastheyhave
measurableimpacts.
Proposeaninitiativethatbuildsonexistingprogramming,buttheymustbetransparentaboutpre‐
existingconditions.
Contacttheorganizerswithquestionsorconcernsinadvance.Emailstosustainability@yale.edu
willbedirectedtothebestcontactforresponses.
Looking Forward: Individual and Team Membership Requirements 
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EachINDIVIDUALmustbeamemberofaForumteamimplementingaprojectthatmeetsthe
requirementsdescribedintheprevioussection.
EachTEAMmustsubmitablogpostofatleast300wordspermonththatschoolisinsession,
reportingprojectprogress(beginningwhentheprojectsareimplementedinthemonthsfollowing
theDecemberevent).
EachTEAMmustcommentonatleastoneothergroup’sblogeachmonth,servingassupportand
engagingwithfellowstudents.