Sustainability Curriculum and our Journey Toward Carbon Neutrality Sustainability as a Core Value at GRCC

 Sustainability as a Value at GRCC  Goal: Development of Sustainability Curriculum at GRCC  GRCC - Members of Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)  Goal: Carbon Neutral Campuses  GRCC – Signatory of the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)  Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report  Climate Action Plan

Thank You to Dr. Gary Burbridge for his leadership in Sustainability Thank You to our Sustainability Council Members: Raul AlvarezGary BurbridgeDeborah ChivisDavid Dye Ann EarhardtDr. EnderMindy FirlanBill Foley Dan GendlerVicki HudsonVince James Lynne Jarman-Johnson Leigh KleinertEric KunnenKlaas KwantMaryann Lesert Mansfield MatthewsonBruce MorrisonDorothy Sadony Brian ShultzE Smith Tom SmithPatti Trepkowski Ric UnderhileMike VargoNicholas WikarSara Yob

Sustainability is a new value of the College “Sustainability – We use resources in responsible ways to achieve balance among our social, economic, and environmental practices and policies.”

How we define and apply sustainability at GRCC We regard sustainability as a crucial form of innovation that provides a framework by which we can improve the well-being of all living things and the health of the planet through education, modeling best practices, networking with other institutions of higher education, while also discovering and developing new methods to elevate sustainability. In order to ensure that our efforts produce the desired outcomes, we focus on achieving new levels of sustainability through the lens of the triple-bottom line: economics, environment, and social equity. We strive to achieve sustainability through our efforts in developing curriculum that challenges our students to apply their learning and adopt these practices into their daily lives, integrating sustainability through our facilities management and operations, along with meaningful, long-term community engagement.

Sustainability is a Cultural Value of our Region In 2005, the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids Public Schools, and Aquinas College formed a Community Sustainability Partnership to embrace and support sustainability guiding principles in their planning and operations, and to make a positive impact in our community.

In 2006, the City Commission adopted a planning and performance measurement process that includes all City services. It began measuring the achievement of outcomes in relation to sustainability - the triple bottom line - economic prosperity, environmental equity, and social equality. What was once known as the City of Grand Rapids' Strategic Plan has evolved into City of Grand Rapids' Sustainability Vision Statement. Sustainability is a Cultural Value of our Region

In 2007, the City of Grand Rapids and the Community Sustainability Partnership received the first U.S. designation by the United Nations University as a Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) in Education for Sustainable Development. Today there are over 190 members of the Partnership, who are committed to work together to restore environmental integrity, improve economic prosperity, and promote social equity. Sustainability is a Cultural Value of our Region

In 2008, Fast Company called the City of Grand Rapids, America’s Greenest City. Sustainability is a Cultural Value of our Region In 2010, Grand Rapids has been named the most sustainable midsize city in the U.S. by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Civic Leadership Center and Siemens Corp.

GRCC Facilities and Operations in Sustainability This past October, we reached a saving of over $1.5 million dollars in utilities in the first 27 months of the Energy Conservation Program and ongoing partnership with Energy Education Inc. The savings have resulted in an environmental impact equivalent to removing 1,415 cars from the road, planting 201,633 tree seedlings and growing them for 10 years, or reducing 7,884 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Sustainability is a Value of our GRCC

GRCC’s Innovation Challenge This past fall, the Employee Professional Development and Enrichment along with the Rewards and Recognition Team began the Innovation Challenge, which this academic year focuses on energy use at GRCC. Specifically, "How can we reduce our energy costs so that we can use these savings to benefit programs that support student success?" Sustainability is a Value of our GRCC

Grand Rapids Community College Construction Program was the first to build a Gold LEED certified home for Habitat for Humanity in the United States. Sustainability is not a trend for us….its a way of life. Sustainability is a Value of our GRCC GRCC was featured in the October / November issue of Community College Journal, “Green-jobs training prepares students for career success”

GRCC is a dedicated member of:

BrainstormShapeScore Innovation Process Teams-based approachInnovation FunnelInnovation Stage Gate Creativity Invention Post Launch Adoption = Innovation Request for the Development of additional Sustainability Curriculum, Courses, Certificates, and Degree Programs

Identifying Sustainability in our Curriculum “Sustainability education refers generally to learning experiences that enable students to develop the knowledge, behaviors, and skills to help create healthier ecosystems, social systems, and economies.” -- Source: SEED Center (Sustainability Education & Economic Development), created by the American Association of Community Colleges

GRCC Programs or Courses Currently Available or In Development: Degree Program Alternative Energy Degree Credit Courses Architectural Technology AR 105 – Construction Materials 1 AR 106 – Construction Materials 2 AR 208 – Design Studio: Commercial Building Design AR 218 – Sustainable Residential Design CHM 170 – Energy Storage Technology EC 270 – Introduction to Environmental Economics ER 140 – Introduction to Renewable Energy ER 160 – Introduction to Geothermal HVAC Systems SUS 201 – Introduction to Sustainability SUS 292 – Seminar in Sustainability EN 102 – English Composition 2 (with special focus on sustainability) EN 293 – EcoLit & Activism: Modern Environmental Literature Non-credit Programs Job Training – Residential Construction and Job Training – Green Construction Remodeling Job Training – Composite Technician Wind Safety Program Wind Turbine Technician Program Solar Photovoltaics Program Eleuthera Field Study in Sustainability – Study Abroad (C/NC) Deconstruction Program Pathways to Prosperity Grant Program Non-Credit Courses and Seminars Green Advantage – Environmental Certification What is Energy? Root Camp – Getting Ready to Garden Institute for Healing Racism

GRCC is a dedicated signatory of:

This past September, we completed two Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reports : 40,356.8 Metric Tons of Carbon Emissions : 39,951.9 Metric Tons of Carbon Emissions Lansing Community College : 82,300 Mtons Washenaw Community College : 27,804 Mtons

2011 – Begin the design and development of our Climate Action Plan Current Goal – GRCC to achieve carbon neutrality by 2052

Requests: Curriculum: A motion to support curriculum development for sustainability programming (certificates and courses).  Please assess your department’s current curriculum to identify existing courses that provide education regarding sustainability, and please notify me of these offerings.  Please ask faculty in your department if they are interested in developing curriculum, certificate programs or courses, that either enhances existing curriculum, or creates new curriculum, and please notify me of interest within your department. Climate Action Plan: A motion to support the education and facilitation of continuously reducing our carbon emissions to achieve carbon neutrality.

Thank you!