Date of Defense

4-21-2017

Date of Graduation

4-2017

Department

Environmental Studies

First Advisor

Laura Hastings

Second Advisor

Derek Kanwischer

Third Advisor

Darrell Junkins

Abstract

The Student Sustainability Grant program was created to give students valuable grant writing experience and to promote a culture of sustainability on Western Michigan University’s campus. Despite the enormous opportunity that this program provides, few students apply for the grants with their sustainable ideas. Even fewer students are able to fully complete the projects, research, and initiatives that receive funding. In order to help increase the number of grants that are fully implemented and to provide students interested in writing a grant with a useful resource, this guide was created. This ‘how-to manual’ provides an undergraduate student’s perspective on the process of applying for a grant along with the challenges, successes, and opportunities for growth in the steps leading up to the complete implementation of an new idea. The four core steps in the grant process are planning, budgeting, writing and implementing. Those fours steps are broken down into 26 individual milestones that must be reached in order to successfully complete a Student Sustainability Grant project. This first-hand account of the entire process, suggestions, and reflections on each step provide interested students with an example of how to complete a long-term project that will increase the sustainability of the campus and have a positive impact on the world.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

Presentation.pdf (1452 kB)
Defense Presentation

Arbor Day Flier.pdf (575 kB)
Arbor Day Flier

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