Who We Are

 

SEI is a district-wide faculty-run institute, addressing environmental sustainability. Working with the LACCD Academic Senate, we coordinate the efforts of nine colleges so that students, faculty, and staff have access to the resources needed to enhance environmental awareness. SEI was founded in 2010, and in that time has partnered with other area community colleges the UC’s, CSU’s and USC as well as LAUSD and other K-12 programs. We're LACCD educators deeply concerned with the state of the environment and passionate about the need to raise the level of environmental awareness among our students.

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The magnitude of the problems the world faces could not be clearer. The climate emergency stares us right in the face, but air pollution, water scarcity, endangered ecosystems, and the prospect of widespread species extinction are also enormous challenges. 

 

The coronavirus that has convulsed the world since early last year is itself a sign that we can’t continue to invade and destroy wild places without paying a terrible price.

 

A broad understanding of the environment and the human impact upon it has never been more vital, and the district community should be more deeply involved in that pursuit.​

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Current Focus

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Advancing climate action education and engagement is SEI’s core mission. We are energetically addressing ways to encourage and assist faculty to embed environmental equity across disciplines. We offer regular workshops, a community of practice, up to date news, a database of resources as well as an online archive that supports dissemination of curriculum to all educators      

 

We are also engaged in the communication of environmental news. We do so through our newsletter, speaker series and this website. We are especially interested in presenting local and statewide environmental news, which are often underreported in the media. And, of course, we share news about environmental programs at our colleges.

 

History

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The Sustainable Environment Institute was formed in May, 2010, by leaders of the Los Angeles Community College District District Academic Senate and other concerned faculty to promote environmental awareness in the transfer curriculum, in job training programs, and in our daily practice at all nine colleges of the district.
 
 

Vision Statement

The Sustainable Environment Institute advances the principles of sustainable living through teaching, practice, and community participation in the belief that application of these principles will lead to an enduring and more equitable society.
 
 

Mission Statement

The Sustainable Environment Institute will help coordinate the efforts of the nine LACCD colleges so that students, faculty, administrators and staff have access to programs, courses, activities, and resources that enhance environmental awareness.