The Green Action Fund (GAF) general committee reviewed four project proposals focused on sustainability education, student engagement, research and community programming on March 16.
GAF is a student-run organization that funds projects aligned with its funding pillars: reduction of ecological footprint, increased student involvement, long-term feasibility, scope of impact on campus and education and outreach.
Sustainability Culture Assessment Advances and STARS
The UCCS Sustainability Culture Assessment is a campus-wide survey designed to measure sustainability awareness and engagement among students, faculty and staff.
Undergraduate student Daytona McCombe and Director of Sustainability Programming and UCCS Farm Polly Knutson presented the project, requesting $400 to fund Patagonia gift cards as raffle prizes for participants.
The survey is available through April, and gift card winners will be announced May 1.
Data from the surveys will be used to identify strengths, weaknesses and trends in sustainability on campus by inputting data points to the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS). Through STARS, UCCS can earn points to achieve a platinum sustainability rating.
Committee members discussed the importance of using survey results for future programming.
“Achieving platinum makes us more competitive in the eyes of federal grant funding,” GAF Grant Manager Jenna McCallum said.
Student sustainability fashion show
Fashion Club president JJ Nsubuga and Creative Director Dany Bondo presented the first-annual, student-led UCCS fashion show designed to address the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion.
“The overall theme of the fashion show is sustainability,” Nsubuga said. “It’s going to be second-hand clothing and reworked clothing to address the issue of clothing waste.”
The $2,200 funding request covers $650 for thrifted clothing, $1,500 for sustainably produced luxury pieces and $50 for other clothing materials. SGA and ROAR Days funding will provide an additional $1,956.53 for clothing, supplies and catering.
The event will cover classism, clothing insecurity and raise awareness for sustainable practices. Fashion Club plans to donate clothing items used in the event to local partners, including Clyde’s Closet and The Place, a program that offers resources and housing to homeless youth.
“Textile waste is one of the largest forms of waste…we’re trying to show that you can be fashionable without harming the environment,” Nsubga said.
The event will take place April 10 from 6–9 p.m. in Berger Hall.
Fungal Biodiversity Project
The Colorado Fungal Biodiversity Assessment Series proposal was presented by graduate student Christopher Vinci and non-UCCS affiliated external experts. It requested $25,000 in funding.
The first installment of this project plans to conduct a statewide assessment of rare fungal species through field collection, DNA sequencing and community science.
“This will be the state’s first and only biodiversity assessment of rare fungi of this nature and magnitude,” Vinci said.
The committee raised concerns about the funding request due to a large portion being allocated to non-UCCS related aspects of the proposal, including research expert compensation, boarding and travel.
Dots Days Community Festival
The Dots Days Community Festival was presented by Anthropology Chair Kimbra Smith. The eight-day festival will explore humanity’s relationship with nature through art, hikes, workshops and off-campus community events from Sept. 3-13.
Smith requested $28,000 to cover workshop materials, food, transportation and marketing to provide free access to participants.
According to Smith, fundraising efforts have raised $12,500 and she is seeking an additional $16,350 from external sources.
The committee discussed how the festival would bolster the partnership between UCCS and the Colorado Springs community because it’s free and open to the public, but raised concerns about accessibility, transportation and the project’s broad scope.
Additional Committee Business
- A discussion to modify the UCCS Beekeeping Program grant was tabled for the meeting on April 20.
February meeting review
GAF funded two proposals during their February meeting.
The UCCS Farm Resilience Fund requested $17,243.22 for employee wages and animal food to temporarily offset major staffing cuts due to a university budget gap. It was unanimously approved.
Campbell Curcio, an outreach specialist for GAF, requested $5,000 to fund the panelists, giveaways and videography at the Sustainable Speaker Series. The request was approved by the majority.
The Sustainable Speaker Series will take place on April 24 from noon-3:45 p.m. in Berger Hall.
Graphic via the Scribe archive.