Sustainable Community Development Initiative

GVSU Sustainability Recognitions

The Higher Learning Commision of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, our accrediting body, said the following in their report from their October 2008 re-accreditation visit:

OVERALL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
The University's award-winning sustainability initiative serves the missions of education and outreach and provides national leadership.

* GVSU was listed as one of the top 25 environmentally responsible and cutting edge green colleges in the Kaplan College Guide 2009 (www.kaplan.com).

* In our re-accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools it was noted that "the university's award -winning sustainability initiative serves the missions of education and outreach and provides national leadership". (2008)


Below is a time line of achievements and recognitions held by the Sustainable Community Development Initiative

1999
   
2002
  • Groundbreaking for MAREC begins
   
2003
  • MAREC facility opens its doors
   
2004
  • GVSU adopts sustainability guiding principles and emphasis of the triple bottom line (TBL) to administration and the Seidman College of Business
   
2005
  • The TBL indicator report is created through the assessment of campus operational and administrative data
   

2006
  • In reaction to the results of the TBL report, GVSU creates the Sustainability Initiative (SI) within the College of Interdisciplinary Studies
  • The initiative hosts the first Campus Sustainability Week, which now occurs annually and grows continually
  • Grand Valley State University, City of Grand Rapids, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids Community College, and Grand Rapids Public Schools found the Community Sustainability Partnership (CSP)
  • The City of Grand Rapids and CSP were designated the first U.S. Regional Center of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development.
   

2007
  • Campus Dining introduces “tray-less dining” significantly cutting down on food and water waste
  • GVSU introduces the John C. Kennedy Hall of Engineering, a LEED designed building

  • The Sustainability Initiative changes its name to the Sustainable Community and Development Initiative (SCDI)
   
2008
  • GVSU receives Sustainability Award and national recognition for Sustainability Innovation in the 2008 Campus Report Card developed by the Sustainable Endowment Institute.
  • Recipient of the U.S. Green Building Council’s 2008 Recognition Award
  • Mark A. Murray Living Center was given an Energy Star designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — the first university student-housing unit in Michigan to receive such a designation

2009
 2010

Also view how we are involved with many Facilities:
Facilities Management
LEED Buildings