CU President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge 2023
Register your Team
Proposal | Criteria + Evaluation
Problem/Solution - What is the problem that the innovation is intending to solve, is the solution an appropriate fit for the problem?
- Impact - How well does the team describe the "sustainability" aspects of the Innovation in environmental, social, and/or economic terms?
- Feasibility - Consider the team's justification of their Innovation in terms of:
- The resources required to implement the innovation, including time
- Estimated cost
- Innovation - How does the project address sustainability in a novel manner, how is it new?
- Presentation Quality
Final Proposal Submission Requirements
Final proposals for the competition will be due on November 27 by 5 p.m. for all teams on all campuses. Final Proposals will be evaluated by a proposal review committee, and up to the 10 best proposals from UCCS will be carried forward to compete in the Campus Pitch Night. See below for submission requirements. Proposal Submissions after the deadline will not be considered for entry.
Final Proposal Submission Requirements
Project submissions should be in the form of a two-page (maximum) written summary with a pitch deck and must address the following:
- Team name, team point of contact and group members' names
- What is the sustainability innovation(s) proposed? How does it address sustainability in a novel way or in a way that has not been attempted on campus in the past?
- What resource area does your innovation address, or what problem does it attempt to solve? (Energy, food transportation, water, social justice, etc…)
- What are the expected/intended benefits of the innovation?
- What stakeholder groups will benefit from your innovation? (On or off campus)
- Evaluation of proposals will favor teams that cite relevant sustainability frameworks (i.e UN Sustainable Development Goals, Carbon Disclosure Project, Project Drawdown, etc…)
- What resources will be required for your innovation to be implemented and operate? What is the estimated cost of the innovation?
Thank you for joining us to celebrate the innovative solutions our UCCS students pitch to solve sustainability, climate, resource, and justice related issues!
Thu, November 2nd | 2:30-4:30pm | UC - Big Cat Coffee | Informational Tabling Session
All interested teams, including those who have not registered yet, are invited to join. Here you will learn about strategies and resources for success, get more detail on the advancement and selection criteria as well as the purpose of the competition, and have an opportunity to ask questions that you may have about competing in the PSSC. This is optional for participants.
Thu, November 2nd| 2:30-4:30pm | UC - Big Cat Coffee | Informational Tabling Session
Friday, November 10th | Proposal Workshop | Office of Sustainability | 1:00pm-4:00pm
In a three-hour, drop-in session, you will have access to professionals to help you develop your main points, justifications, and sharpen the delivery of your idea in front of judges and an audience. This will also be an opportunity for you to network with professionals and potentially connect with a subject matter expert for advice. Neither event is mandatory to attend but both will provide valuable resources to strengthen your run at the prize.
Friday, November 10th | Proposal Workshop | Office of Sustainability, 12 Cragmor Village Road | 1:00pm-4:00pm
Mon, November 27th by 5:00pm | Proposals Due
Final proposals for the competition will be due on Monday, November 27th for all teams on all campuses. Final Proposals will be evaluated by a proposal review committee, and the 20 best proposals from each campus will be carried forward to compete in the Campus Pitch Night.
Wednesday, November 29th | UCCS Finalist Notified
The 20 best proposals will be notified by email to compete in the Campus Pitch Night on Friday, December 1st
Fri, December 1st | UCCS Pitch Night | University Center 122| 6:00pm-9:00pm
Each campus will host its own pitch night as a competition among the entrants from that campus. A panel of local judges will assess each pitch based on the criteria outlined below. The winning team or individual will receive an award of $1,000. The top two proposals will be invited to compete for the Grand Prize on April 21, at CU Boulder.
Fri, December 1st | UCCS Pitch Night | University Center 122 | 6:00pm-9:00pm
Th, April 21 | Sustainability Summit Celebration @ CU Boulder
Our 2023 Campus Judges
Christine Biermann
Christine Biermann is an Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at UCCS. She is also the Director of the Sustainability Minor and previously chaired the Faculty Assembly Sustainability Committee. She is originally from Syracuse, New York but has called Colorado Springs home since 2018. Her research focuses on the science and politics of biodiversity conservation and the use of tree rings to better understand climatic and environmental processes.
Polly Knutson
UCCS Farm Program Manager Polly Knutson is an accomplished professional with a diverse background spanning over two decades in various sectors of hospitality, dining services, agriculture, and sustainable farming. Currently serving as the Assistant Director of Dining and Hospitality Services and UCCS Farm Program Manager at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), she exhibits a passionate commitment to integrating sustainable practices with operational excellence.
James Baginski
James Baginski is a Senior Instructor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. His teaching spans the disciplinary spectrum and includes courses in the areas of human geography, climate and vegetation, and the geographies of recreation, tourism, and the environment. James is originally from small town Appalachia and has lived in Colorado Springs since 2018. When not teaching, he can often be found running on the amazing trails adjacent to the UCCS campus.
Joel Tonyan
Joel Tonyan is the Director of User Experience and an Associate Professor in the Kraemer Family Library. He is the Faculty Assembly President-Elect for the 2023/2024 academic year and previously chaired the campus Sustainability Committee.
