After handing out diplomas for almost seven years, Bainbridge Graduate Institute has finally earned its cap and gown as a fully-accredited college.

Established in 2002 as the nation’s first business school focused on environmental sustainability, BGI has produced 200 graduates and developed a growing reputation among academic and business leaders.

“Becoming accredited is a big step in the evolution and the growth of the school,” BGI president and co-founder Gifford Pinchot III said in a statement.

BGI was notified of its accreditation by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools on Tuesday.

Accreditation would broaden BGI’s fundraising reach and allow students to transfer credits and obtain government financial aid.

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Jon Strauss, former president of Harvey Mudd College in California, has been named president of Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

He takes the reins from Gifford Pinchot, founder and president of the six-year-old institute, which offers master’s degrees in sustainable business. Its campus is at IslandWood, the environmental-learning center on south Bainbridge Island.

Currently, 157 students are working on their master’s in sustainable business. Another 43 are working on certifications.

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