Program Overview

Introduction to the Sustainable Energy Undergraduate Distinction

The Sustainable Energy@Mines (SE@M) Undergraduate Distinction is a program designed to honor and support students from any major who are focused on learning about and shifting the landscape of sustainable energy. This program encourages, recruits, and trains the next generation of energy professionals to find innovative and holistic solutions to challenges such as climate change, clean energy transition, and energy equity.

Program Description

The SE@M program is a "build your own" distinction that recognizes students' efforts in learning about and contributing to sustainable energy. The program consists of a green regalia honor cord, a certificate, and a footnote in the graduation bulletin. SE@M aims to create and support a community of people focused on learning about and shifting the landscape of renewable and sustainable energy.

Graduate Requirements

To earn the SE@M distinction, students must meet a minimum number of points based on the merits, impact, and relevance from three categories:

• LEARN (e.g., courses)
• PRACTICE (e.g., internships)
• BUILD COMMUNITY (e.g., leadership in student organizations)

Program Topics

Examples of SE@M-related topics include:

• Energy efficiency
• Energy conservation
• Sustainable buildings and communities
• Renewable energies
• Energy storage
• Energy policy
• Energy equity
• Sustainable transportation

Program Goals

The SE@M program intends to support, encourage, and make it easier for students to find their path in sustainable energy. By recognizing what students already do and providing a framework for further engagement, SE@M aims to foster a community of energy professionals who can address the needs and challenges of the energy transition. This includes engineers, geologists, economists, computer scientists, policymakers, and more.