Student Sustainability Council Frequently Asked Questions

Proposal Deadlines

Proposals are due one week prior to an SSC meeting. The Council meets an average of seven times per semester, giving you plenty of opportunities to apply.

View the full meeting schedule and deadlines.

Eligible Projects

Projects must relate to one or more of the three pillars of sustainability: environmental stewardship, economic vitality, and social inclusion. Student impact is a high priority, so be sure to highlight how your project will engage or benefit students.

See examples of past projects.

Who Can Apply?

Any member of the UK community — students, faculty, or staff — can submit a project proposal. Projects with strong student involvement are highly encouraged.

Funding Amounts & Guidelines

SSC has funded projects ranging from $300 to $50,000. While there is no strict limit, larger funding requests should demonstrate additional support from other funding sources.

• The SSC cannot retroactively fund purchases — all requests must be for future expenses.
• Repeat projects may have additional requirements.
• Approved projects require a final report upon project completion.

View full funding requirements.

Steps to Apply

1. Submit a proposal that outlines your project's overview, timeline, and itemized budget.
2. Present your project at the next SSC meeting (10-minute presentation followed by 5-minute Q&A).
3. The Council will deliberate and vote on funding.
4. You will be notified of your funding status within 48 hours of your presentation.

If you have additional questions or would like to discuss more, please reach out to the SSC directors studentsustainabilitycouncil@uky.edu.  

1. When is a project proposal due?

2. What projects can be funded by the SSC? 

3. Who can apply for funding? 

4. What are the steps to securing funding? 

5. Are there any funding requirements?

6. Is there a minimum or maximum funding amount?

7. What are the Council's top priorities? 

8. What are examples of previously funded projects?

1. When is a project proposal due?

Project proposals are due one week prior to an SSC meeting. The SSC meets an average of 7 times per semester, so there are plenty of opportunities to apply for funding. For a full schedule of meeting dates and proposal deadlines, see here. 

2. What projects can be funded by the SSC? 

Projects related to sustainability can be funded by the SSC. Projects must related to the three pillars of sustainability (environmental stewardship, economic vitality, and social inclusion), though each pillar does not need to be addressed equally. Additionally, student impact is a high priority for the SSC, so be sure to articulate the student impact/involvement in your proposal and presentation. 

3. Who can apply for funding? 

Any member of the UK community can submit a project proposal for funding. We encourage students, faculty, and staff alike to apply! The SSC places a high value on student engagement, so be sure that this is an integral part of your project. 

4. What are the steps to securing funding? 

Project leaders must submit a proposal that gives an overview of the project, timeline, and itemized budget. They will then attend the next SSC meeting where they will have 10 minutes to present followed by a 5-minute Q&A session from the Council. The Council will then have a closed-door discussion and vote on whether or not to allocate funds to the proposed project. The project leaders will be notified of their funding status within 48 hours of their presentation. 

5. Are there any funding requirements?

The SSC cannot retroactively fund anything, so be sure the proposal only requests funds for purchases yet to be made. Additionally, there are funding requirements based on the dollar amount and if it is a repeat project. For full language on these requirements, please see here. 

6. Is there a minimum or maximum funding amount?

The SSC allocates the Environmental Stewardship Fee, a $4.00 fee that all UK students pay each semester which generates about $200,000 per year to be allocated for campus sustainability projects. We have funded projects ranging from $300-$50,000. However, the more a project costs, the more emphasis the Council will put on contributing funds from other sources. 

7. What are the Council's top priorities? 

Because the SSC is funded by the student Environmental Stewardship Fee, they place a high value on student impact. Additionally, projects that occur on campus or ones that will bring knowledge back to campus are highly valued. 

8. What are examples of previously funded projects? 

Funds have been awarded to student organizations for startup costs, events, or attending conferences. Additionally, funds have been awarded for student research positions, student employment positions, and internships. Funds have also been used to improve campus infrastructure and programs. For a full list of funded projects, see here.