Grand Valley State University
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Education and Research:
Grand Valley State University (GVSU) continues to expand the ever-growing body of knowledge in areas of applied sustainability in all colleges including Liberal Arts and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Business, Engineering and Computing, Public Policy and Administration, Nursing, Health Professions, and Education. GVSU has developed courses that address aspects of sustainability as well as courses that extensively cover aspects of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL). The inventory of over 200 Sustainability courses and over 60 TBL courses provide students with a variety of avenues to explore and understand the impact and importance of Sustainability. New curriculum development driven by Vice Presidents and Deans create a portfolio of curriculum options for sustainability ensuring that 13% of all GVSU student credit hours are attributed to sustainability related courses.
New course and curriculum development includes:
- Establishment of a sustainability emphasis within Liberal Studies major.
- The establishment of an interdisciplinary Environmental Studies minor that includes: ENS201 Introduction to Sustainability and Environmental Studies, and ENS401 Environmental Problem Solving
- The establishment of a Green Chemistry curriculum including courses in Chemistry and Society; Pollution Prevention; Industrial Processes; Environmental Chemistry; and Environmental Chemistry Analysis
- Creation of additional courses and curriculum in Sustainable Development such as Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Sustainable Urban Environments, and Sustainable Product Design
- Development of several new Sustainability Certificates through the Liberal Studies major and Environmental Studies minor including: Sustainability; Green Science; Sustainable Business; Renewable Energy; and Urban Sustainability
- Establishment of General Education themes such as Earth and Environment; Ethics; Cities; Global Change; Health Wellness and Healing
- Establishment of several MBA courses in Sustainable Business Management practices
Applied research in sustainability is conducted in a variety of departments across campus covers areas across the TBL emphasis. The Annis Water Research Institute located in Muskegon, Michigan focuses on applied research projects to protect the quality of the Great Lakes from invasive species as well as overall conservation of water use. The Michigan Alternative Renewable Energy Center (MAREC) in Muskegon Michigan is home to emerging energy projects and several new business startups. The College of Community and Public Service conducts social justice research. Additionally, Grand Valley has supported, and helped form the Michigan Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (MIHEPS). Over 2000 GVSU students are engaged in sustainability projects in the community. GVSU is also a signatory to the Talloires Declaration that further commits us to education for environmental sustainability.
Campus Operations:
Campus Operations at GVSU have implemented applied sustainability best practices with creative and innovative programs as well as policies and procedures in a number of areas. Facilities have implemented LEED Silver design principles for new construction; LEED based processes for waste handling, commissioning, product selection, and recycling; implemented the use green cleaning supplies and micro-fiber cleaning practices. Rain gardens, green roofs, improved storm water and irrigation management systems are now part of our new LEED buildings (GVSU has six LEED certified buildings and three in the certification process). In addition, GVSU has applied for LEED certification of its entire Allendale Campus.
Campus Dining has implemented sustainability practices that include sustainable clothing for employees; recycled and compostable utensils, napkins and food containers; “trayless” dining resulting in weekly savings of 1040 gallons of hot water, 15 pounds of detergent, 15 gallons of sanitizer, and 1000 pounds of food waste; and increased local food purchases, including from GVSU’s Community Garden. Campus Dining annually obtains approximately 25% of its produce locally; recycles cooking oil with a local producer of biodiesel; and worm-composts food waste. They also provide lunch services at the University-hosted local-vendor Farmers’ Market. In addition, Fair Trade coffee is served at all campus locations and commitment has been made towards Monterey Bay sustainable seafood guidelines. Grand Valley was highlighted by ARAMARK nationally for their sustainable food service practices.
To increase student involvement and awareness, sustainability competitions take place annually including Recyclemania and a resident hall energy competition, resulting in a 68% increase in recycling and a 15% decrease in energy usage respectively.
Additionally, Campus Operations has been able to develop:
- A new 1250 acre University Master Plan that designates acreage for preserved meadows, wood lots, and ravines
- LEED buildings with a combined square footage of approximately 675,000 square feet
- Annual energy savings of $1 million
- A “transit” culture with approximately 2 million bus riders resulting in over $10 million in University savings annually
- Project Donation in which students donated approximately 50,000 pounds of goods to residences of the inner city Grand Rapids.
- Programs to investigate and expand alternative energy opportunities for the University including the Michigan Alternative Renewable Energy Center (MAREC) programs which focus on various types of renewable energy technologies including: wind, solar photovoltaic, battery storage, microturbine, and biomass.
Grand Valley has received the Energy Star designation for the Mark A. Murray Living Center by the U.S. EPA, the first university student housing unit in Michigan to receive such a designation. We have also received the U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE Energy Star award for efficient use of energy.
Administration and Finance:
The Guiding Principles of Sustainability (introduced in 2004) have moved Grand Valley State University (GVSU) to the forefront of Sustainability, by educating our students and improving our triple bottom line (TBL): environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and social equity. Following the initial TBL Campus Sustainability Report (October 2005) GVSU formally established the Sustainability Initiative within the College of Interdisciplinary Studies (Spring 2006), creating what is now the Sustainable Community Development Initiative (2009) to unite GVSU’s diverse populace in their mission of improving the TBL by providing leadership, resources, and support for the campuses and the community.
Recognizing social equity as one of our greatest resources, GVSU created the Inclusion and Equity Division. It is because of the diversity of our campus communities that we can provide community leadership -- leadership that enhances not only the lives of our students and employees but also the lives of those in the communities we call home.
The Sustainability Guiding Principles are used throughout campus – from classrooms to cafeterias. The impact of these principles, procedures, and “best practices” is seen campus wide. Our environmentally preferred purchasing policies are being developed to reduce costs and purchase low environmental impact materials. GVSU is a founding member of the West Michigan Purchasing Consortium supporting community businesses. Energy Star rated equipment is purchased almost exclusively; a policy is in place to phase out old, low efficiency computers, decreasing energy usage by 17%; reducing air conditioning demands by the equivalent 6 average size houses; and recycling electronic waste with an e-recycling vendor; dual-sided printers have cut paper usage by over 3.2 million pages per year -- these are only a few examples of the financial impact, with energy projects alone saving over $1,000,000 annually.
The University has established governance groups related to sustainability representing a cross-campus array of members – including students, staff and faculty -- to move initiatives forward:
- A Climate Action Committee -- assisting in meeting the carbon neutrality goals of the President’s Climate Commitment
- Annual Campus Sustainability Week Planning Committee
- Campus Sustainability Report Steering Committee
- Student Senate Sustainability Sub-Committee
- Student Sustainability Roundtable
- Student Environmental Coalition
- Energy Conservation Committee
- Parking, Traffic and Transit Committee
GVSU’s commitment to ensuring a sustainable future has made enormous strides in the five years since its inception. That commitment has led to the 2009 Kaplan Guide recognizing GVSU as one of the top 25 Environmentally Responsible Colleges and University in the U.S. Grand Valley is unwavering in its commitment to current and future students, employees, and neighbors, to lead the way to an appreciation of our resources and our world.
AASHE Bulletin
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