FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Krista Hiser / SEAC / krista@sustedu.org / (808) 779-5385

Serge Marek / Hawaiʻi Pacific University / smarek@hpu.edu / (808) 387-2473

Hawaiʻi Pacific University’s Master of Arts in Sustainability Program becomes First Program in the United States to Earn Initial Accreditation from the Sustainability Education Accreditation Commission. 

Honolulu, HI — [August 11, 2026] — The Sustainability Education Accreditation Commission (SEAC) is pleased to announce its inaugural accreditation decision, awarding initial accreditation status to the Master of Arts in Sustainability at Hawaii Pacific University (HPU).

This milestone marks the formal launch of SEAC as an independent nonprofit organization under the fiscal sponsorship of the National Sustainability Society. SEAC is the first programmatic accreditor to focus on sustainability programs as a professional path to problem-solving careers. 

Dr. Krista Hiser, President of SEAC, commented: “Our voluntary, holistic, peer-driven accreditation framework is a powerful lever for improving the quality, visibility, and impact of sustainability degrees in higher education.”  

The Commission recognized the HPU program’s excellence in creating balance between conceptual and applied skills, and its emphasis on incorporating real-world learning experiences. 

Dr. Davis Bookhart, Chair of the SEAC Accreditation Commission and Senior Advisor for Sustainability at Northeastern University, said, “Our priority is articulating the high standards set by the field, with a rigorous process to ensure that they are met. This is essential for institutions of higher education to build trust with employers and provide assurance that graduates from these accredited sustainability programs are well-prepared to succeed as sustainability professionals across a variety of sectors. 

Dr. Serge Marek, Program Director of the MA in Sustainability at HPU, commented:

"As one of the earliest sustainability programs in the U.S., our faculty and students are so excited to be the first sustainability program to achieve SEAC accreditation. The accreditation process, while challenging, was a wonderfully collaborative experience that helped our program recognize and emphasize continuing excellence, as well as key areas of future growth. HPUʻs MA SUST program produces highly competent sustainability professionals, and acquiring SEAC accreditation, within a national network of accredited programs, will help us continue to achieve this goal."

About SEAC

The Sustainability Education Accreditation Commission (SEAC) advances quality, visibility, and impact for sustainability and sustainability-related degrees and certificates in higher education. As the only programmatic accreditor dedicated to sustainability, SEAC bridges academic innovation and professional practice through a voluntary, peer-driven evaluation framework. Since 2021, SEAC has collaborated with hundreds of faculty, students, and industry leaders across more than 100 institutions to define and elevate the standards, best practices, and competencies of professional sustainability education.For more information about SEAC standards and the process of accreditation, visit www.sustedu.org. 

About Hawai‘i Pacific University 

Hawai'i Pacific University is a private, nonprofit university on the island of O'ahu. Established in 1965, HPU is home to nearly 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students from the 50 United States, U.S. Territories, and over 40 different countries. The student experience is shaped by a rich cultural mosaic and a learning environment of innovative, hands-on experiences amplified by the power of community collaborations. HPU students are empowered to pursue the subjects they are most passionate about. 

To learn more about Hawaii Pacific University’s Master’s in Sustainability, visit: https://www.hpu.edu/cla/history-intstudies/sustainability/index.html