Student Sustainability Initiative
Oregon State University, 2251 SW Jefferson Way, Suite 206
Corvallis, OR 97331
T 541-737-3172 | http://sli.oregonstate.edu/ssi
SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT GRANT
INSTRUCTIONS
INTRODUCTION
About the Student Sustainability Initiative
The Oregon State University (OSU) Student Sustainability Initiative (SSI) is a studentfee funded, student-led organization whose mission is to create a culture of sustainability
at OSU through opportunity, education, and action. The SSI strives to address all three
pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic.
About the SSI Project Grant Program
"On a sustainable campus, the built environment, operational systems,
research, scholarship, and education are linked as a “living laboratory”
for sustainability. Users (such as students, faculty, and staff) have access
to research, teaching, and learning opportunities on connections between
environmental, social, and economic issues." - International Sustainable
Campus Network-Global University Leaders Forum (ISCN-GULF)
Sustainable Campus Charter
SSI believes our campus can be a model living laboratory for sustainability. The
Sustainability Project Grant Program provides OSU students with opportunities to create
a more sustainable institution by taking an active role in creating the world they wish to
see. SSI will fund student or student organization-led projects designed to advance the
sustainability of the Corvallis campus’ built environment, operations, policy, or student
learning/engagement. In line with the SSI’s vision, applications must advance a culture of
sustainability at OSU through action, education, and opportunity. Preference will be
given to proposals that clearly impact the environmental, social, and economic
sustainability of the Corvallis campus. For examples of past projects, visit our website
http://sli.oregonstate.edu/ssi/grants/funded-projects.
Project Grant Terms
Individual students, student groups, and student organizations whose members are in
good academic standing with Oregon State University who are enrolled in at least 6
credits at the Corvallis campus are eligible to apply for Project Grants. Applications must
include at least one student leader and one additional contact or sponsor to be considered.
Questions should be directed to the SSI Grant Manager (kimberly.helm[at]oregonstate.edu).
FY16 Sustainability Project Grant Application
Student Sustainability Initiative
Oregon State University
Unfortunately, students who are exclusively eCampus, online, or Cascades campus
students are not eligible due to the student fee structure.
DETAILS
Available Funds
During fiscal year 2016, the SSI may release up to $21,600 to the OSU Corvallis campus
community in the form of Project Grants. Applicants may request up to $6,000. Please
note that applicants may be awarded less than their requested amount.
Review Process
The SSI Fee Board will convene a panel to review applications and may request
interviews to ask applicants further questions.
Evaluation Criteria
Preference will be given to new projects rather than on-going projects seeking funding
year after year. Project grants will be evaluated according to the following rubric*:
Area
The project’s ability to address one or more of the core aspects of
sustainability (environmental, social, economic)
Impact and learning for the general student population
Feasibility (including budget, timeline, and qualifications of applicants)
Educational value for the grant applicant(s)
Cost effectiveness and sustainable purchasing
Lasting impact of the project
TOTAL
Points
25
25
20
10
10
10
100
* The board may choose not to fund applications for other reasons. Other evaluation criteria may include
diversity of applications received, project creativity, etc. However, project applications that do not meet
minimum requirements in these areas will not be approved.
Application Instructions
To apply for a project grant, submit a completed application form and required
attachments as a single PDF titled “SSI Project Grant FY15 [student’s last name]” to Kim
Helm, SSI Grant Manager, at kimberly.helm[at]oregonstate.edu by 11:59 PM PST on
Monday, November 16, 2015.
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1: Budget
1)
Please provide a line-item budget estimating all costs for the project (including inkind donations and items funded through other sources). Please include information about
where your purchases are being sourced and the sustainability of the materials. SSI will
give preference to budgets that reflect consideration of the ethical, material, and
Questions should be directed to the SSI Grant Manager (kimberly.helm[at]oregonstate.edu).
FY16 Sustainability Project Grant Application
Student Sustainability Initiative
Oregon State University
economic sustainability of proposed expenses. Consider borrowing, renting, or sourcing
donated materials. Reimbursements are NOT permissible; therefore approved grant
purchases should not occur until after the mandatory orientation. Preference will also
be given to projects that utilize volunteer labor and engage students, but contracted labor
costs will be considered. Follow the example below:
Expense
Unit
Price
# of
Units
Total
Price
Funding
Vendor
Source/Donation
Sustainability
factors
considered
Catered
lunch
(sandwiches)
$8.95
30
$268.50
SSI Project Grant
Valley
Catering
Event fliers
$0.14
50
$7.00
Donation from Dept.
of Public Policy
Printing &
Mailing
Vendor sources
produce from
local farms. Meal
will be
vegetarian and
based on
seasonal
ingredients.
100% recycled
paper; majority
of advertising
will be electronic
Unallowable expenses:
 MU space rental
 Durable materials for off-campus projects
 Student wages
 Materials for infrastructure projects on non-student fee funded sites
 Gift cards/prizes
Attachment 2: Timeline
Please create a timeline of your project goals and milestones and when they will be
accomplished. All projects should be completed by June 30, 2016. Be specific and
narrow dates down to at least the month scale (“February” or “mid-February” versus
“January- March”). This is meant to demonstrate to the board your level of organization
and commitment, as well as to help you prepare for the project.
Attachment 3: Resume
Please provide a current resume for each of the project leaders.
Attachment 4: Letters of support/approval from project partners and all
appropriate campus authorities
If you are partnering with student organizations, departments, or faculty mentor, please
attach a letter of support from each partner outlining their responsibilities and
commitment to the project. If you plan to construct a permanent or semi-permanent
sustainability feature on campus, you are required to submit evidence of approval from
all appropriate campus authorities. This may include, but is not limited to, the building
owner, Campus Planning, Facilities & Maintenance, the Historic District. Please contact
Jen Christion Myers at Jen.ChristionMyers[at]oregonstate.edu at least 6 weeks in
Questions should be directed to the SSI Grant Manager (kimberly.helm[at]oregonstate.edu).
