Your Campus. Your Fund. Your Say.

Sustainability Engagement & Enrichment Development (S.E.E.D.) Fund

UMass Lowell’s S.E.E.D. Fund provides funding for projects that promote environmental sustainability and positively impact and enhance the student experience at the university. In addition, the S.E.E.D. Fund has a specific goal of supporting implementation and concept development steps for Rist DifferenceMaker student teams. The S.E.E.D. Fund supports the sustainability goals outlined in UMass Lowell’s Strategic Plan and is supported by student sustainability fees administered through a student-majority committee.

The Application Portal for the UMass Lowell S.E.E.D. Fund is currently closed.

All UMass Lowell students, faculty and staff are eligible to apply for grants up to $10,000 for campus sustainability projects. Please be sure to review application details before applying and reach out to the Office of Sustainability with any questions.

Please note: Graduating seniors and graduate students are eligible and encouraged to submit applications with an undergraduate partner to oversee implementation in the fall.

Impact on Campus Sustainability Goals

  • Does project support the sustainability goals outlined in the Strategic Plan?
  • Is the project capable of reducing UMass Lowell’s greenhouse gas emissions?
  • Will the project increase UMass Lowell’s STARS score or assist to maintain the current score?

Feasibility

  • Is the project feasible given the application and project team?
  • Have all necessary steps been taken to ensure the successful completion of the project?
  • Have all required departments been contacted regarding the project?
  • Does the project have a clear timeline with SMART goals identified within the proposal?
  • What are the long-term and short-term impacts on facilities and maintenance staff?
  • How much additional work is required for other university departments?

Interdisciplinary or Cross-Departmental Interaction

  • Does the project focus on one narrow area or does it bring in a wide audience fostering cross-university collaboration?

Project Visibility

  • Will the project be visible by the UMass Lowell campus community?
  • Will the greater community be impacted by the project?
  • If the project is not visible, does it have attractive paybacks or rebates attached to it?

Longevity

  • Will the project have a long term impact on the campus and/or the community?
  • Is the project going to sustain itself after funding ends?
  • Would the project be likely to receive funding in the future in another reiteration?
  • Are there other partner organizations that will assist in the implementation of the project during and/or after funding?
  • Are there plans to secure additional grant funding from other sources in the future?

Sowing SEEDs Workshops: it is highly recommended that applicants connect with the Office of Sustainability to review project proposals and details prior to submission. Please email: sustainability@uml.edu to schedule a one-on-one meeting.

Application Submission Deadline
TBD

Selection Committee Review Period
TBD

Projects Awarded
TBD

When the application submission period closes, the S.E.E.D. Fund Committee reviews all applications. Applicants are notified if their projects are awarded following the committee selection period, and S.E.E.D. Fund project winners are announced.

The S.E.E.D. Fund Selection Committee reviews project proposals based on the criteria and guiding questions outlined below. All criteria and guiding questions serve to support committee discussion of projects. High scoring projects are not guaranteed funding.

The student majority committee meets regularly during the review period to evaluate S.E.E.D. Fund project applications.

Past Winners