• Staffing and Internships
• The Office of Sustainability has hired two students in the position of Sustainability Program Manager.
• Keenan Powell is pursuing a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Sustainability. He served as the Speaker of the Senate and Senator for Sustainability for Student Government. He currently serves as the Outreach Coordinator on the Green Action Fund Committee.
• Kyle Cabs is pursuing a dual major in Biology and Communication. He is on the UCCS Men's Basketball Team and has experience working in student apartments.
• The Office also is supporting several student interns.
• Hayden Strait is pursuing a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies and a Sustainability Minor. As part of his Sustainability Capstone Course, Hayden is working on evaluating and recommending improvements to our compost program.
• Ryan Osborne is pursuing a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies and a minor in Sustainability. As the Transportation Sustainability Intern, he is working on transportation-related grants, improving the bike website, and collecting data for STARS.
• Travis Pochipinski is pursuing a B.A. in Geography and Environmental Studies. He is the WastelessCOS intern for UCCS and the City of Colorado Springs. Travis will be working with the City on a city-wide waste characterization study. He will also be working on improving our waste minimization and diversion efforts on campus.
• STARS Assessment
• We are conducting a comprehensive sustainability assessment this fall and spring. We will be assessing sustainability efforts in the following areas: academics, engagement, operations, innovation, and planning and administration. To learn about the assessment tool and our past performance, visit https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/university-of-colorado-at-colorado-springs-co/report/. Update: We are working on survey tools, identifying data collectors, and providing training on STARS. If you have data to contribute or would like to support this effort, email us at sustain@uccs.edu.
• Sustainability Culture Survey
• This survey will assess students, faculty, and staff's sustainability values, beliefs, and behaviors. We will use the information to track our collective efforts to foster a culture of sustainability at UCCS. Update: We plan on collecting responses to this survey this month. Please help us encourage others to participate in the survey.
• Transportation Survey
• We are working with Parking and Transportation Services and representatives from CU Boulder and CSU Fort Collins on developing a transportation survey that assesses our campus community's commuting behaviors, support for alternative transportation modes, and feedback on related services. Update: We are meeting with CU Boulder and Colorado State University Fort Collins to discuss what common data we want to collect across our campuses.
• Sustainability Demonstration House Tours
• The Office of Sustainability is located in the Sustainability Demonstration House at 12 Cragmor Village Road near The Lookout at Cragmor Apartments. The house features sustainability products and practices that students, faculty, and staff can consider for their current and future homes. Please take a look at the event section below to sign up for a tour of the house.
• UCCS Sustainability Minor
• Explore the interconnections between the environment, economy, and equity. Earn a credential that could give you a competitive advantage when applying for jobs. Receive course credit towards both your minor and major. Be sure to meet with an academic advisor before pursuing this minor. For more information, visit: https://sustainabilityminor.uccs.edu/requirements.

Green Action Fund (GAF)

The Green Action Fund provides funding for students, faculty, and staff sustainability projects. The organization is supported by a fee of $5.67 per student per semester. GAF is managed by students and advised by a staff and faculty representative. The GAF Committee evaluates and awards funding based on these five pillars: Reduction of Ecological Footprint, Increased Student Involvement, Education and Outreach, Long-term feasibility, and Scope of Impact. Over the past ten years, GAF has awarded $1.4 million to over 170 infrastructure, research, and engagement projects.

Monthly Update:

• The GAF Committee is voting on the Green Action Fee ballot language for the Student Government Elections in the spring. Due to the increase in the inflation rate for this year, the Committee was given an extension to vote on the language that included this increase. GAF will also be working with the Student Government on a bill to place the referendum on the ballot this month.
• GAF is onboarding and training a new Green Action Fund Coordinator. We will share more details about them at our general meeting later this month.
• GAF recently updated its bylaws. The Committee is also working with project coordinators to close out projects that have been on hold since the pandemic.
• GAF is looking into aligning its policies with the Committee on Research on Creative Works (CRCW).

