GEF Institute Seeks K-12 and Higher Education Partners in Sustainability

East Walpole, MA, June 30, 2012 --(PR.com)-- To further its mission to make quality, online sustainability education and training available to students, educators and administrators, GEF Institute has announced its Sustainability Partner Program. Sustainability Partners are those K-12 and higher education institutions interested in providing their stakeholders an opportunity to integrate sustainability in context with existing curriculum, career interests, or academic area. The partner program also provides the backbone for ongoing training and education for those interested in advancing existing sustainability initiatives or starting a new program on campus or in schools.

The program is currently free and provides access to the first unit of GEF Institute’s flagship course, “Sustainability Concepts.” This 1.5 hour unit, entitled “Introduction to Sustainability: Its Purposes, Challenges, and Requirements,” discusses the many ways in which we can create a society and economy that is aligned with the ecological systems of Planet Earth. This unit makes up one-third of the requirements to earn the Institute’s Sustainability Trainee Certificate, encouraging and motivating participants toward sustainability literacy in small steps.

Partners also receive access to one video course from the Institute’s video course series. These multi-media courses are comprised of a short video (typically 2-4 minutes), 2-3 paragraphs of related content, a three question quiz, and take home action. Each fun and engaging video course can be used as stand-alone education for adults or as homework assigned to students. A new video course will be made available at no cost to partners quarterly. Lastly, partners will receive a 15 percent discount on any GEF Institute purchase. This includes online courses, the video course series, certificate programs, and more.

As a Sustainability Partner, schools and universities agree to share the Institute’s opportunities and mission with their network of educators and administrators. Using the Institute’s digital marketing toolkit, partners will provide links to discounted education on their website, share the importance of sustainability education through social media, and make their stakeholders aware of the opportunities available through GEF Institute.

To become a Sustainability Partner, complete this form and return it to GEF Institute via email, support@gefinstitute.org, or fax, 508-668-2280. Upon receipt, GEF Institute will contact you to schedule an introductory call to discuss the program, answer any preliminary questions, and provide access to the online course materials. To learn more about the Sustainability Partner Program or download the form, visit http://www.gefinstitute.org/colleges-and-universities/sustainability-partner-program.

About GEF Institute
GEF Institute, a division of Green Education Foundation (GEF), was established to meet the increasing market demand for sustainability focused education and training. The Institute builds on GEF's expertise in K-12 sustainability education and STEM concepts by offering affordable online courses in sustainability to educators, students at the high school and undergraduate level, employees and professionals. In addition to individual online courses, the Institute’s robust certificate program distinguishes those with a proven comprehensive understanding of important sustainability topics. The Institute's courses are eligible for professional development or academic credit. www.gefinstitute.org