Sustainable Management Program Has Three New Scholarship Opportunities

August 27, 2014— Three new scholarships available through the online University of Wisconsin Sustainable Management program will help keep some green in students' pockets while rewarding their dedication to furthering their careers and education. The Sustainable Employer Match Scholarship, the Green Student Scholarship, and the Sustainable Management Academic Scholarship are designed to provide new and returning students with assistance to pay for their education.

"As the first major university to offer this online option in sustainability education, we take pride in preparing students to serve as leaders who are eco-literate and capable of dealing directly with real-world problems," said Crystal Fey, UW Sustainable Management program manager. "We realize the financial impact a college education has on students and families. These scholarships were created to relieve some of the financial burden and reward students for their dedication and hard work." 

Two scholarships are designed to help new students – the Sustainable Employer Match and the Green Student Scholarship. The Sustainable Employer Match is for students whose employers offer tuition-reimbursement programs. This scholarship covers the cost of one sustainable management course ($1,170), if the student's employer covers the cost of a second course. 

For students who do not have access to employee tuition-reimbursement programs, the Green Student Scholarship provides a $500 award.  

These scholarship opportunities are a one-time opportunity for new students. To be eligible, students must be taking their first course in the Sustainable Management bachelor's program. Students can select UW-River Falls as their home campus for the Bachelor of Science degree option. 

Continuing students in the bachelor's program may apply for the Sustainable Management Academic Scholarship. This scholarship is for students who have completed at least two courses in the program and carry a minimum 3.0 GPA. The scholarship award is determined by the number of courses a student has completed – the more courses taken, the greater the reward. 

The Sustainable Management Academic Scholarship is available on an ongoing basis. To learn more about the scholarship award amounts, visit the UW Sustainable Management website at http://sustain.wisconsin.edu. 

UW Sustainable Management graduates complete the program understanding practices and concepts such as the "triple bottom line" and systems thinking – the recognition that business success is no longer defined only by profit but also by its impact on the community and environment in which it operates. Students learn about the connections between sustainability practices, business, and the impact our use and stewardship of natural resources has on us all. 

"Scholarships focused on supporting students in the sustainable management program are consistent with UWRF's commitment to access and affordability and underscores our commitment to the academic program and sustainability," said Fernando Delgado, provost and vice president for academic affairs at UWRF. 

The UW Sustainable Management program is a collaborative effort between UW-Extension, UW-River Falls and five other UW campuses. The Bachelor of Science degree at UW-River Falls is conferred by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science and administered by the Outreach and Continuing Education Office. 

For more information about the online UW Sustainable Management program, contact Angela Whitaker, UW-River Falls outreach program manager, at 715-425-3256 or email angela.whitaker@uwrf.edu. More information is available online at go.uwrf.edu/mydegree.