Campus Sustainability Fund
Since 2008, the Campus Sustainability Fee (CSF) has been used to support a variety of sustainability projects across ETSU's campus. Proposals can be submitted by all students, faculty, and staff. A Campus Sustainability Committee that consists of students, faculty, and staff vote on the proposals to decide which will maximize the quantifiable impact of the student dollar, will be visible to or impact a large number of students, and will continue to establish the University as a leader in sustainable practices.
History of the Fee
The Campus Sustainability Fee (CSF) was approved and established in 2008 by the SGA and student body as a $5 per student per semester fee to fund environmentally, socially and economically sustainable initiatives and infrastructure across campus. In 2015 the fee was increased to $7 per student per semester to allow for the implementation of more sustainability projects across campus. Since its start, the fee has had great success in establishing “green” projects which revolve around energy and utilities savings, renewable energy generations, minimization of resource use, and environmental/sustainability education. The fee has funded more than $1,000,000 worth of sustainability-related projects on ETSU campuses all over Northeast Tennesssee.
The Committee votes on the projects they determine will maximize the
quantifiable impact of the student dollar, will be visible to or impact the largest
number of students, and will continue to establish the University as a leader in sustainable
practice.
Once all projects are voted on, final recommendations and approvals will be presented
to the Facilities Department and the Vice President of Finance and Operations.
CSF Project Proposal Categories
Funding allocations for proposed projects will fall into 5 categories, but are not limited to:
- Energy and Utilities Reduction and/or Conservation (electric, gas, water, etc.)
- Local Generation of Renewable Energy (solar, wind, etc.)
- Alternative Fuel Options (hybrid or electric vehicles/chargers, etc.)
- Environmental/Sustainability (resource conservation, green infrastructure, etc.)
- Other (workshops, research, etc.)
Applications are not required to specify a category, but you are encouraged to include the relevance of the project to one or more of the categories.
Project Requirements & Restrictions
- Projects must demonstrate a specific energy, environmental or sustainable benefit to advance sustainability on the ETSU campus.
- Funding will not be given to projects that are for fundamental research purposes only (projects with a research component, however will be fully considered).
- Funding is subject to any University restrictions on such projects including the bidding process and site approval. Projects must be consistent with campus standards and the Campus Master Plan.
- All funding recommendations made by the CSF Committee must be approved by the
Facilities Department and the Vice President of Finance and Administration. - Projects must be technically and economically feasible and must be cost effective to operate and maintain.
- Proposal funding is not to be used for budgeted salaries, special events or operational expenditures not associated with the Campus Sustainable Fee.
- Proposal applications must be completed fully to be considered for funding
Preference will be given to projects that:
- Impact a significant amount of students
- Have student involvement or leadership
- Are able to obtain matching funds
- Clearly express a large benefit to the ETSU community, while being cost effective
- Support existing campus sustainability priorities
Past Funded Projects
- ETSU Buc Bikes program support
- Solar Wall Installation at CPA
- LED lighting upgrades in multiple buildings across campus
- Water bottle refill stations installed across campus
- Creation and continued support of the ETSU Community Garden
- Installing bike racks and bike repair stations around campus.
- Completion of tree inventory for ETSU Arboretum
- Support for sustainability student worker organization, Econuts
- Motion sensor lighting installaiton in multple buildings across campus
- Installation of EV Chargers in Parking Lot 15b
- Construction of the new Recycling Center.
- University Woods ourdoor pavilion construction
- ETSU Pollinator Garden
- Development and implementation of advertising campaign to promote recycling on campus
- Funding for student research projects
- Sustainability related campus events hosted by the Department of Sustainability
- Installaiton of solar tables in various locations across campus
Reports