Here are four ways to engage with us:

• Learn more about the Green Action Fund.
• Follow us on Instagram.
• Join us on Mountain Lion Connect.
• Visit our website.
• Attend a Green Action Fund General Meeting. The meetings are scheduled on the third Wednesday of the month from 8-10 a.m. at the Sustainability Demonstration House or on Teams. See the Events and Activities section below for more information.
• Join the Green Action Fund Outreach Subcommittee. The Outreach Subcommittee's purpose is to promote awareness about 170+ GAF sustainability projects through tabling, events, and digital media. Please reach out to Keenan Powell to learn more about this Subcommittee.
• Propose a Sustainability Project. The GAF Committee decided to pause voting on new projects this semester to allow time to focus on recruiting members, obtain updates from active projects, and prepare for the Student Government Elections next spring. We are still accepting proposals to consider during the spring semester. You can send your proposals to our Grant Coordinator, Kayla Williams.

November Events And Activities

• President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge
• Have an innovative, sustainable idea? The CU Office of the President and UCCS Office of Sustainability challenges you to create the best proposal! Topics to address: Environmental Sustainability, Resource Efficiency, Social Justice. Prizes: 1st Place - $1,000, 2nd Place - $750, 3rd Place - $500
• Interested? Complete this Interest Form.
• Workshop: Fri, Nov. 10 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Sustainability Demonstration House (12 Cragmor Village Rd.)
• RSVP: https://mlc.uccs.edu/event/9572271
• Submissions Due: Mon, Nov. 27 at 5:00 p.m. via email to sustain@uccs.edu
• Pitch Night: Fri, Dec. 1, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Dwire Hall Room 121
• RSVP: https://mlc.uccs.edu/event/9572343
• For info, visit https://sustain.uccs.edu/pssc
• Green Action Fund Committee General Meeting, Wednesday, November 15, 8 to 10 a.m., Sustainability Demonstration House and Microsoft Teams
• Join students as they decide what sustainability projects receive funding and how to increase awareness about the impact of these projects and opportunities for students to propose projects. To obtain the Microsoft Teams link, RSVP here: https://mlc.uccs.edu/event/9345051.
• Sustainability Demonstration House Tour, Thursday, November 16, from 2 to 3 p.m., 12 Cragmor Village Road (near The Lookout at Cragmor Apartments)
• See all the sustainability products and practices featured at the UCCS' Sustainability Demonstration House. For example, learn about our solar energy, rubber shingles, and water-wise garden. RSVP by emailing sustain@uccs.edu.

November Sustainability in Progress Speaker Series: Have Yourself a Low-Impact Holiday

• Who: All who are interested. Please help us spread the word.
• What: The holidays are coming, and that means shopping, gifts, and food. Do you approach the holidays mindful of the environmental impact of all these activities? Join us as we explore sustainable options for this holiday season. Konrad Schlarbaum, sustainability director for the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, shares low-impact practices for gifts, food, decorations, and transportation. 
• When: Wednesday, November 15, from 12:00 - 1:00 PM
• Where: Online. Register here to get the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcOmrrDMrEtZBzZZV8PidYa7ZH0tN7_EF#/registration
• Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/2WhYg5SNX.
• A recording of the presentation will be available a couple of weeks after the event on Studio 809 Podcasts Peak Environment.

Liquid Lecture

• What: A monthly Brewshed Alliance lecture series, open to the community, with a focus on watershed health, education, and engagement.
• Topic: "Thinking (W)holistically about Water Management” with Chris Mikolajczyk, Senior Aquatics Manager with Princeton Hydro
• When: Wednesday, November 15, from 6:00 - 7:00 pm
• Where: Voodoo Brewing Co.
• RSVP to fcwdaa@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://fb.me/e/3YAffqvrW
• More Information: https://www.fountain-crk.org/liquid-lecture-series
• Hosted by the Fountain Creek Watershed District

Concrete Couch

• Who: Concrete Couch is a non-profit organization founded in 1990 with a mission to “work with kids and community groups to create public art, to build community, and to create environments and experiences that humanize our world.
• What: Concrete Couch offers fun, free, and fabulous programs for all ages throughout the month. Here is a list of their programs: Citizen Science, Tuesday Trails, Jam Band, Tree Care Program, Bike Program, Fab Lab, Grab Bag, and 2nd Saturday Sustainability Skill Share.
• When: Programs are offered throughout the month.
• Where: Concrete Coyote, 1100 South Royer Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
• For more information, visit http://www.concretecouch.org/.