Grand Valley releases collective economic impact report of sustainability efforts
The collective economic impact of Grand Valley State University’s
sustainability and fiscal initiatives in the region is more than $900
million. Grand Valley broke down the funds and resources that were
saved at the university and in the region in its first collective
sustainability impact report, which includes the university’s $732.3
million regional impact.
The report uses 2010-2011 data and outlines the sustainability
initiatives, such as water conservation and the university's
partnership with The Rapid, that saved $192 million. It includes 11
sections that outline practices used by Grand Valley students, faculty
and staff members to decrease the university’s footprint and increase
the impact of sustainable activity on campus and in the community.
Grand Valley’s sustainability journey continues to grow, as
illustrated in an assessment report developed in 2005 and an indicator
progress report developed in 2008, said Norman Christopher, director
of the Sustainable Community Development Initiative. “This collective
sustainability impact report, however, represents a new way to view
sustainability from a more in-depth and strategic perspective,” he said.
Some highlights from the report include:
- The partnership with The Rapid, the Grand Rapids-based bus
service, saved students more than $27 million, including $21 million
in automotive costs and $6 million in fuel costs;
- In the
President’s 50-hour Service Challenge during the university’s 50th
Anniversary Celebration, 655 volunteers provided 25,733 hours to 930
community organizations, and had an economic impact of $519,151;
-
6,811 students participated in internships, practica, and student
teaching, which saved employers more than $25 million;
- Student
credit hours in sustainability courses totaled 116,991 hours, or 18.4
percent of all student credit hours.
Christopher explained that the Princeton Review tracked college
bound freshman through surveys and found nearly seven out of 10 are
influenced by a school’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
“This report will be a great way to share those messages with
prospective students to show what we’re doing and what we plan to do,”
he said.
President Thomas J. Haas said: “We’re a gamechanger. This report
demonstrates the things we’ve done to reduce our environmental
footprint. We are excited to share it and hope it gets the campus
community even more excited about contributing at Grand Valley.”
For more information about the report, contact the Sustainable
Community Development Initiative at (616) 331-7366.
Subscribe
Sign up and receive the latest Grand Valley headlines delivered to your email inbox each morning.