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| Introduction to the AQ Sustainability Initiative |
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| Welcome to the Aquinas Sustainability Initiative. This site will help you craft an initiative proposal that will accomplish the following three objectives: |
- Improve the health of natural systems;
- Enhance the quality of life for the Aquinas community and our neighbors;
- Increasing long-term financial stability of the College
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| The initiative links you with others who want to improve and protect the natural features of our campus we’ve all grown to love. Together, we can systematically redesign our college to be the kind of place where the campus community loves to work and learn. |
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| The first steps in the Initiative have embedded the goal of sustainability into Aquinas’ governance process. Through the leadership of Faculty and Staff Assemblies, as well as the Student Senate and Board of Trustees, formal and coordinated committees have been formed to act as a mechanism for value-producing change on campus. Each committee will consider innovations proposed by Aquinas students, staff, and faculty as well alumni and others. Innovation proposals may be further developed with the assistance of Sustainable Business student teams. In addition, a comprehensive campus inventory offers a baseline for tracking our progress toward sustainability. The effort is funded in part, through a generous gift of the Steelcase Foundation to support the Aquinas Sustainable Business Program and the Center for Sustainability at Aquinas College. |
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| What is Sustainability? |
| Sustainability means different things to different people. The word “sustainable,” according to the Encarta World English Dictionary, means “able to be maintained.” This definition can be applied to various subject matters, including society as a whole, industry, agriculture, or family values. The concept of sustainability can be over-whelming because of the broad nature of the word. At its root, sustainability is a concept that is intuitive to most people. |
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| What does an ant colony need to thrive? It needs fresh water, clean air, healthy food, and a suitable location for the colony. The natural world supplies these necessities to the ants and the only waste produced is fertilizer for soil. The ant colony is an example of a sustainable society. Rather intuitive, right? Principles of sustainability can be used to restore and nourish our living environment, while maintaining or improving our current standard of living. |
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| Key concepts of sustainability come directly from the natural world. Nature uses sunlight as an energy source for all species. All waste is food for other species. Ant waste provides food for the microorganisms that enhance soil productivity. Natural systems also respect diversity. If a natural disaster eliminates a particular food source, the ants simply shift to another food source. Nature does not put “all her eggs in one basket” so why should we? Janine Benyus, author of "Biomimicry," reminds us that the natural world already has 3.85 billion years of design experience. Let’s look to nature when designing products, businesses, or communities. |
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| Not only can sustainability concepts be applied to ant colonies, but they can also be applied to businesses, cities, and even the Aquinas College campus. Sustainable business practices applied to college operations may result in a decrease in waste generation, as well as reduction in resource and energy use. The same business practices that increase social and environmental capital also improve the long-term profitability of companies. These win-win situations for the natural world, the community, and business will make Aquinas a better place to work, learn, and explore. |
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| Printed Resources (On Campus Access Only) |
| Examples of AQ Sustainability Initiative Ideas (pdf) |
| Helpful Information (pdf) |
| Communication Flow-Chart (pdf) |
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| SI Structure/Process |
| The Sustainability Initiative structure was organized to promote the serious consideration of all ideas generated from Aquinas campus members and represents just one method to submit sustainability suggestions. Three sustainability committees were organized on the staff, student, and faculty assemblies, along with a joint sustainability committee with representatives from the three respective assemblies to facilitate the suggestion process. The committee structure was designed by working groups of Aquinas students, faculty, and staff. Any sustainability idea generated by the student, staff, faculty, or administrator can be submitted via the online submission form or in person at the Center for Sustainability. The Aquinas community is encouraged to utilize the Center for Sustainability and the Sustainable Business Working Partners (SBWP) as resources. The SBWP is composed of small groups of sustainable business students ready and eager to help you develop your idea. To request a SBWP, please contact the Center for Sustainability at (616) 632-1994. |
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| Your basic idea may be submitted via the SI web form, which will automatically be e-mailed to the Center for Sustainability. Center staff will contact you upon receiving your submission and offer resources to further develop your idea, including our Sustainable Business Working Partners and the appropriate AQ assembly committee. After your idea is ready for final review, it will move to the AQ Joint Sustainability Committee who will rank your idea with a sustainability value score (on a 1 to 5 scale with 1 being little or no-value producing and 5 being very value-producing). |
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| If the idea earns a 1, 2, or 3 rating, the idea may be resubmitted with revisions to the Center for Sustainability. The idea can also be brought by the submitter to the Assembly floor for voting without Committee approval. |
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| If the Joint Committee assigns the idea a 4 or 5 rating, the idea is then submitted back to the respective assembly for a general vote. If the assembly approves the idea, it is sent on to the Provost for assessment and possible implementation. The Provost has agreed to consider and respond to all sustainability suggestions passed by any of the three campus assemblies. |
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| Download Sustainability Initiavite Process Flow-Chart (On Campus Access Only) |
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| Sustainability Committee Members |
| Staff Sustainability Committee: |
Tim Stafford (Chairperson), Thad Salter, Brian Matzke, Tom Ferratt, Damon Bouwkamp, Jessica Onan (ex-officio) |
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| Faculty Sustainability Committee: |
Christina Radisauskas, Dr. Deb Wickering, Dr. Matt Tueth, Dr. Kurt Kaiser, Dr. Masato Yamazaki, Deb Steketee (Provost's Designee) |
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| Student Senate Sustainability Committee: |
Brad Vandenbroeck (Chairperson), Mariel Borgman,
Eva Escamilla,
Elizabeth Leduc,
Lindsey Kauffman,
Daniel Treul, Colin Knue, Francine Vandenbroeck, Stephanie Goorhouse |
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| Joint Sustainability Committee: |
| Staff Reps: Thad Salter (Chairperson) and Damon Bouwkamp |
| Faculty Reps: Kurt Kaiser and Matthew Tueth |
| Student Reps:
Bradley Vandenbroeck and Daniel Treul |
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