Business View - January 2016 59
to operate as if it was a small farm. That means that
the university can serve its own produce in the campus
dining halls. “There are tremendous academic oppor-
tunities associated with the farm through internships
and class visits. We have a Sustainable Food Systems
certificate that’s based out of the farm and there are
a lot of classes that meet and use it, basically, as an
outdoor classroom,” says Jakobcic.
Interestingly, GVSU does not offer a Sustainability
Degree. “But we do offer ‘Education for Sustainable
Development,’ or ESD, in the forms of sustainability
emphases, certificates, themes, and some majors and
minors,” explains Christopher. In addition, says Jako-
bcic, the school has “over 200 sustainability-related
classes that are spread throughout the curriculum
and in all different academic areas.” For example, a
Green Chemistry Certificate can be granted concur-
rently with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry. There
are certificates in Sustainable Food Systems, Sustain-
able Urban and Regional Planning, and Sustainability
in Public and Non-Profit Organizations. Majors include
Liberal Studies with an Emphasis in Sustainability; Ge-
ography and Urban Planning; and Natural Resources
Management. Minors include Natural Resources Man-
CLEAN & GREEN
