Hope Advocates for Sustainability

18/06/2026

Sharing this level 2 accreditation status with Hope College is the City Of Holland, Michigan - City Hall. Both are now recognized as accredited arboretums in the Morton Register of Arboreta, a database of the world’s arboreta and gardens dedicated to woody plants. The accreditation is a result of collaborative work across Hope’s Grounds Team, Biology Department, Computer Science Department, Sustainability Office and the City of Holland. Together, Hope College and the City of Holland have inventoried nearly 15,000 trees across Holland, which is documented at trees.cityofholland.com.

https://hope.edu/news/2026/campus-life/hope-college-awarded-level-2-accreditation-through-arbnet.html

Hope College was awarded a Level 2 accreditation by The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum, for achieving particular standards of professional practices deemed important for arboreta and botanic gardens. The ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program is the only global initi...

18/06/2026

Well Deserved Kara!!

Recently retired Director of Operations Kara Slater has been recognized by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business as one of West Michigan’s "Notable Leaders in Architecture, Engineering and Construction."

During her 11-year tenure, Kara managed over two million square feet of campus space and directed the major construction projects that shaped our campus.

17/06/2026

Della Fetzer, A Hope Bio grad and owner of Rebel Cultures was featured in the Holland Sentinel for her local work. Check it out!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17YijTB2Gt/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/06/2026

08/06/2026

Today we celebrate World Oceans Day with the Vankley Museum. Although we live in West Michigan, we are still deeply connected to and dependent on the ocean in our everyday lives. From the products we use to the air we breathe, the ocean plays a critical role in sustaining life and supporting our global economy.



Hope College Biology Department

https://blogs.hope.edu/sustainability-institute/community-knowledge/celebrating-world-oceans-day-with-the-vankley-museum/

Around the world, there are more than 800 species of hermit crabs! Most people are familiar with the semi-terrestrial Purple Pincher hermit crab (Coenobita clypeatus), a species commonly kept as a pet. However, there are different species of hermit crabs that are fully aquatic, semi-terrestrial, and even one freshwater species.
Hermit crabs are invertebrates, meaning they do not have internal skeletons. Instead, they have hard external coverings called exoskeletons. While the front portion of their body is protected by this exoskeleton, the abdomen and tail are soft and vulnerable. To protect this soft body region, hermit crabs use empty sea snail shells as portable homes.

Within the Vankley Museum, we house two types of hermit crabs: Red Leg Reef Hermit Crabs (Paguristes cadenati) and Purple Pincher Hermit Crabs. Across marine, coastal, and freshwater ecosystems, hermit crabs play an important role as part of nature's cleanup crew. As scavengers and opportunistic feeders, they consume decaying organic matter, algae, and leftover food, helping to recycle nutrients and keep ecosystems healthy. By breaking down waste and returning nutrients to the environment, hermit crabs contribute to the balance of aquatic and coastal habitats around the world.

12/05/2026

🧡💙

11/05/2026

Congratulations Hope College Class of 2026! Your hard work and dedication have paid off—congratulations on this incredible milestone!

The Hope College Green Team is once again recycling this year's graduation caps and gowns, keeping them from being sent to a
landfill. Please drop them off near the Bookstore by Friday, May 15 to support our ongoing mission of greater campus sustainability.

We are partnering with Public Thread to upcycle the gowns into new products. Stay tuned for more details!

Also, be sure to sign up for our Alumni Sustainability Affinity Group

Hope Sustains was established to engage all concerned alumni as a reference and resource for the college’s educational mission focused around the increasingly critical issue of sustainability, helping to shape and support our alma mater’s own sustainability goals.

https://bit.ly/HopeSustainsAlumni



Hope College Alumni Association

07/05/2026

Totaling 815 students, the largest graduating class in Hope’s history will gather this Sunday, May 10. 🎓

04/05/2026

🌳 Holland and Hope College have been awarded a Level II Accreditation by ArbNet Arboretum. What does that mean? See link below ⬇️

📸 Adam Vander Kooy/Holland Sentinel

04/05/2026

Hope Junior Tackles Big Project with County to Develop Small-Footprint Housing Designs
In response to a growing housing affordability gap, Hope College junior and civil engineering student Matt Daub ’27 is working with Ottawa County in Michigan to design and introduce smaller homes into the market. This project was the sole focus of his internship after he was hired by the county’s department of strategic impact as the only dedicated staff member.

https://magazine.hope.edu/spring-2026/small-footprint-housing-designs/

Hope College Department of Engineering

In response to a growing housing affordability gap, Hope College junior and civil engineering student Matt Daub ’27 is working with Ottawa County in Michigan to design and introduce smaller homes into the market. This project was the sole focus of his internship after he was hired by the county’...