Get Involved!

Interested in helping our university community become more sustainable? Want to gain experience in great initiatives happening on campus? We work with students, faculty and staff to integrate sustainability into the fabric of the institution!

#1 Join the Sustainability Listserv!

The sustainability listserv is THE BEST way to stay in the loop on happenings, resources, and opportunities to engage! Add yourself via the university listserv page or email [[sustain]] with a request to be included. Other important places to learn about opportunities are our social media and the open positions page.

Sustainability Interest Meeting Recording

Interested in learning more about how to get involved in and explore your interests in sustainability at William & Mary? Check out our YouTube recording to hear more about what sustainability at W&M means & looks like, what work and research opportunities exist, how you can get funding to explore your interests, and so much more!

What are some of the ways people are involved?

Volunteer

The Office of Sustainability includes initiatives for the campus community to volunteer, such as the student peer educator group, SUSTAIN! The office also houses the Committee on Sustainability, composed of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate student representatives and often has working groups. Students may also volunteer with one of the many student sustainability organizations on campus.

Sustainability Internships

There are multiple internships and job opportunities for students at W&M. From student staff in the Office of Sustainability to sustainability internships with Dining Services, get valuable experience while helping make this campus a more sustainable place!

Be an Innovator

Be an agent of change and lead your own initiative! Sometimes all it takes is someone willing to dedicate their time and energy into finding a better way of doing things to create a real impact. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to contact the Office of Sustainability for guidance and suggestions on how to get your idea off the ground at [[sustain]]!

Be an Advisor or Research Your Passions

Work directly with faculty/staff on sustainability research that can help move you and W&M towards a more sustainable future. Take advantage of the unique opportunities through the ENSP 490 Sustainability course to work with staff, as well as faculty, on sustainability projects for Environmental Science and Policy credit while taking monthly classes with the director of sustainability. If you are faculty or staff looking for student help with a sustainability project/research, or you are a student looking for a sustainability advisor, contact us at [[sustain]].

Get Funding

Some projects and research need a little (or a lot!) of funding, fortunately there are lots of options! Many student organizations receive yearly funding for dissemination and there are multiple grant opportunities both on and off campus.

The Green Fee accepts proposals from students, faculty and staff through the Committee on Sustainability every fall and spring semester. Projects must relate to sustainability through environmental, social, and/or economic factors and students are required to have a faculty or staff advisor. A select number of summer sustainability research projects are also funded to student/advisor pairs.

Want to attend a sustainability conference, webinar, or workshop? Student professional development funding is also available through the Green Fee at any time and student organizations, including the Student Assembly, are also good sources of funding.

The Green to Gold Fund, managed by the Office of Sustainability, is W&M’s first green revolving fund and provides money to offices and departments for large-scale sustainability initiatives that reduce W&M’s resource use or greenhouse gas emissions while also producing cost savings that can replenish the initial fund loan. Students are encouraged to work with faculty and staff to suggest changes and jointly apply for funding.

Not sure where to start? Email us at [[sustain]].