Last fall at the annual State of the College Address, Virginia Wesleyan President Billy Greer announced an environmental challenge grant for $2,500 to promote the implementation of environmental initiatives on campus.
The grant is just one piece of an overall campus sustainability initiative, designed to heighten awareness of environmental issues among Virginia Wesleyan's faculty, staff and students and to make Virginia Wesleyan a more environmentally-friendly place.
In the summer of 2005, the President's Environmental Issues Council was established to address environmental issues on campus and to promote conservation and environmental stewardship on campus. Greer assigned the President's Environmental Issues Council to be responsible for awarding the grant.
The $2,500 grant includes a $500 prize for the winning applicant(s) and $2,000 toward implementing the proposed "green" concept at Virginia Wesleyan. Proposals are requested by Friday, April 13. The President's Environmental Issues Council has plans to announce the winner on Earth Day 2007 (Friday, April 20).
Proposals can come from any member of the campus community (students, staff and/or faculty) and can also come from groups of people, with the prize money split among the members of the winning team.
"I think this is a great opportunity for students and faculty members to work together on a proposal to improve the environment," said Greer. "No idea is too large or too small."
Proposals should be submitted electronically to Maynard Schaus, chairman of the President's Environmental Issues Council, at mschaus@vwc.edu. Any questions about the grant can also be directed to Schaus.
Proposals should be no more than three pages in length, and must include the following:
- Name of the Applicant(s)
- Brief Project Description
- Implementation Plan
- Proposed Budget
- Environmental Benefits to the Campus
- Cost Savings to the Campus (if any)
- Potential Impact on the Campus Culture (if any)
- Types of Campus Involvement (students, staff, faculty, etc.)
The above criteria will be used by members of the selection committee to evaluate the proposals, so applicants would do well to at least consider all of the above issues. A good proposal can be implemented, would have clear environmental benefits, may provide a cost savings, and should engage or educate some or all of the campus community concerning environmental issues.