At the end of 2010, Grand Valley State University became the first public university in Michigan to be certified by the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP).

The program aims to promote and communicate best management practices, adopt pollution prevention practices, control potential sources of pollution, comply with environmental laws and regulations, and reduce waste, said GVSU grounds supervisor Ken Stanton.

“This is quite an accomplishment at the university level,” he said. “To do this project requires a large commitment of time and resources.

“We installed a new, more efficient fueling station, a space that is used for mixing and loading pesticides and a new equipment wash station that collects excess grass clippings from our mowing equipment,” he continued. “All of these developments will help us to magnify sustainable efforts already taking place at Grand Valley.”

According to a GVSU press release, the completion of the certification program was responsible for the development of a campus-wide emergency response plan. The program also helped to identify and improve storm water management practices, which have previously developed to help eliminate erosion of the ravines on the Allendale Campus.

“The certification really keeps with the university’s commitment to sustainability, so this is a natural fit for us,” Stanton said.

The MTESP certification typically takes three years, but GVSU was able to meet the requirements within a two-year period, said Tim Thimmesch, assistant vice president for Facilities Services.

“I was very pleased with the commitment on behalf of the Grounds Department and our Safety Management Department to complete this certification effort,” Thimmesch said. “Staff in these areas recognize the value of continuously improving our grounds keeping efforts to enhance and protect our campus environment.”

For more information about GVSU’s certification, contact Ken Stanton at [email protected].

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