The Earth Commons and the Office of Sustainability are announcing the Green Commons Awards to support actionable proposals that spark campus dialogue or spur change(s) on campus on environmental and sustainability issues. These proposals can vary vastly in their creative design; from performances, visiting researchers, speakers, waste reduction or reuse projects, and more. Innovation is encouraged in your proposal design as you seek to realize the Values Statement.

Values Statement. The Green Commons Awards are intended for proposals that support community discourse and action on environmental and sustainability issues. Proposals should celebrate the Earth and encourage diverse perspectives and community engagement with environmental issues, while preparing our broader community and future generations to “care for our Common Home”. These awards are intended to support Georgetown University as an institutional signatory of the Laudato Si’ action plan, which calls us toward sustainability in the spirit of integral ecology.

Application requirements. Proposed projects must be grounded in principles of the above Values Statement. All current Georgetown faculty, staff, and students are eligible to apply. Proposals will be evaluated in multiple rounds: early fall, late fall, early spring, mid-spring, and mid-summer. For projects led by students, the student lead(s) must be enrolled full-time for the duration of the project and must identify an appropriate faculty or staff member to serve as an advisor to the project. Student groups seeking to submit applications will need to seek prior approval from the Center for Student Engagement for the project and budget, per student organization policies. The next round of applications are due EOD January 17, 2025.

Budgetary Requirements. Awards are available in amounts up to $5,000. A description of the budget allocation is required for all applicants. Awards cannot provide support for salary and stipend-related expenses (e.g., tabling, hourly wages, etc.), office facilities or office operating budgets (e.g., printer paper, lightbulbs, etc.). Expenses will be allowable only if in compliance with University COVID-19 protocols as well as University procurement rules on travel and other business expenses when they are incurred.

Post-Acceptance Reporting Criteria. Applicants who receive the Green Commons Awards will deliver semi-regular reports, with a final report due thirty days after project end-date. Reports will include: 1) photos, with your permission for the University to share them; 2) a brief one-page report containing a short executive summary, a summary of engagement as part of project, and a description the project outcomes and how these outcomes aligned with values statement; 3) financial records (e.g., receipts).

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