The Erb Institute at the University of Michigan Furthers Green Job Creation, Achieves Record Admissions Levels in 15th Anniversary Year

ANN ARBOR, MI--(Marketwire - July 1, 2009) - Green job creation, top prizes in sustainable business plan competitions and record enrollments are among the achievements that The Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan celebrates at the close of its 15th anniversary year. In addition, the publication of important new research and a leadership role in the national discussion on sustainability have confirmed The Institute's position as a hub of sustainable business innovation.

With 110 students enrolled for the coming academic year, up from 82 for 2008-2009, the Institute will welcome its largest group of new and returning students this fall, which poses both opportunities and challenges as the Institute works to place its students in jobs during an economic recession. To help address that challenge, Erb launched an innovative internship program this year in partnership with numerous corporations, non-government organizations (NGO) and government agencies, a program which includes Erb underwriting a portion of the salaries of students who choose NGO or government work that might not compensate as well as in the private sector.

Student achievements

The internships are part of a larger green job creation strategy that The Erb Institute has undertaken. The student placements include positions created in cooperation with small business associations, corporations and NGOs in Michigan and beyond. Erb Institute students are involved in green economic transformation in other ways as well, including the Husk Insulation team, whose business plan took top honors and a $200,000 prize in the MIT Clean Energy competition held in the spring of 2009.

In addition, the all-Erb Algal Scientific team was honored with first place in the DTE Clean Energy competition this spring. Erb MBA/MS candidates also played leadership roles on the Ross School of Business chapter of student organization Net Impact, which was recognized as the best chapter in the country in 2008 for the third year running.

Faculty research and leadership

In the past year, Erb has seen its program elevated nationally among business, academic and nonprofit audiences through participation in numerous conferences, events and forums. For example, Erb Director and Professor Thomas P. Lyon provided insight as part of a Town Hall discussion among CEOs of FedEx, Office Depot and Delta Airlines at the National Summit in Detroit in early June.

During the 2008-2009 academic year, Erb's faculty published numerous books and articles, including Professor and Associate Director Andrew J. Hoffman's "Climate Change: What's Your Business Strategy?," published by the Harvard Business School Press; and "Hybrid Organizations," a master's project completed in 2008 and recently published by Greenleaf Publishing. Faculty members also provided leadership on master's projects such as an initiative to "green" the entire campus of the Holy Cross Abbey in Clarke County, Virginia, a project which draws on students' expertise in both the scientific theories of sustainability and the practical application of green building tactics.

In addition, in May, the Institute served as host and sponsor of the first annual conference of the growing Alliance for Research on Corporate Sustainability, which includes scholars from the University of Virginia, Dartmouth, Harvard University and University of Western Ontario. Erb also hosted the Sustainable Energy Fellowships program in late May, which drew leading sustainable energy scholars and students together to discuss solutions to society's real energy challenges.

"Thanks to the outstanding contributions of our students, faculty and alumni The Erb Institute continues to emerge as a leading authority on sustainable business," said Erb Institute Managing Director Rick Bunch. "The incredible achievements of the past 12 months will provide a springboard for our growth in the months and years to come, as we continue to expand our education and research programs."

About the Frederick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise

Created in 1996, the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise is a 50-50 partnership between the School of Natural Resources and Environment and the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. The Institute fosters professional education, public outreach and scientific scholarship supportive of the transition to sustainability -- that is, meeting the fundamental needs of a growing human population in an equitable manner within the means of nature. Utilizing a collaborative approach, the Institute helps business, government and civil society organizations to achieve meaningful progress toward sustainability. Its mission is be a premier source of knowledge and leadership for the achievement of environmentally, economically and socially sustainable development and enterprise. For more information, visit www.erb.umich.edu.