Our 2023 Winners
Our 2022 Winners, Judges, and BI Teams Class:
(Pictured Left to Right:) Judges - Lisa Potoka Jones, Assistant Deans of Students, and Kayla Williams, Graduate Student and Green Action Fund Project Coordinator; Audience's Choice Winner - Ellie Carroll (not pictured: Hunter Colangelo); 1st Place - Amanda Ericson and Joey Hassett; 2nd Place - Ikenna Ozor (not pictured: Katie Morton and Caitlin Edelmuth); BI Teams Class: Peyton Walters, Cooper Jaap, Ethan Richards, and Nathan Love
Sustainability Challenges of our UCCS Campus Community
- Reduce single-occupancy vehicles
- Reduce impact of fleet vehicles
- Inter-campus commuting (bike, skateboard, gondola, etc.)
- Click here for more information on current transportation initiatives at UCCS
- Review CDOT's Transportation Demand Management Conference presentations here for ideas of best practices (click the hyperlinks to access each recorded presentation)
Review our 2021 STARS Submission for up-to-date information. Transportation can be found:
- OP-15: Campus Fleet
- OP-16: Commute Modal Split
- OP-17: Support for Sustainable Transportation
- IN-3: Bicycle Friendly University
The STARS Comparative Analysis report can be found here for additional information about our scores from our 2018 submission to 2021.
- Energy conservation
- Water conservation
- Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction
- Renewable/Alternative energy sources
- Click here for data on UCCS' energy/water/gas usage
Review our 2021 STARS Submission for up-to-date information. Energy, water, GHG, and renewable energy can be found:
- OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
- OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- OP-5: Building Energy Efficiency
- OP-6: Clean and Renewable Energy
- OP-21: Water Use
- OP-22: Rainwater Management
The STARS Comparative Analysis report can be found here for additional information about our scores from our 2018 submission to 2021.
- Increasing Food Literacy
- Procurement | local, organic, regenerative, fair-trade, etc.
- Food Insecurity/Food Desert
- Supporting Local Foodsheds
- Health/Wellness
- Click here to learn more about UCCS' Sustainability Wellness & Learning (SWELL) program
Review our 2021 STARS Submission for up-to-date information. Community engagement can be found:
- OP-7: Food and Beverage Purchasing
- PA-14: Wellness Program
- IN-14: Food Bank
- IN-47: Innovation A | Food Next Door Farm Subscription Program
The STARS Comparative Analysis report can be found here for additional information about our scores from our 2018 submission to 2021.
- Wildlife Habitat Preservation
- Mixed-Use Development
- Biodiversity
- Healthy Landscapes
- Click here for the efforts on the UCCS Trail System
Review our 2021 STARS Submission for up-to-date information. Land management and biodiversity can be found:
- OP-9: Landscape Management
- OP-10: Biodiversity
The STARS Comparative Analysis report can be found here for additional information about our scores from our 2018 submission to 2021.
- Volunteering Initiative/ Service Learning
- Gamification
- Educational Campaigns/ Movement
- Art + Culture
- Click here to learn more about initiatives on campus
Review our 2021 STARS Submission for up-to-date information. Community engagement can be found:
- AC-5: Immersive Experience
- AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
- EN-1: Student Educators Program
- EN-3: Student Life
- EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications
- EN-5: Outreach Campaign
- EN-7: Employee Educators Program
- EN-10: Community Partnerships
- EN-13: Community Service
- IN-48: Innovation B | PIPs - Positive Impact Points
The STARS Comparative Analysis report can be found here for additional information about our scores from our 2018 submission to 2021.
Resources
UCCS Entrepreneur In Residence
Angus Chassels in UCCS' Entrepreneur in Residence. He can help you strengthen your pitch, focus your idea, show you how to formulate a budget and return-on-investment, along with many other skills to support your PSSC team.
Excel Center | Communications
The Excel Communication Center can help you tailor your pitch and keep you to five minutes. Schedule a meeting with them to film your presentation and provide constructive feedback.
Bachelor Of Innovation | Faculty Support
The Bachelor of InnovationTM (BI) is a family of degrees with a common innovation core shared across majors in a wide range of areas. Innovation often happens at the intersection of two or more fields. Read through the bios of the BI faculty and reach out to them to assist in various areas to strengthen your project.
Kraemer Family Library | Innovation + Sustainability Liaison
Joel is the Systems and User Experience Librarian and Assistant Professor for Kraemer Family Library. He is the departmental liaison for Geography and Environmental Studies and Innovation. Schedule a meeting with him to discuss current research that could support your idea.
Pikes Peak Makerspace
The UCCS BI program has a great relationship with Pikes Peak Makerspace. Need a specific machine to mock-up your idea? Check them out!
Strategic Plans + Commitments to Sustainability
Take a look at the Sustainability Strategic Plan, Climate Action Plan and other commitments the University has made in regards to sustainability.
Colorado Springs Regional Sustainability Plan 2030
Take a look at the Colorado Springs Regional Sustainability Plan 2030 to provide historical and regional context to your idea.
UCCS Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
The office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) strives to be inclusive of our entire community, regardless of social or cultural identity, background, perspective or origin. Check out their website to strengthen how your innovation will benefit disadvantage or marginalized constituencies.
UCCS Office o Sustainability
The UCCS Office of Sustainability has been around since 2006. Reach out to learn more about the history of sustainability at UCCS and how they can help shape your project idea.
Green Action Fund
Green Action Fund is a student-led committee that is funded by a $5/student/semester fee to reduce the ecological footprint of UCCS. Learn more about them and how they can help shape your project idea.
AASHE Stars | Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System
Stars is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. Learn about UCCS' most recent rating.
OSBORNE | K-12 Makerspace
The Makerspace is an on-campus club at UCCS that provides students with the location and the tools to safely craft personal and unique creations. Need a specific machine to mock-up your idea? Check them out!