Who We Are
SEAC is a third-party specialized accreditor for Sustainability and Sustainability-Related degree and certificate programs in higher education.
SEAC is working in a strategic partnership with the National Sustainability Society to improve Sustainability Education and the preparation of Sustainability Professionals. We believe Sustainability Education is vital to developing a resilient, empowered, and skillful modern workforce that will meet the challenges of our future climate.
Our program standards, best practices, and competency framework have been developed through decades of conversation with groups such as the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors and the Sustainability Education Community of Practice at Global Council for Science and the Environment. We collaborate with other organizations in Sustainability in Higher Education including AASHE, AESS, NAAEE, and Second Nature. We welcome input and participation from all academic disciplinary associations, networks, and accreditors.
Since 2021, the Pathways towards Accreditation initiative, funded by the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, has provided focus and momentum to expand stakeholder engagement and formalize a transformative accreditation process.
The SEAC is an independent not-for-profit under the fiscal sponsorship of the National Sustainability Society.
Meet the Team
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Jordan King, Ph.D.
Site Visit Lead
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Aaron Redman, Ph.D.
Site Visit Lead
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Krista Hiser, Ph.D.
Director
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Teri Balser, Ph.D.
Consultant
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Gregory Massara
Program Associate
Sustainability Education Leadership Advisory Council
The SEAC was designed with an academic advisory council, the Sustainability Education Leadership Advisory Council (SELAC). We are currently organizing a new Executive Advisory Board and Working Board. Stay Tuned!
Strategic Advisors:
In addition, we rely on input from Strategic Advisors with whom we consult on specialized topics:
Katja Brundiers, Universität Freiburg
Shelley Kossak, Global Council for Science and the Environment
Christopher Lambert, BCC Advisory
Keala Young, Ecoversities Alliance
Michelle Wyman, Biosphere Strategies
Michaela Zint, University of Michigan
Background Briefing
We regularly update this briefing with the full background and current activities.
Partners
SEAC partners with other organizations in the Sustainability in Higher Education space.
The National Sustainability Society
The NSS will facilitate a coordinated national strategy to develop educational standards and advance the professionalization of the field.
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
In AY 2024-2025 only, AASHE hosted a cohort of program directors who will work together to evaluate and update their sustainability programs using new program standards collaboratively developed by scores of stakeholders in the sustainability education community.
This peer cohort will pilot program learning outcomes integrating the Key Competencies in Sustainability Framework, and the Best Practices that support them. Participants will complete their own program evaluation while working with other directors to further develop dynamic, context-sensitive guidance for the field. This work was developed by the Pathways towards Accreditation initiative and the Sustainability Education Community of Practice at the Global Council for Science and the Environment (GCSE).
The Program Directorsʻ Cohort will be facilitated by Krista Hiser, convener of the Sustainability Education Accreditation Commission. Teri Balser and Rod Parnell will co-facilitate.
Weave Education
Candidates for accreditation complete their self-study in Weave Education, a specialized software that improves the process of self-evaluation and external review.
Funders
We are grateful for funding from the following organizations