FY16 Sustainability Project Grant Application
Student Sustainability Initiative
Oregon State University
advance of the application due date for assistance securing required campus
permissions.
Appendix: Supplemental Materials
Please include any additional materials necessary for the SSI Fee Board to fully
understand the scope and purpose of your proposed project.
Reporting
Student awardees are required to submit periodic “temperature checks” during the award
period and a two-page project report due two weeks after the project is completed.
Temperature checks will be used to evaluate project progress. The board reserves the
right to discontinue funding if sufficient progress on the project has not been achieved or
adequately explained. The final report should contain a summary of activities and an
assessment of the impact of those activities on the student’s learning and on sustainability
at OSU. This report will be posted on the Student Sustainability Initiative website.
Recipients who fail to submit the required final report will be ineligible to receive future
funding from the Student Sustainability Initiative.
The final report should contain the following points:
1. Header: including student name(s), title of project, award information (date of
award, amount of award).
2. A brief summary of the project including an assessment of the sustainability
outcomes achieved.
3. A statement explaining other benefits from the SSI award including additional
scholarly activities, collaborative relationships, and any publications or other
funding made possible for the student as a result of this award.
4. A reflective statement about what you learned and how you were impacted by
completing this project including successes and unexpected hurdles, partnerships
created or strengthened, and how you will apply what you learned in your classes
or future endeavors.
5. Photos, illustrations, or video clips that reflect your work.
6. An outline of the on-going maintenance plan and/or long-term impacts expected
from the project.
7. Please also submit a short, accessible blog post describing your project outcomes
and learning for posting on the OSU Ecologue.
Submit the final report electronically saved as “SSI Project Grant Final Report [student’s
last name]” to Kimberly.Helm[at]oregonstate.edu.
Questions should be directed to the SSI Grant Manager (kimberly.helm[at]oregonstate.edu).
FY16 Sustainability Project Grant Application
Student Sustainability Initiative
Oregon State University
Sustainability Project Grant Application
2015-2016
[PROJECT NAME HERE]
APPLICANT
Date
[Enter Here]
Organization Name
Organization Address
Organization Website
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
Name of Primary Leader
Mailing Address
Email Address
Phone Number
Undergraduate or Graduate
Major/Program:
GPA:
Number of credits enrolled in:
Anticipated graduation date:
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
Name of Secondary Contact
Mailing Address
Email Address
Phone Number
Undergraduate or Graduate
Major/Program:
GPA:
Number of credits enrolled in:
Anticipated graduation date:
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
Have you been awarded an SSI grant before?
Yes
No
If Yes, Grant Type, Project Title, Award Amount & Date Awarded [Enter Here]
Questions should be directed to the SSI Grant Manager (kimberly.helm[at]oregonstate.edu).
FY16 Sustainability Project Grant Application
Student Sustainability Initiative
Oregon State University
PROJECT
Name
Start Date
End Date
Total Requested
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
[Enter Here]
Summary
Please provide a brief summary of your proposal. (100-200 words)
Project Purpose & Relevance to Sustainability
Please describe the need for this project and how it will promote a culture of
sustainability at OSU. Be sure to address the project’s effects on the environmental,
social, and economic aspects of sustainability, and how it addresses these holistically.
(250-500 words, written for a general audience, avoiding jargon and unexplained
acronyms)
Project Goals and Outcomes
Please outline your project goals, expected outcomes, and a brief description of the steps
you will take to accomplish your goals. Make sure your goals follow SMART guidelines.
How will you measure your impact? Please include evaluation measures for both
qualitative and quantitative data. (see: *Please see SSI Project Grant Website for link for
guidance developing SMART Goals.) (200-300 words)
Lasting Impact & Maintenance Plan
What are the long-term benefits of the project? How will it continue after the grant
period is completed? Please specifically address who will own purchased materials and
who will be responsible for ongoing maintenance. What is the end-of-life plan for
disposal of project materials? (100-300 words)
Value for Project Leaders/Team
What do you hope to learn from this project? How will it support your academic,
professional, and personal learning objectives? Speak specifically to the sustainability
knowledge and skills you hope to gain or enhance through this opportunity. How will you
apply your learning in the future? *If this is a group application, each team member
should complete this section individually. (250-500 words)
Questions should be directed to the SSI Grant Manager (kimberly.helm[at]oregonstate.edu).
FY16 Sustainability Project Grant Application
Student Sustainability Initiative
Oregon State University
Qualifications and Experience
Please describe why you are interested in pursuing this project, and why you believe
you’re qualified to carry out this project. Include any relevant experience you have
(volunteer work, employment, courses, etc.). *If this is a group application, each team
member should complete this section individually. (100-250 words)
Value for the Student Body
How will your project impact the general student body? What is your marketing plan to
advertise it on campus? How will you share the results with other students? (100-200
words)
Collaboration
Please provide a list of students, groups, and/or mentors you will work with to complete
your project and briefly describe each partner’s role. Be sure to include a letter of
support from each partner in Attachment 4. (100-200 words)
Multi-Year Projects
If you received SSI Project Grant funds in the past, please include a brief description of
your previous project. What were your major successes, failures, and lessons learned?
What would you change based on what you’ve learned? If this request is for an on-going
project, how do you intend to sustain the project after this funding cycle? (100-300
words)
Questions should be directed to the SSI Grant Manager (kimberly.helm[at]oregonstate.edu).