This presentation is part of the 2015 RCE Conference of the Americas, 9-12 August 2015, Grand Rapids, USA

1. 2015 RCE
Conference of the Americas:
Welcome to Grand Rapids and
Grand Valley State University

2. Grand Valley Impact
 Mission: Educate students to shape their lives,
professions, and societies
 More than 25,000 students,
 86 undergraduate degrees; 36 graduate degrees
 Named a 2016 Best College by the Princeton
Review
 Campuses in Grand Rapids, Allendale, Holland,
Muskegon, and Traverse City

3. What Makes Grand Valley a
Good RCE Partner?
 Core values of sustainability, inclusion, and
equity
 Human-centered and personal
 Culture of innovation and integrated liberal
education
 Focus on theory in action; civic engagement
and public service
 Focus on local relevance with global impact

4. Sustainability Education through
Academic Programs and Student Life
The Sustainable Agriculture Project

5. Sustainability Education through
Facilities and Operations
The Mary Idema Pew Library: LEED -
Platinum

6. Sustainability Education with the
Community
 GVSU College of Education’s Groundswell
Program works with more than 1,700 area high
school students to protect the Grand River
watershed and the Great Lakes

7. Recognition of Grand Valley’s
Sustainability Activity
 ASSHE STARS Gold Rating – one of 69 nationally
 Named one of the Greenest Universities by the Sierra
Club
 Received the Association of Energy Engineers Energy
Management Award
 Placed 24th in a national recycle-mania competition

8. West Michigan’s Fresh Water Resources:
How to Preserve and Protect?
(Holland MI Harbor)

9. West Michigan’s Fresh Water Resources:
The Birthright of Future Generations?
(Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Wilderness)

10. For More Information on
Grand Valley’s
Office of Sustainability Practices
See
www.gvsu.edu/sustainability