In 2015 the University of Michigan’s President’s Office formed a committee with the goal of reducing waste. That effort led to color schemes, terminology, and signage that has become familiar to University staff, faculty, and students.

With the goal of improving waste management within the community, the city of Ann Arbor has decided to adopt those standards. Aligning signage between the university and city was seen as a common-sense approach to sustainability, and will start with Ann Arbor City Hall and Ann Arbor city parks.

The Office of Campus Sustainability’s mission includes identifying, supporting, and coordinating opportunities to reduce energy consumption and increase sustainable operations on campus that may go beyond what is required to meet campus goals. Ann Arbor’s sustainability framework includes a goal of responsible resource use – to produce zero waste and optimize the use and reuse of resources in our community. By working together, the city and university advance their mutual goal of a more sustainable community.

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In partnership with the University of Michigan, the seven-year-old Doctors of Tomorrow effort is focused on diversifying the future of health care by exposing underrepresented minority students to careers in medicine, as well as providing them with foundational skills to pursue a career in health sciences.

Dr. Jonathan F. Finks, Associate Professor of Surgery
Co-Director, Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative
Advisor, Global Health and Disparities Path of Excellence

“These kids are willing to go the extra mile. These are the ones who we felt if we were able to shepherd them along and provide them mentorship, guidance and hopefully some financial support, then we could get them to medical school to sort of start a pipeline that begins in high school and follows them all the way to college.” – Dr. Jonathan Finks

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On June 17, 2019 Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order establishing the Task Force on Women in Sports. The goal of the task force will be to develop recommendations for legislation, policies, and programs to address problems in access to sports for Michigan women and girls in sports. A statement from Governor Whitmer’s office said that female athletes routinely face lower levels of investment, training resources, and safety assurances than male athletes.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer

“Young girls and women who are participating in sports in Michigan deserve the same opportunities as their male counterparts. These possibilities extend well beyond time on the playing field,” Governor Whitmer said. “Playing basketball in high school allowed me to develop leadership skills while learning about the importance of teamwork.”

Among those named to the task force are University of Michigan associate dean for Graduate Affairs, professor of Sport Management, and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Lead for the School of Kinesiology Ketra Armstrong, and University of Michigan softball coach and National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame member Carol Hutchins.