We're Launching a Crowdfund to Support Our Graduate Students

On October 1st, we're launching a crowdfund campaign to support experiential learning opportunities for our Environmental Policy and Management students.

The EPM program is built on the principle that the most meaningful learning happens in the field. Students meet with legislators, facilitate community meetings, and present research at professional conferences. They work directly with organizations and communities on real environmental policy and management challenges. These experiences are transformative, providing students with analytical skills, professional networks, and hands-on expertise that can't be developed in the classroom alone.

The challenge is that these opportunities come with significant costs. Flights, lodging, registration fees, and transportation add up quickly. Many of our graduate students face real financial constraints, and these expenses can mean the difference between participating in a career-defining experience and passing it up. For students already managing tuition and living expenses on limited funds, these barriers can be prohibitive.

We're raising $4,000 to develop an experiential learning fund, to support travel and other costs, including flights, lodging, registration fees, and transportation that come with hands-on opportunities. This fund will ensure that financial circumstances don't determine which students get to pursue these transformative opportunities. When students can access field experiences, conferences, and community engagement without the weight of financial stress, they're able to focus on the work itself and develop into the environmental leaders our communities need.

This fund represents an investment in the next generation of policy makers and environmental professionals who will tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing us. It ensures that motivated, talented students from all backgrounds have equal access to the experiences that define their careers.

The campaign launches October 1st. In the meantime, you can bookmark the UC Davis Crowdfund Platform and stay tuned for our official link!