In 2007, Wayne State University developed its first-ever sustainability plan outlining a variation of green actions to promote a green campus. In coordination with this plan, the Environmental Initiatives Committee was created to oversee the completion of green programs and initiatives both on and around campus. Four years later in 2011, the Office of Campus Sustainability was officially established to continue the push for all-encompassing, sustainable initiatives as our campus community continued to evolve. View our full and expanding timeline here of the sustainable accomplishments the WSU Office of Campus Sustainability has made over the years:

Timeline

2023

• WSU receives Tree Campus USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation 
• STEM Innovation Learning Center is named Green Building of the Year for Building Design and Construction from the United States Green Building Council's ENC Region

2022

• Wayne State University and the University of Windsor are named a United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development.  This binational designation makes WSU and UW one of 188 globally and one of 11 in the United States
• Office of Campus Sustainability awarded APPA (Association of Physical Plant Administrators) award for Sustainability Innovation for the Compost Program
• First celebration of Earth Month, an annual month-long event to highlight Earth Day as something to be celebrated every day through educational opportunities and volunteering

2021

• Approval of first Living-Learning Community in Sustainability at Chatsworth housing complex

2020

• First Sustainability Learning Community in conjunction with BIO 3500- Environmental Sciences and Sustainability
• Launch of Compost Pilot with Towers Cafe, Student Center Starbucks, and Panda Express
• Coronavirus Public Health Crisis- our office contributed to the Facilities Restart Playbook in how to address virus on campus
• Creation of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Geology

2019

• First celebration of Green Street- the start to an annual program in October for Month of Sustainability

2018

• First funding for Sustainability Office on Campus

2017

• Transformative Research in Urban Sustainability Training,T-RUST (Urban Sustainability Training Grant), NSF Graduate Training Grant; dual title degrees in sustainability (Anthropology, Biological Sciences, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Communication) 
• Hosted ASLE (Association for the Study of Literature and Environment), conference for 900+ delegates from around the world

2016

• Second LEED Gold certified building (Integrated Biological Sciences Building)
• Collaboration among seven student groups to promote waste reduction and recycling

2015

• Warrior Exchange developed to give the campus a web-based classified section to facilitate reuse of campus property
• First Baroudeur Cycling Event to raise money for student scholarships
• A scrap metal recycling program captures ferrous and non-ferrous metals from the campus
  waste stream
• First LEED Gold certified building (Advanced Technology Education Center, ATEC) awarded
• Third LEED Silver certified building (A. Paul Schaap Chemistry Building) awarded

2014

• Lighting Retrofit LED lighting installation replaces older, less efficient fixtures around campus
• Second LEED Silver certified building (Mazurek Education Commons) awarded

2013

• Hydration Stations installed around campus to facilitate wide-spread usage of refillable water bottles
• Summer boiler shut down program saves the university costs related to less energy consumption
• Sustainability@Wayne seminar series features researchers in sustainability-related fields
• Toner Cartridge Recycling allows departments to recycle used printer cartridges for remanufacturing
• Cell phone recycling program keeps mobile devices out of the waste

2012

• First LEED Silver certified building (Marvin I. Danto Engineering Design Center) awarded
• The Green Ride (sustainability bike tour held annually) made its first trip exploring city sites
• US Green Building Council Students, student organization established on campus
• Solar Compactors placed around campus for waste and recycling
• Water Conference with University Research Corridor
• Healthy Urban Waters funded by Erb foundation

2011

• Office of Campus Sustainability established to move the University's green initiatives forward
• Water@Wayne seminar series features discussions by researchers studying water issues
• Green cleaning policy sets guidelines for environmentally-friendly cleaning products and equipment
• First green roof built on the A. Paul Schaap Chemistry Building

2010

• A solar array and wind turbine installation on the roof of Engineering Technology Building
• Electric service vehicles are used by Facilities Planning and Management in campus operations
• First electronic waste (E-waste) collection (held annually)
• Urban Watershed Environmental Research Group (UWERG, a multi-disciplinary water research
  group)

2009

• University payroll established paperless operations saving costs and aiding the environment
• Campus shuttle service takes riders between the Main Campus and Medical Campus
• A Sustainability Certificate is offered by the College of Engineering

2008

• New, campus-wide recycling began to capture paper, cardboard, plastics, and metal containers
• The Wayne State Farmers Market opened to offer the university community locally-grown produce, fresh baked goods, and natural food products in a lively, social environment
• Campus gardens installed allowing the university community to grow fruits and vegetables

2007

• First WSU Sustainability Plan outlining environmental actions leading to a green campus
• Environmental Initiatives Committee assembled to have oversight of green projects and activities on campus

2002

• First recycling program developed for Wayne State main campus