SustainCollins

Active participation in a student-directed and sustainability related Q-project (satisfying Q-project requirement, as part of the Q199 course)

Enrollment in MINIMUM of one (1) environment/sustainability-focused Collins Seminar class (satisfying Collins seminar requirement)

Completion of 10 volunteer or engagement hours per semester (20/academic year) in student-selected community organizations (program leaders can connect the group with plenty of activities!)

Direct engagement with SustainCollins Peer Mentors (Collins upperclassmen who serve as student project leads and plan additional activities for the program), Co-Directors (full-time staff campus sustainability leaders), and other leadership (undergraduate interns and graduate fellows). 

New in Fall 2026: All SustainCollins residents are encouraged to participate in an exclusive program designed to help students think through practical applications of sustainability on campus while developing grant writing and project development skills through an Experiential Learning Activity (ELA). Not only will students gain practical skills through this ELA, they will also compete for a $2,500 grant to implement their campus sustainability proposal.

ELAs are a new initiative at IU Bloomington to provide students with credit for experiential learning that takes place outside of the classroom. Students who complete the SustainCollins ELA will receive recognition on their experiential learning transcript, including a description of the activity, as well as its duration, classification, and attributes.

Learn more about Experiential Learning Activities here: https://undergraduate.indiana.edu/pathways/experiential-learning/index.html

*Only incoming freshmen are eligible to receive ELA credit.

Additional program offerings may include:

  • Speaker series with influential environmental leaders, including visiting scholars and local community leaders.
  • Programs offered through neighboring world-class University initiatives, including the Environmental Resilience Institute
  • Others, as suggested by residents!

Eligibility

SustainCollins is open to students of all majors and disciplines who are interested in gaining professional skills, diving deep into environmental topics, and incorporating sustainability into their everyday lives. To join the program, students must live in Collins LLC. This program is open to all Collinsites interested in maintaining a sustainable lifestyle with other peers. SustainCollins members must complete an additional Resident Agreement detailing membership requirements (information below).

Application

To join SustainCollins, you must first complete the IU housing application. Be sure to answer all Collins-specific questions and indicate your interest in the SustainCollins program. A member of the SustainCollins staff will reach out to you at your IU email address with the additional Resident Agreement detailing membership requirements. For questions about housing in the Collins Living-Learning Center contact Assistant Director Leigh Suggs at leidavis@iu.edu.

Become a peer mentor

Funding is available for returning Collins residents interested in becoming Peer Mentors. Contact SustainCollins Co-DirectorsTanjimul Alam (alamt@iu.edu) and Jack Rosswurm (jrosswur@iu.edu) for more information, and to apply.