Have a Green Idea? Apply for Funds to Make it Happen
Every member of the Rider community can contribute to making the University a more sustainable place, tapping into their special technical or academic skills, leadership ability, organizational aptitude, or passion for the earth’s future. To invite broader participation in sustainability efforts, the Energy and Sustainability Steering Committee has announced a grants program open to individuals, clubs, departments and operating units across the University.
Projects that may earn grants could involve environmental stewardship, food, energy conservation, recycling, transportation, new media, water conservation and waste minimization. Funds may be applied to equipment, supplies and printing, but not the cost of labor. Although projects are welcome from all units across the Lawrenceville and Princeton campuses, successful proposals must involve students in the planning an implementation. Connecting participants with the greater community is also welcome.
“The grant program is important because it offers the Rider community a chance to initiate a campus-wide sustainability effort that could make a real impact on our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Melissa Ross Greenberg, Rider’s sustainability coordination manager. “There are faculty, staff and students who have an interest in ‘green’ projects, and maybe have even thought about starting one, but didn’t have the funding for it. With this grant, they will not only have the funding, but they have the backing of our committee, which can then help with their effort and make sure it’s publicized.”
Sustainability involves meeting the needs of today’s society without compromising the needs of tomorrow’s world. It recognizes that human progress depends on healthy, functioning ecosystems and seeks to support the building of a just and fair society that operates in support of those interconnected frameworks.
“It’s a good time of year for this grant to be offered, as seniors are looking for projects to do and our hope is, they will elect to do something that has a positive effect on the environment,” said Greenberg.
One-time grants of up to $1,500 will be awarded, and preference will be given to projects that have funding from other sources as well, such as SGA, RHA or departmental budgets. Awardees will be required to submit receipts and documentation of expenses for the amount of the grant.
Applicants must submit a two- to five-page description of their project, along with photos and materials as appropriate, including contact information for the corresponding applicant, a timetable, a budget and a plan for measuring the impact of the project. Evidence of support or approval from affected units is also expected, in an appendix. Applicants may be invited for an interview with appropriate staff, and awardees will be expected to share their results or project outcomes with the campus community in some way. For example, projects may be featured on the Broncs Go Green Web site, News@RIDER, or other University publications.
Deadline for submissions is December 1, 2008, and applications in PDF format or questions about project suitability should be e-mailed to Melissa Ross Greenberg at mross@rider.edu. Please include “GRANT” in the subject line.
