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

ANN ARBOR, MI, Jul 01 (MARKET WIRE) --
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.

Media Contact:
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