Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund Program

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Overview of SCIF

Make your green idea a reality with the Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund!

How It Works:

  • Every student at the University pays $2.50 per semester into SCIF.
  • Every student is eligible to apply for funding to start a sustainable project or business on campus.
  • Projects must have a positive environmental impact and help to educate the campus community about earth-conscience habits.
  • Projects should incorporate economic, social and scientific means to create environmental solutions.
  • Students will collaborate with faculty and staff members to gain useful real-world experience.
  • Check out the 2009-2010 SCIF Approved Projects Report (PDF)

Spring Deadline: March 5, 2012

Submit your green idea!

Announcing the 2nd annual greenTITAN award! This award will recognize students for their environmentally-conscious technology or business ideas. Submit your idea for a chance to be the next greenTITAN. For information on how to apply visit the Utah Entrepreneurs Series. Next round of applications is Fall 2012.

SCIFin the News

Salt Lake Tribune reports on SCIF and the Solar Ivy project

Restoring the Rio Mesa Orchard

Deseret News reports on the ground breaking SCIF Rain Garden

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Scope

When thinking of your project, here are some things to keep in mind:

  • Your project needs to address sustainability on the University of Utah's campus. If you are unsure about the definition of "sustainability" and do not know if your idea is sustainable or not, contact us for advice.
  • Any current U of U student, faculty or staff member can submit a project.
  • Students need to be involved with the project and have a faculty or staff advisor.
  • Projects that take place on campus take precedent over community-based projects.
  • Your project will be reviewed by the Allocations Committee before it is funded. Take a look at the Criteria to learn more about what topics you should consider for your project.
  • The minimum project budget is $1,000.
  • The average grant size of our approved projects is ~$7,000.
  • More information about the history of the program can be found in the bylaws.

Criteria

SCIFfunds projects that address the following topics. The committee uses this list (in order of importance) to determine which projects will receive funding.

Financial*

  • Does your project make or save money?
  • What is the expected return on investment?

*Financial savings are considered a benefit to the University and the SCIF program but they are not required. If your project does not have quantifiable monetary savings, you are still eligible to apply.

Environmental Benefit

Does your project help to:

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions? (GHG Metric ton equivalent)
  • Reduce campus energy consumption? (electrical, natural gas or diesel)
  • Conserve water? (cubic feet / acre feet conserved)
  • Lower sewage or storm water output?
  • Reduce hazardous, solid, liquid and gaseous waste?

Educational

  • Will your project enhance environmental literacy on campus?
  • Does your project increase the level of participation in conservation activities?
  • How many departments will collaborate with your project?

Visibility

  • Who can see your project on campus?
  • Does your project take place in one building or is it campus-wide?

Longevity

  • Will your project have a lasting impact on campus?
  • What is the long-term maintenance required for your project?

Student Involvement

  • Does your project involve students?
  • Are there students from different disciplines collaborating on your project?

Creativity/Innovative

  • Has your project been done before on campus, regionally or nationally?
  • Does your project use new technology?
  • Can it be replicated elsewhere?

Matching Funds

  • Is your project eligible for matching funds either through tax incentives or private donations?
  • If you are an undergraduate student interested in sustainability research, your research could potentially be funded by the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program.

Community Engagement

  • Does your project have potential to reach the non-campus community?
  • Is your project visible to community visitors on campus?
  • Are local businesses partnering with your project?
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How to Apply

SCIF application form

Sample Application Form

Rough Draft Application Deadline (mandatory): March 5, 2012

Final Application Deadline: March 26, 2012

1. Brainstorm Sustainable Ideas

The first step is coming up with an idea.

  • Do you see waste (e.g. water running, lights on, unnecessary paper use) on campus?
  • Would you like to test the efficiency of a new technology?
  • Are you currently working on or interested in social justice issues?
  • Is there anyway you could incorporate sustainability into your classes?

These are all things to think about when trying to come up with your project idea. Choose a project that you are passionate about and want to see implemented on campus.Applying to SCIF will give you an opportunity to gain real-world experience in any area of interest that you choose.

2. Start the Conversation

  • Talk with your friends and classmates about your project idea. They might be thinking about the same idea and it is a great opportunity to meet other students and work as a team.
  • Contact the SCIF Coordinator for project ideas.
  • Check out other University's programs similar to SCIF for more project ideas.
  • You can also become a fan on FACEBOOK to connect with other students interested in sustainability.

3. Begin Researching

The University of Utah is actively working towards making the campus more sustainable. It is a good idea to check out the Office of Sustainability, Facilities Management and College & Departments web pages to learn more about what projects are already taking place on campus.

If your idea has not already been implemented, you are ready to start researching your project.

Your project can deal with a wide-variety of sustainability issues. A few common topics in sustainability are listed below with helpful hints about how to start a project related to that topic.

