The Office of Sustainability created the Student Sustainability Fund in 2007. Each year students submit project proposals and compete for funding totaling $35,000 from UO’s general operating budget to implement their ideas.

The program has grown in popularity and student leaders and groups are training their focus on projects they believe contribute to a culture of sustainability at the UO. Proposals must engage with one of the following areas: sustainability education; green business models; community building; conservation, emissions, and waste reduction; sustainable transportation; and, renewable development.

As of November 2011, management of the Student Sustainability Fund was transferred from the Office of Sustainability to the newly created Student Sustainability Coalition. These projects not only continue to increase awareness and shrink the University’s environmental footprint, but serve as important learning experiences for future sustainability leaders. Below are just a few projects that have been funded by the student sustainability fund: