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Strategic Plan for Office of Sustainability Practices

Strategic Priorities, outcomes, and key objectives

Strategic Priority Area 1: Actively engage learners at all levels.

Outcome A: Grand Valley's learning environment is personal, challenging, and transformational, supporting excellent academic programs and co-curricular opportunities.

Objective 1.A.1

Provide high impact experiential learning through the Sustainable Agriculture Project by hosting 15+ classes at the farm each year.

Baseline

As of April 2016, we have hosted 10 classes at the farm with several already scheduled for next year.

Progress

2017 Status
Substantial Progress
As of February 2017, over 300 students visited the Sustainable Agriculture Project as part of 16 classes, 20 students from 11 majors participated in internships, and over 700 volunteer hours were served during the summer and fall semesters.

Outcome B: Grand Valley is diverse and inclusive.

Objective 1.B.1

Annually increase the number of faculty, staff, students, and community members engaged with the Seeds of Promise (www.seedsofpromise.net) sustainable neighborhood initiative as well as the amount of shared resources.

Baseline

Baseline data from 2015

Progress

2017 Status
Substantial Progress
The Office of Sustainability Practices partners with Seeds of Promise as an opportunity for student experiential learning; the College of Nursing has 8 students each semester at the Browning Claytor Clinic for community based healthcare. Over the recent years ~20 faculty and staff and ~ 100 GVSU students have with engaged with Seeds of Promise in various experiential learning project and program activities. Current FY2017-2018 initiatives include Professor Terry Stockton’s College of Education class at the Dickinson School; Dr. Kin Ma and a continuation of his GIS mapping and sustainability planning class for 1st semester summer school; and Professor David Cannon’s Seidman College of Business accounting class.

Strategic Priority Area 2: Further develop exceptional personnel.

Strategic Priority Area 3: Ensure the alignment of institutional structures and functions.

Outcome E: Grand Valley strategically allocates its fiscal, human, and other institutional resources.

Objective 3.E.1

Complete sustainability reporting as appropriate, including AASHE STARS, the Presidents Climate Commitment, and the Talloires Declaration, and continue to improve upon our scores.

Baseline

We currently have a gold rating through AASHE STARS.

Progress

2017 Status
Substantial Progress
Reports have been submitted for the ACUPCC, AASHE STARS, and the Talloires Declaration.

Strategic Priority Area 4: Enhance the institution's image and reputation.

Outcome C: Grand Valley has mutually beneficial relationships, partnerships, collaborations, and connections with local, state, national, and world communities.

Objective 4.C.1

Ensure the ongoing execution of a successful "Sustainable Development Best Practices" service agreement annually between GVSU and the City of Grand Rapids, including the City Executive Office, the Office of Energy and Sustainability, and the Grand Rapids Information Network, and accommodate new requests from the City.

Baseline

As of April 2016, we have completed 6 months of the service agreement.

Progress

2017 Status
Substantive Progress
The City of Grand Rapids and GVSU have had a services agreement since 2005 through the Office of Sustainability Practices whereby GVSU provides student interns to support sustainability best practices at the City in various departmental areas. At any point in time there are ~12 student interns working at the City of Grand Rapids. In the current 3 year agreement that ends June 30th 2018, 43 students have received paid internships and 6 have been hired by the City upon graduation to date. A new 3 year agreement is currently being negotiated.

Objective 4.C.2

Assist with the development and inventory of "Education for Sustainable Development" curriculum, programs, and activities in support of the United Nations University Regional Center of Expertise designation for Grand Rapids.

Baseline

The first report has been submitted as of January 25, 2016.

Progress

2017 Status
Substantive Progress
The second report will be submitted in February 2017.

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