What is the green fee? 

All full-time students pay a $10 Sustainable Campus Fee, commonly known as the Green Fee, each fall and spring semester. This fee was initiated by students and began in 2007. The purpose of the fee is to support projects and practices that make our campus more energy efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable.

In the spring of each year, the Sustainable Campus (Green) Fee Committee, with representation from students, faculty and administration, invites proposals for use of the fee. The committee then makes recommendations for funding, which must be approved by the president. The committee has also invited all students, faculty and staff to submit ideas on how the fee could be used to make our campus more sustainable. In 2010 approximately 70 members of the campus community submitted ideas, many of which are represented in funded projects.

For more information on the Green Fee, contact the Office of the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students, 901/678-2188.

Projects funded by the Sustainable Campus Fee (Green Fee) for 2011-12:

Green Internships – Undergraduate internships involving campus or community partners to enhance the student’s understanding of sustainability and to assist in the organization’s efforts to promote sustainability.

Tiger Blue Goes Green – Event open to all student, faculty and staff, promoting environmental initiatives.

TIGUrS Garden – Demonstration urban garden that demonstrates environmental and economic sustainability.

Campus Sustainability Initiative – Promotes living a sustainable lifestyle with ease through recycling and conservation techniques.

Recycling Zone Prototype – Educational recycling zone along DeSoto Street, north of Mynders Hall.

WUMR PSA’s – Public service announcements designed to promote environmental awareness. 

Adopt-A-Street – Program providing opportunity for students to develop a sense of civic responsibility by maintaining the grounds and recycling when possible in the surrounding community.

Green Campus Network Program – Student leadership program in energy efficiency to deploy energy efficiency solutions on campus.

Hybrid SUV – Accelerating switch from gas fleet to fleet that is sustainable.

Biomass Pelletizer – Machine that grinds, dries, and pelletizes campus generated biomass (e.g., grass clippings, wood chips, construction waste, etc.) that is currently sent to a landfill facility.

Power Pallet Biomass Gasifier – Converts biomass pellets into syngas to power an engine that drives a 20kW electric generator.

Chucalissa Project – Creation of a sustainable traditional medicinal plant sanctuary at the U of M Chucalissa Site.