McGill University
IN-3: Innovation 3

The Sustainable Projects Fund: 2010 ushered in a new era of co-operation between students and administration with the creation of a fund that finances sustainability projects across both University campuses. The SPF is worth some $800,000 per year over the three-year trial period that began in the winter semester of 2010, and is accessible to everyone in the McGill community. The student contribution consists of a 50-cent per credit “non-opt-outable” fee for the duration of the trial that is matched dollar-for-dollar by the University, and governed by a consensus-based parity committee with equal representation from both parties. Current projects range in size from the very small to the very ambitious. The very first project to receive SPF funding, the Apartment Gardens initiative, encourages members of the McGill community to grow their own food by balcony gardening simply by handing out free plants and information on urban agriculture. In contrast, one of the larger projects includes a sustainability audit of Thomson House. One of the interesting aspects of the project proposals is that virtually half have come from the University’s staff members – surprising considering that sustainability efforts at McGill have historically been largely student-driven. Source: McDevitt, Neale. "SPF celebrates a birthday, Catalyst Award winners announced." Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2011. McGill Reporter. http://publications.mcgill.ca/reporter/2011/04/spf-celebrates-a-birthday-catalyst-award-winners-announced/