UAF employees match student sustainability fee
December 16, 2014
Sixteen employees from the College of Rural and Community Development generously donated
funds to support sustainability efforts and match the student fee.
"The donation is much appreciated, and we hope it will be the start of a trend for
other staff and faculty on campus," said Ian Johnson, chairman of the Review of Infrastructure,
Sustainability and Energy Board chair and a graduate student in the Resilience and
Adaptation Program.
UAF students taking a minimum of three credits pay the $20 sustainability fee each
semester. These funds are matched by the university through the Chancellor Office
and total approximately $450,000 annually. The fund, voted into place by the UAF students
in 2009, is managed by the RISE Board and the Office of Sustainability.
Every semester, the Office of Sustainability spends up to $100,000 of these funds
on student projects that promote sustainability on campus. All projects are voted
on and selected by the student-based RISE Board. To date, over 84 student projects
have been funded by the fee in the areas of energy, transportation, waste reduction
and recycling, sustainable food systems, curriculum, social sustainability and water
use reduction. In addition to student sustainability projects, the fund supports several
programs, including recycling pickup, the Nanook Grown Market and the Green Bikes
program.
Anyone who would like to contribute to the goal of increasing sustainability on campus
can contribute to the Sustainability Fund. For more information, contact the Office
of Sustainability at 474-5070.