View this email online.

The Sustainability Fund is a student-led initiative that aims to reduce UIC’s environmental impact. It supports UIC’s five climate commitments: to become a carbon neutral, zero waste, net zero water, biodiverse and transformative scholarship university. The fund is supported by a fee assessed on tuition each semester.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to submit proposals for sustainability-oriented projects supported by the Sustainability Fund. Funding proposals must align with the goals of the UIC Climate Commitments, involve substantial student involvement or leadership and reflect the solutions of the university’s Climate Commitment Action Plan 2024 (CCAP 2024).

Proposals for less than $5,000 are considered on a rolling basis and can be submitted at any time by completing an application form. Project proposals over $5,000 will be required to submit an initial letter of inquiry. To submit a letter of inquiry, please complete an application form by Friday, March 7.

After reviewing the letters, the Sustainability Fund Advisory Board will invite applicants to submit final proposals by Friday, April 4. Please email sustainability@uic.edu if you’d like to discuss a specific proposal before submitting a letter of inquiry.

This April, Planning, Sustainability and Project Management (PSPM) will organize and support a variety of events to celebrate Earth Month at UIC. All UIC departments, organizations and community members are invited to participate.

Groups planning sustainability-related events or activities during Earth Month should email sustainability@uic.edu to be included in PSPM’s Earth Month calendar, which will be posted online in late March.

Earth Month provides a great opportunity to showcase campus commitments to sustainability and broaden campuswide engagement in sustainable activities. Join us in making Earth Month 2025 impactful and inspiring!

The Chancellor's Committee for Sustainability and Energy (CCSE) held its 2025 kickoff meeting on February 10. Committee members reviewed the key next steps in CCAP 2024 and aligned teams with the university’s five climate commitments.

The new CCSE co-chair, Stacey Swearingen White, dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, was also announced. She succeeds Dr. Tom Theiss, who served as co-chair for many years and was instrumental in ensuring continuity during leadership changes. Welcome, Dean White!

To promote CCAP 2024 and the university’s climate commitments, posters were placed on eight Bigbelly containers around the Quad and adjacent to Student Center East.

To learn more about each of these initiatives and see what you can personally do to make the university more sustainable, visit the sustainability home page.

Loyola University Chicago’s School of Environmental Sustainability is hosting a Climate Change Conference March 12-15 at its Lake Shore Campus. Shifting Waters: Water Security and the Emerging Water Crisis will feature speakers who will discuss how people are working to protect water resources on global, regional, and local levels, including the Great Lakes.

The conference will also provide opportunities for participants to become part of the solution and positively impact both people and the planet. The registration fee is $15, but to ensure the cost does not deter anyone from participating, students and educators can get 66% off by entering the discount code “StudentClimate25” at checkout. UIC students who would like to attend but are concerned about the cost should email sustainability@uic.edu.

For more information and to register, please visit the Loyola University Chicago Climate Change Conference website.

Fresh Supply is a non-profit participatory learning organization that began in science classrooms on the west side of Chicago. It addresses critical issues like environmental justice, community safety and bridging the digital divide and UIC PhD student Jasmine Jones serves as the organization’s executive director.

Its flagship program, The Summer Program, was officially recognized as the City of Chicago’s first SMS (text messaging) community hotline. It gives local youth opportunities to engage in community organizing and engage in innovative technology that meets community needs.  To learn more about Fresh Supply's initiatives, visit freshonlyplease.com.

Join the Illinois Stewardship Alliance in celebrating Illinois Soil Health Week from March 3-9. This annual event features a variety of in-person and virtual activities, including farm tours, climate discussions and expert presentations, all aimed at educating and engaging the community on the importance of healthy soil.

For more information about Soil Health Week, please visit the Illinois Stewardship Alliance website.

Regenstein Pacific Conservation Internship - Field Museum

Urban Sustainability Assistant Professor - University of North Carolina Greensboro

Assistant Teaching Professor, Forest and Natural Resource Management - Northern Arizona University

Connect with us via Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to stay updated about sustainability-related events, news, jobs and involvement opportunities.

Become an EcoVolunteer
EcoVolunteers help eventgoers properly sort waste, set up and run annual events like the Great Stuff Exchange, talk about UIC’s sustainable initiatives and spread the good word at campus events. EcoVolunteers also help plant trees and native plants on campus.

More information can be found on the EcoVolunteer web page.

Join EcoReps
EcoReps act as liaisons between their unit/department and Planning, Sustainability and Project Management. Group members attend webinars throughout the year to learn about sustainability issues and how to make their office space and culture more sustainable. They also share information with their organizations about upcoming sustainability events such as the Great Stuff Exchange, Campus Electronic Recycling Events and Earth Day.

You can find out more on the EcoReps web page.

The Chancellor's Committee on Sustainability and Energy (CCSE) focuses on implementing CCAP 2024 and achieving the UIC Climate Commitments.

Join a subcommittee!