GET INVOLVED WITH STUDENT SUSTAINABILITY! Open House September 6!
September 6, 2023 10:31 AM

Hello from the students of the Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)!

Did you know that all University of Illinois students pay $18 a semester to support campus sustainability?

Since 2008, we've dedicated $15.24 million toward funding 373 projects that have decreased the campus’s environmental impact, cultivated a culture of sustainability, and advanced Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) objectives. We are a group of students made possible by students.

The SSC uses the Illinois Green Fund to finance student-, staff-, and faculty-led sustainability projects like Eco-Illini, Solar Decathlon, Red Oak Rain Garden, the Illini Union’s recycling bins, CIF’s geothermal system, Solar Farm, and many more to come! 

Thanks to the support of students and the Board of Trustees, a $4 increase to our student fees was approved for this semester! The Illinois Green Fund will increase by nearly 30 percent this semester! This great accomplishment will allow SSC to fund even more sustainable projects annually, continue to build community and campus engagement, and advance iCAP objectives. We thank you – students, staff, and faculty – for your support! Without you, our work would not be possible!

We are currently looking for general members to join our team! General members can attend Working Groups, evaluate project applications, develop communications content, and contribute to SSC programming. If you are a student passionate about sustainability, we encourage you to come to our Open House Wednesday September 6 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Campus Instructional Facility Room 2039 to find out more ways you can get involved.

Recent Accomplishments

Some of the initiatives that we had the privilege of working with and funding in the previous year include: 

• A Green Wall in the South Atrium at the College of Education
• The Women’s Resource Center’s 2023 Ecofeminism Summit 
• An Indigenous Garden within the Southern Arboretum Woodlands
• Geothermal for the new Gies Building “Wymer Hall” on the South Quad
• Restoration of the Lincoln Avenue Residence Hall’s Native Plant Gardens

To see all our previous projects, visit our project map.

How can I get involved with the Student Sustainability Committee?

• Attend the SSC open house on Wednesday, September 6, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Campus Instructional Facility, Room 2039 to learn more about the SSC and opportunities to get involved this semester. There will be snacks and activities to see what it is like to be a general member on the Student Sustainability Committee. ALL students are welcome!
• Apply for funding. The SSC is here to help you make your sustainable idea a reality! For projects over $10,000, the Step 1 project deadline is Wednesday, October 4.  Student-led projects under $10,000 are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more about applying for funding. 
• Attend our events, like our bi-weekly working groups on different sustainability topics and educational events related to sustainability. Check our calendar for upcoming events.
• Submit your sustainable idea to the Reimagine Our Future Competition
  • Guided by the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, how will you reimagine our future? The Student Sustainability Committee is proud to co-sponsor the third annual Reimagine our Future Competition. Undergraduates are encouraged to register by October 9 for this competition to work alone or in teams to address a sustainability problem at a local, regional, national, or international level. There is a cash prize for the winning team of $2,000, as well as cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd place.
• Connected with the SSC! Follow us on social media and join our mailing list to get the latest info on all things SSC!

We look forward to seeing new and familiar faces at our Open House on September 6!

The SSC Communications Team
Vice Chair of Communications: Tori Lawlor
Communications Project Leads: Mayank Aggarwal, Ellen Cha, Charles Okoli