Our mission
The School of Earth & Sustainability (SES) is a cross-college network of students, scholars, scientists, and innovators. SES connects academic programs, wide-ranging experts, and regional partners to advance transdisciplinary research, accessible education, and meaningful community engagement. Our work drives collaborative solutions with local-to-global impact for a more sustainable, just, and climate-resilient future.
Who does SES serve?
The School of Earth & Sustainability (SES) is building a network of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to advancing sustainability across campus and the broader region. Our network includes academic units and programs that form the foundation of our work. These departments and programs have a shared commitment to our purpose and Charter. Core departments currently include Environmental Conservation (ECo), Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences (EGCS), the Stockbridge School of Agriculture (SSA), and Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning (LARP). Member departments are united by shared leadership and priorities for common programming that serve their communities and programs.
Over the past few years, SES has engaged valued faculty leaders from beyond the College of Natural Sciences to prepare for the next phase of operations. This includes representation from Environmental Humanities and English within the College of Humanities and Fine Arts and School of Public Policy within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Beyond departments, SES connects and engages to a vast network of faculty, students, and programs from across campus and beyond. Currently, our SES network includes 120 world-class faculty, 1,300 undergraduate students, 350 graduate students, and many research scientists, technicians, and support staff.
Key Programs and Services
Our programs and services support teaching, research, creative activity, engagement, and extension with a strong emphasis on transdisciplinary collaboration.
- Communications: SES Communications provides integration, cross-promotion, and storytelling to elevate the SES brand. We also create assets and materials to support special programs and engage the SES network.
- Climate Literacy Program @ UMass: Our team is developing new Climate Literacy curriculum. Drawing on university expertise, this program includes modules for students, communities, and specialized audiences to enhance climate understanding and action. SES is experimenting with the design and delivery to maximize impact and reach. It is an exciting initiative that when we began, there was no suitable example elsewhere to adapt. True to our UMass spirit, SES is designing the program through student-centered training with undergraduate and graduate students.
- Student Success: We offer comprehensive programming to prepare students to lead the green workforce. This includes student-led initiatives like the Student Sustainability Coalition, an Internship Program, and major events like the annual Sustainability Career Fair and Earth Day Extravaganza. SES works closely with the SGA Sustainability team and other program leaders.
- Regional Hub of Partners: Our hub model is a solutions-driven approach to tackling regional challenges. We activate our network and specialized expertise to deliver tangible solutions in strategic areas of impact and need. Currently, SES is supporting place-based impact work in several areas: Climate Resilience, Arts & Sciences, and Food Systems.