Benefits of Having a Green Fund at SRU

On the University Level

• Having a Green Fund will put Slippery Rock University at the same level as schools such as MIT, Harvard, Duke, and UC Berkeley. Slippery Rock University was named a “Best Northeastern College” by the Princeton Review, which shows SRU’s track record for success. Having a Green Fund will continue to set Slippery Rock University apart from other schools by demonstrating a real commitment to sustainability. President Smith stated,
  

  It is always exciting to our faculty, students, staff and alumni to have our name included with some of the biggest and best universities in the region.

  By implementing a Green Fund on campus, SRU will be able to have its name included with some of the most prominent schools in the nation as a frontrunner in the fight for a healthier earth.

• Slippery Rock will be the first Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education school to implement such a fund. By doing so, SRU will become an example to its neighbors on how to take their commitment to a cleaner environment seriously. SRU will be a model school for positive environmental change.
• As far as costs go, implementing The Green Fund will raise approximately $80,000 a year. This money will go into the same bank account as all student fees to be redistributed to the university. The $80,000 will then be set aside for The Green Fund, but the university itself will be benefiting from the interest gained on the $80,000.
• Improvements that can be made by The Green Fund will play a large part in cutting down the current energy and water costs on campus, resulting in monetary savings to the university.
• Having such a fund in place will generate excellent PR, and will inspire and attract students who have an interest in a clean campus.

On the Student Level

• Students will have the knowledge that they are contributing to a healthier, more sustainable campus and can be proud of their schools efforts to make a positive impact.
• Students will benefit directly from projects funded by this initiative, whether it is through educational programs sponsored by The Green Fund, or through direct involvement in research and implementation of projects.
• Projects developed by The Green Fund will allow different groups, organizations, committees and even individuals to work together, helping to build the strength of the Slippery Rock University Community.
• Student involvement in Green Fund projects will provide a unique experience to individuals, broadening their understanding of environmental issues, as well as giving the students excellent career-oriented resume builders.

On the Logical Level

• To quote Steven Doherty,
  

  Campus greening initiatives [like The Green Fund] are clever, cost effective means to provide participatory and experiential learning opportunities across the campus community.