University of Montana
IN-40: Sustainability Projects Fund

The Kless Sustainability Fund is a student-initiated, student-funded loan program that supports energy, resource conservation, and sustainability projects on the University of Montana campus. Each semester since Fall 2009, UM students have supported the Kless Sustainability Fund with the $6/student/semester sustainability fee. In spring 2024, students voted in support of increasing the fee, bringing it to $9/student/semester starting fall 2024. The purpose of the Kless Fund is to finance projects that promote resource conservation, waste reduction, and environmental projects at UM, as well as capture financial and energy savings and foster student involvement in sustainability efforts.

The Kless Sustainability Fund has two deadlines, one per spring and fall semester. A first draft of the proposal is due at each semester deadline and is reviewed by the Kless committee. The committee shares comments and recommendations/edits with the proposal authors and gives them two weeks to submit a final proposal. The Kless committee is made up of: five students, two of which must be ASUM Senators, one representative from Facilities Services, one faculty member from Environmental Studies, one faculty member from Missoula College (UM's two year technical college), and several advisory members. Advisory members include: the Sustainability Engagement Coordinator, a representative from the office of the Vice President of Administration and Finance or their designee, and the ASUM Business Manager. 

Projects are considered based on quantifiable savings, quantifiable resource conservation, or projects that have a behavior change component based on plausible resource conservation. Projects must have student participation to be considered.