AQ Economicology Leadership Fund

ELF at Aquinas College
All About the Economicology Leadership Fund

What is the Economicology Leadership Fund (ELF)?

The Economicology Leadership Fund (ELF) offers flexible funding, managed at the discretion of the president of Aquinas College or their designee. The fund is dedicated to supporting innovative research and program development that furthers the concept of Economicology on campus. Defined by Peter Wege as the goal of “creating balance between our ecology and economy” (Economicology II, 17), Economicology guides our initiatives.

Proposals for ELF funding can come from a variety of sources within the campus community, including faculty, staff, committees, and strategic planning efforts.

The Roots of ELF

The Economicology Leadership Fund was established in 2014 with a generous $400,000 gift from the Wege Foundation. This initial donation was part of a larger $2.5 million grant to Aquinas College, aimed at supporting various positions and departments dedicated to sustainability. The Wege Foundation’s support provided crucial seed funding to launch the ELF and advance its mission.

How ELF Supports Aquinas College’s Mission

ELF funding is crucial in advancing Aquinas College’s commitment to sustainability, reflecting our values of stewardship and care for creation. It benefits faculty, staff, students, and the broader community by supporting innovative projects and initiatives that align with our mission. The funds are utilized to enhance sustainability education and implement innovative sustainable updates across the college, enriching our educational environment and demonstrating our dedication to Integral Ecology, sustainability, and Economicology.

IMPACT! Check out Some Current & Past Proposals Funded by the Economicology Leadership Fund

CORE, the Center for Opportunities, Resources, and Excellence, submitted a request for $500 to purchase and install fluorescent light diffusers in JLH. This upgrade aims to soften the harsh white and blue tones of the existing lighting, creating a warmer atmosphere for studying. By filtering the current lighting, this cost-effective solution can enhance the study environment and potentially offer mental health benefits.

For FY 2025, Aquinas’ School of Education is committed to enhancing sustainability within the Education major by establishing an academic requirement. To support this initiative, the School has proposed a request to ELF for $2,000, aimed at exploring various strategies, including faculty training, stipends for course visitors such as WMEAC education experts, and academic supplies like books and software. The goal is to implement climate-sustainable pedagogy for future Education majors, aligning with the college’s core focus on sustainability and preparing prospective educators for generations to come.

In May 2022, the Geography and Culture of Iceland course took 18 students and faculty on a transformative short-term abroad trip, enriching their education through firsthand experiences. This proposal sought approximately $3,500 to help lower the overall costs for participants. The funding covered expenses for educational excursions, including entry fees for the Perlan Museum, Fridheimar Greenhouse, and Solheimajökull Glacier tour.

Aquinas College is renowned for its commitment to sustainability, and a key feature of the campus is its collection of over 100 native Michigan tree species. This project, which received $1,580 from ELF, successfully revitalized the signage identifying these trees. The updated signs enhance our community outreach efforts by attracting local schools, visitors, and guests while providing valuable educational opportunities for current students. Be sure to check out the new tree placards around campus!

Dr. Kevin Boyd received funding from ELF to monitor chemical indicators of stream health in Coldbrook Creek, which flows through the Aquinas campus. In the summers of 2022 and 2024, students collaborated with Boyd to install technology and collect samples, contributing data to a publicly accessible database. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to “...devise strategies to minimize the damage done and ensure the stream remains healthy,” as Dr. Boyd notes. While the River Narrative Project is nearing completion, Boyd emphasizes that the next step involves placing additional sensors throughout the creek. 

AQ’s Commitment to Sustainability

Established in 2005, the Center for Sustainability plays a vital role in advancing the principles of sustainability and integral ecology across campus. Support from the Steelcase Foundation and the Wege Foundation, founded by longtime environmental advocate Peter Wege, has greatly enhanced sustainability initiatives at Aquinas. Today, sustainability is deeply infused into the everyday operations of Aquinas College and utilizes sustainability principles in many major decisions for the future. Aquinas has emerged as a leader in sustainability, being featured in The Princeton Review’s 2021 Guide to Green Colleges and being recognized as a top performer in the Sustainable Campus Index for 2020 & 2021. The Economicology Leadership Fund has been essential in upholding Mr. Wege’s vision by consistently funding small yet impactful sustainable and innovative practices at Aquinas College.

ELF Donations and Funding

The primary goal of the Economicology Leadership Fund (ELF) is to advance research and innovation in Economicology at Aquinas College. To support this mission, ELF encourages a proposal limit of $2,000 for group submissions and a maximum of $1,000 for individual proposals; larger grants may also be considered, such as the funding for the Geography and Culture of Iceland trip mentioned earlier. Recipients of ELF grants are required to submit a report one year after the award date, detailing the project's outcomes and how the funds were used.

The Economicology Leadership Fund seeks continued community support to help grow the fund. To donate or learn more about ELF and its funding opportunities, please contact Jessica Eimer Bowen.

CONTACT INFO

Jessica Eimer Bowen
Executive Director, Center for Sustainability
Albertus Hall, Rm 129
(616) 632-1994
eimerjes@aquinas.edu