Each month we provide information on different opportunities students have to get involved on campus and in the community. These opportunities range from simple on-campus clubs and organizations to immersion trips throughout the country, or even world, over breaks. Since Sustainability is such a broad topic, we try to provide a large selection of options for Missouri State students. For this installment of Get Involved, we are focusing on the Student Sustainability Fund, and some organizations associated with it. Please read on to see if these are of interest to you.
The Student Sustainability Fund
This is a fund that is to be used by students for students. The purpose of the Sustainability Fund is to provide the means to implement student-initiated projects on the Missouri State University campus that focus on the initiatives that lessen the negative environmental impact of the University. There’s about $150,000 a year available to students to use for projects regarding sustainability at MSU. In 2009, students voted to implement a $2 per semester fee to go towards sustainability initiatives on campus.
Anyone can write proposals for the fund
Even if you’re not part of one of the two organizations that work with the fund, that doesn’t mean you can’t get involved with it! The only requirement for submitting a proposal to use the fund is that you are a student. If you feel passionate about a certain aspect of campus and want to make it better, let us know! Just make sure you include some basic research of the whats, whens, and hows of what you want to do. If you have questions, you can talk to members of the Sustainability Commission, other students, and faculty. Make sure you’re ready to present, explain, and defend your proposal! Show us how much you care!
Approved proposals
Here are a few student-initiated proposals that have gotten approved. No idea is too big!
Bike Maintenance Stations
There are four bike maintenance stations located on campus. Now students, staff, and faculty on the Missouri State campus can fix and maintain their bicycles. These stations are located in front of Garst, near Foster Recreation Center, Kemper Hall, and Strong Hall.
Glass Recycling in Residence Halls
In 2014, students started a project to get 60 recycling bins in Freudenberger House, Blair-Shannon House, Wells House, Woods House, and Monroe Apartments. Unfortunately, glass is not accepted in the commingled bins you can find outside and in academic buildings. But bins in these residence halls allow glass recycling on campus to be possible!
Hydration Stations
There are over 60 hydration stations on campus. Choosing to refill a water bottle instead of buying a disposable one is much more environmentally friendly. As of the summer of 2017, the hydration stations on campus had saved over 2.7 MILLION bottles from being used and going to the landfill!
Here’s a list of all approved proposals!
Organizations Associated With the Sustainability Fund
Are you passionate about sustainability? Do you want to be part of the Student Government Association? Well, the SGA Sustainability Committee or SGA Sustainability Commission may be the organization for you!
The SGA Sustainability Committee
This organization is part of the Legislative Branch of the Student Government Association. Members of this Committee address the promotion and advancement of sustainable practices and behaviors on the Missouri State University campus.
This includes researching proposals to submit to the Sustainability Commission as well as proposing university policies that uphold the commitment to sustainability.
Does this organization sound interesting to you? Apply to become a Senator using the link here!
The SGA Sustainability Commission
This organization is what administers the Sustainability Fund. They have the authority to reject projects that are environmentally harmful or that primarily benefit a restricted academic department or group of students. As stated above, the SGA Sustainability Committee as well as other Missouri State Students submit proposals to the Commission. Don’t be afraid of this organization, though! The process of forming ideas and submitting them as proposals is intended to be a valuable learning experience for students as well as a great way to get involved!!