Dean’s Fund for Sustainability Studies Application Process & Award Criteria

Introduction 

The Dean's Fund for Sustainability was established to support scholarly projects or activities that focus on sustainability. Awards from this fund can be used to offset a wide variety of costs including registration fees and travel expenses to attend conferences, professional meetings or competitions.

The dean's office will determine the amount of funds available at the beginning of the academic year and inform each department of their allocated amount; the CENV Western on the Peninsulas Programs will also be given an allocation. Awards will be made according to the following process:

Application Process

Each academic area has a unique application process:

Environmental Science (ESCI)

• Applications are submitted via an email request to Department Chair John Rybcyzk (rybczyj2@wwu.edu), CCing Department Manager Ridley Williams (willi488@wwu.edu), including:
  • Brief description of the project/activity and how it relates to the study of sustainability.
  • Brief statement of financial need or how the award will help leverage other funds
  • Name, phone number & email address of each potential recipient

Environmental Studies 

• The application is here

Urban and Environmental Planning & Policy

• The application is here

College of the Environment: Western on the Peninsulas Programs

• Applications are submitted via an email request to Program Manager Ansu John (johna4@wwu.edu), including:
  • Brief description of the project/activity and how it relates to the study of sustainability.
  • Brief statement of financial need or how the award will help leverage other funds
  • Name, phone number & email address of each potential recipient

Award Criteria

• Recipients must be College of the Environment students, staff, or faculty in good standing.
• Proposed projects must add substantial value to academic experience, scholarly research, or provide unique opportunities for professional development.
• Projects recommended for funding should represent a diverse range of activities and serve as a good representation of the variety of “sustainability studies” taking place within the department or college.
• Individuals may receive up to $500 per academic year.
• Groups may receive up to $1,000 per academic year.

Award Recipient Responsibilities

• Travelers must initiate Travel Authorization form which needs to be completed prior to departure.
• Award recipients must provide documentation of qualifying expenses prior to receiving reimbursement.
• Recipients are strongly encourage to provide pictures of projects and activities.
• Award recipients must make reasonable efforts to attend the annual luncheon with the fund donors to discuss their project, activity or experience.

Accessing and Managing Funds

• The Dean’s Fund for Sustainability Studies is a WWU Foundation account that is managed by the dean’s office.
• Each department will provide documentation of applications & awards to the College Scholarships Coordinator, Darrin Gordon (gordond8@wwu.edu)
• Departments will assist award recipients with expenditures and reimbursement, routing forms/actions 
  through the dean’s office for budget authority approval as necessary
• Each department is responsible for ensuring that awards made and expenditures initiated do not exceed the department's allocation for the year
• Receipts and backup documentation shall follow norms: Pcard receipts attached to PaymentNet, travel receipts attached in the travel system, other receipts attached to reimbursement esign form.