4. Writing Your Proposal

Once you have researched the project you would like to propose you will take the following steps towards completing the application process:

  1. Find a project advisor. You will work with a faculty or staff member who is proficient in the field the project pertains to. The project advisor will help you with the application process and oversee the project once approved. The UROP Faculty Directory could help you determine which faculty member might be the right fit for you.
  2. Complete the SCIF application form here. Make sure to complete each section of the application. [Note for Mac Users: Once you click on the application form, save it to your computer. Then re-open it using Adobe and begin to fill in the fields. If you do not work in Adobe while filling out the form it will not submit properly.]
  3. For the first deadline, you do not have to have an exact budget completed. Do your best to estimate the cost of the project and you will have time to finalize your budget during step5.
  4. Submit the application electronically to the SCIF coordinator by 5pm March 5, 2012. You must submit the 2 page application form and may include additional documents with extra information (if needed).

Note: This is the mandatory Spring semester deadline. There will be another chance to apply during the Fall 2012 semester.

5. Finalizing Your Proposal

If your application is approved by the SCIF coordinator you will now begin the final application process. This involves:

  1. Completing the line-item budget form. (Excel worksheet)
  2. Receiving necessary approval from either the building or grounds manager.
  3. Determining the financial savings or environmental benefit of your project.
  4. Finalizing any matching funding.
  5. Re-submitting your proposal to the SCIF coordinator electronically by the final project deadline . Along with your proposal, you will submit the line-item budget form. If you have additional information (photos, product sheets, letters of recommendations) please include them in seperate documents.

6.Application Review

You will have the opportunity to present your project proposal to the Allocations Committee shortly after the final application deadline. After the committee listens to all of the project proposal presentations they will vote to determine which projects will receive funding.

7. Implementing Your Sustainable Project

Once your project has been approved, you will meet with the SCIF coordinator to discuss the timeline and finances of the project. After you meet with the coordinator you are free to start your project! You will work with your advisor to complete your project and begin making the campus more sustainable.

8. Completion

Congratulations! You have successfully completed your sustainable project on campus. We want to hear how your project turned out. You will fill out the Post-Project Report (Word document) telling us about your project successes and the lessons you learned throughout the SCIF process. Make sure to send us your before and after pictures of the project so we can display them on our website!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

1. What types of projects can SCIF support?
2. What if I have an idea but I don't have time to work on it?
3. If I want to do a project that relates to one of the following topics, how should I get started?
  • Lighting Efficiency
  • Solar Panels
  • Gardening, Composting, Waste
  • Behavior Change Campaign
4. What budget information do we need to include in our application?
5. Can I apply for funding for my time?
6. How do I fill in the signatures section of the application?

Answers

1. What types of projects can SCIF support?

You can apply for a wide-variety of projects such as an internship, class project, research assistants or pilot business.

2. What if I have an idea but I don't have time to work on it?

If you do not have time to commit to a project, contact us with your idea and we can come up with a plan to make the project happen or find other students interested in working on the project. Don't let your good ideas go to waste!

3. If I want to do a project that relates to one of the following topics, how should I get started?
4. What budget information do we need to include in our application?

The application form breaks down the budget into four sections:

  1. Materials and Equipment: the cost of any equipment that you will purchase for the project.
  2. Labor and services: the estimated cost of the labor required to install the equipment.
  3. Long-term cost: estimated long-term cost to maintain the project.
  4. In-kind contributions: donation of service or funding from outside entities.

For the first application deadline, you do not need a detailed line-item budget. You will turn in this (excel) line-item budget sheet for the final application deadline.

5. Can I apply for funding for my time?

In the past, the committee allocates funding to materials and supplies that have a direct environmental impact on campus. A few of the past projects have supported students for their time commitment to their sustainability initiative, depending on the project. We encourage students to look for matching funding for their time through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Association of Students at the University of Utah (ASUU), and through your College or Department.

6. How do I fill in the signatures section of the application?

You should fill in the appropriate names on the application in the signatures section. You will submit the form electronically and you do not need to scan a copy of the application. If you put someone's name on the application, we trust that you have be granted permission by that person.


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Project Ideas

Here are a few project ideas that would be great to implement here at the University of Utah.

  • Create a pollinator garden
  • Bring beehives to campus
  • Research feasibility of and/or install high efficiency urinals
  • Create signs for sustainable food choices at on-campus dining facilities
  • Continue the “Air Me Up” project
  • Bring solar umbrellas to campus to create renewable charging stations or study areas
  • Install electricity generating bikes in campus recreation areas
  • Launch an idle-free outreach campaign on campus
  • Provide “Smart Strips” for residence hall rooms
  • Write a sustainable cooking guide for your office or student group
  • Design and create an art display using recycled materials
  • Shoot a video about sustainability projects on campus
  • Research feasibility of and/or install Solar Hot Water Panels to heat the Hyper pool

There are many project ideas not listed here, so please be sure to share your idea with us if you do not see it on this page.

Approved Projects

Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 projects

2010-2011 Annual Report (PDF)

Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 projects

2009-2010 Annual Report (PDF)

Sustainability Events


Contact Info

Jen Colby

  • Sustainability Coordinator
  • office: 801-581-7505
  • Send email

Lucy Hansen

  • SCIF Coordinator
  • office: 801-581-7510
  • Send email

Ashley Patterson

  • Outreach & Education Coordinator
  • office: 801-581-7506
  • Send email

Myron Willson

Office of Sustainability

  • 801-585-9352

Office of Sustainability

  • SCIF Coordinator
  • office: 801-581-7510
 
Last Updated: 2/9/12