Sustainable Solutions Challenge

Program Update

There will not be a Sustainable Solutions Challenge in 2024. Please check back next year for updates or email us at sustainability@richmond.edu with any questions.

Creating Cultures of Caring

The 2023 Sustainable Solutions Challenge invites you to propose an initiative of your choice that would work to create a culture around sustainability at University of Richmond.

Students from all majors are invited to enter the Sustainable Solutions Challenge and pitch their best ideas, so long as the idea is centered on the campus definition of sustainability and has relevance to the University of Richmond's Sustainability Plan. The team with the winning proposal will be awarded $500 per team member and invited to work on the implementation of their solution. The second-place team will be awarded $250 per team member. 

The Sustainable Solutions Challenge is a team challenge, with teams composed of a minimum of two with a maximum of four members. To allow for the implementation of proposals, teams must be composed of at least two non-seniors. Teams submit initial written proposals that are reviewed by a first-round review panel. A number of teams are selected to move on to the preliminary phase. From there, three finalist teams are selected to present to a final review panel of faculty and staff.

The problem statement, timeline, proposal guidelines, and helpful resources are included below. Last year's problem statement and winning solution are also included below as an example. Registration opens January 30 and closes February 16. Two team members will be required to attend a Design Thinking Workshop on February 17 from 11:30am-1:00pm.

Registration for the 2023 Sustainable Solutions Challenge is closed.