In 2025, The Sustainable Campus Fund (SCF) awarded over $250,000 for student-led projects that will reduce waste, expand sustainable transportation, support basic needs, and enhance the campus landscape. The SCF invests in projects that advance the University’s sustainability goals through hands-on learning and real-world impact.
The twelve funded projects include:
Soft Landing Garden: Installation of a native garden at the base of a prominent oak tree designed to create insect habitat and support birds to increase biodiversity and model sustainable landscape practices in a high-traffic area.
Next System Teach-In: A multi-day student organized teach-in with workshops, skill-building sessions, and community dialogues empowering participants to explore and advance more democratic, sustainable, and just systems.
Bottle Filler Fountain Increase: Installation of new and upgraded water bottle filling stations in student-identified priority residence halls.
E-Bike & Micromobility Planning: Development of a campus plan to identify safe storage and charging solutions to reduce fire risk, improve policy compliance, and support the continued growth of sustainable transportation options.
Catamount Sustainability Initiative: A yearlong program featuring workshops and networking events with faculty and industry leaders meant to strengthen sustainability literacy across majors, provide hands-on experience solving real-world challenges, and connect students to sustainability-focused careers.
Hackathon Meets RCC: Design and implementation of a custom inventory tracking system for Rally Cat’s Cupboard to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and allow the Cupboard to focus more on outreach and supporting thier clients.
E-Bike Charging for a Better Campus: Installation of covered electrified and traditional bike racks to upgrade parking optoins on Redstone campus, expand safe charging access and support year-round sustainable transportation.
Rideshare Board Website: Design and launch an improved rideshare board to increase student carpooling, reduce single-occupancy vehicle use, and make transportation more affordable and convenient for students.
Move-Out to Move-In: Collection of gently used dorm essentials during move-out and redistribution of them to incoming students in the fall to reduce landfill waste while prioritizing support for students with the greatest need.
Food Scrap Pick-up Pilot: Pilot food scrap pick-up service to evaluate use of a third-party composting hauler as a cost-effective option for an off-campus facility.
Sneaker Recycling Program: Collection boxes across campus to gather donated sneakers that will be redistributed or responsibly recycled, reducing waste while supporting individuals in need.
Campus Reforestation: Planting of >150 trees and shrubs across campus, replacing removed trees and enhancing the campus landscape, improving climate resilience and stormwater management, and increasing biodiversity.
Since its inception in 2008, the Sustainable Campus Fund has provided over $2 million in funding to catalyze sustainability initiatives on campus.
Together, the projects funded in 2025 demonstrate the creativity, leadership, and commitment of UVM students to advancing sustainability across campus. From expanding sustainable transportation and supporting food security to enhancing biodiversity and building community, the Sustainable Campus Fund continues to empower students to turn ideas into action.
Students, faculty, and staff with innovative sustainability ideas are encouraged to apply for Spring funding by March 13. Visit the Sustainable Campus Fund website to learn more.