Vermont Campus Sustainability Network

For more infomation, please go to the Vermont Campus Compact website

Technical Assistance Calls for the RFP for 2010-2011 Full-Time AmeriCorps Members

All potential applicants are asked to respond on this doodle poll and indicate which session they will attend:

Sustainable Entrepreneurs – AmeriCorps Program

Vermont Campus Compact

in Partnership with Campus Compact of New Hampshire, Maine Campus Compact,

and Rhode Island Campus Compact

The Project Overview:

Our organizations are uniquely situated to bring the intensive, creative, fresh perspectives that flourish on college and university campuses into our communities to help solve real local problems. In our cities and towns, Sustainability Entrepreneurs (SEE) members can serve along side local residents already working towards environmentally sustainable solutions. Members will serve throughout our program region in a full or part-time capacity.

The goal of the SEE Corps is to harness the assets of higher education institutions to meet the environmental needs of communities and help in their efforts to become more sustainable. As articulated by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), higher education plays a vital role in ensuring that people have an understanding of the interdependencies between environmental, social, and economic forces and the skills and abilities to meet sustainability challenges. Sustainability is achieved when local and/or global environmental systems are “delightfully diverse, safe, healthy and just - with clean air, soil, water and power - economically, equitably, ecologically and elegantly enjoyed” according to William McDonough. This program is designed to support the growing interest among students in the environmental movement and further the work of environmental organizations in New England and beyond.  

These environmental challenges impact not only the quality of our natural surroundings, but the health of our people and the economic viability of our communities. SEE members’ activities may focus on developing a variety of initiatives and solutions related to energy and the environment that may have both immediate and longer term impact.

Full-time positions will be intensive 11/12-month* opportunities for members to become creative problem solvers. These SEE members will serve primarily in one cluster theme (e.g. food, transportation, energy) and establish new ways to address sustainably these long-standing issues. To tackle these issues, members will recruit volunteers, integrate into the community, and harness leadership skills to achieve real progress. Each of our states has a shared interest in making region-wide change. Full-time members will have the opportunity to learn from one another across state lines online and face to face. In addition, members will meet more regularly on a state level to deepen their local connections and understanding of local issues.

Part-time positions (former SERVE NNE program) will be framed for current college students who are passionate about serving and need an opportunity to get involved. These SEE members will approach their position in a similar fashion – as creative problem solvers. Their efforts will be more focused on smaller, but no less important projects to ensure these members can make an impact. Like their full-time counterparts, these part-time members will engage volunteers, get involved in the community, and learn leadership skills through the program that will increase their abilities to get results.

Sample SEE Member Activities include:

• create a local volunteer network for gleaning programs, procuring secondary locally grown produce for food shelves, etc and reducing food waste
• increase student involvement in campus waste reduction and recycling on campus
• research issues and barriers regarding local food systems production, procurement, distribution and cost in order to develop solutions
• coordinate efforts to research and develop a diversity of sustainable transportation solutions for the local county
• conduct campus and community energy audits and audit education/training
• work with local farmers, non-profits, and principals to promote local foods in schools
• convene campus dining services and facilities directors to identify common objectives regarding reducing energy and increasing local food use
• develop materials and convene local forums on carbon reduction and energy alternatives
• organize a community-based volunteer home weatherization project
• develop local incentive programs for consumers to purchase and install energy efficient home improvements
• develop campus or community gardens that engage volunteers and provide a platform for hands on education, service-learning, etc.
• coordinate and train students to participate in local environmental efforts where citizens gather to prioritize, plan and implement sustainability measures in their communities.
• networking across state lines to share ideas and best practices with peers

The Nitty-Gritty about the positions:

• full-time will have a cost-share associated with them ~ 5,000*
• full-time will run from September-July/August *
• full-time should have an intentional campus and local community connection
• both could train and coordinate groups of students performing direct service
• both can be a combination of ‘direct’ and ‘indirect’ service
• both require involved supervision and the dedicated time of the supervisor(s)

• both should have an intentional leadership and entrepreneurial component

Important Dates:

RFP will be released at the end of January

Full-Time Proposal Deadlines – mid-March

Part-Time Proposal Deadline – Tentatively mid-May*

FT Member Start Dates – TBD – Tentatively September*

How to Get Involved:

• spread the word – talk to community partners and other campus offices/departments
• contact Laura Rooney at 802-443-2511 or laurar@middlebury.edu

* Undetermined/tentative