mtvU, MTV's 24-hour college network, and GE this week announced they are partnering to present college students with an eco-challenge. Their mtvU GE ecomagination Challenge asks students to get their creativity on to propose projects that will "green" their campuses. The winner of the challenge (which is open to teams and individuals) will receive $25,000 toward making those ideas happen. And the winner's school will host an mtvU Earth Day Concert and Festival in Spring 2007. If that won't boost your popularity around campus, I don't know what will.

Complete rules and regulations will be available starting tomorrow, but I do know that they will be accepting submissions until Dec. 1 and will then pick the top 10 entries. Those projects will be profiled on the Challenge website and some will be featured on various other mtvU outlets. Students will be able to play a part in the voting process, and the winner will be announced in March 2007.

Here's a tip from the press release: "mtvU and GE are especially looking for ambitious and innovative projects that considerably better the overall environmental health of campus, are cost conscious and practical, and push the creative boundaries of "green" thinking."

So get to thinking about how you can green your campus. And while you're at it, look around that dorm room of yours. A recent Philly Inquirer story notes that green decorating ideas seem to be taking hold at schools across the country. And this New American Dream site offers an interactive guide for shopping green when you head back to school this fall.