54 Business View - January 2016
ability practices, the Office has also led the way in
inculcating sustainability concepts deep into the Uni-
versity’s core value system; sustainability is now one
of seven stated values in its strategic plan.
Established in 1960, the University now has eight
degree-granting colleges and more than 25,000 stu-
dents. The main campus is in Allandale, Michigan,
with another major branch, the Robert C. Pew Cam-
pus, in downtown Grand Rapids. Other GVSU locations
include: Holland, Muskegon, Traverse City, and Detroit.
The combined colleges offer more than 200 areas of
study, over 80 undergraduate degree programs, and
40 graduate programs. Christopher says that his Of-
fice is “a service to all the departments on campus
and all colleges.”
By way of the many accolades the Office has earned
for GVSU over the last several years in the area of best
sustainability practices, it would be difficult to deny
that both its purpose and mission are being success-
fully carried forward. For example, for the sixth year in
a row, Grand Valley was named one of the country’s
“Most Environmentally Responsible Colleges” by The
Princeton Review in its 2015 Guide to 353 Green Col-
leges. For the third year in a row, it received a Gold
Rating from the Association for the Advancement of
Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) - one of
69 institutions nationally to achieve that certification,
CLEAN & GREEN
