With the advent of online learning technologies and platforms, educational opportunities have become global in terms of their potential reach. At the same time, community colleges have continued to seek to offer a low cost education open to all. Marrying those two effectively to expand education in the fields of resource management and pollution prevention has been the recent work of Jeff Staudinger, proud SEAS alumnus.

Since joining the faculty of DeAnza College in 2010, Staudinger has developed a new certificate and degree program in Environmental Resource Management and Pollution Prevention (ERM&P2) and subsequently converted all ERM&P2 core courses into a 100% online format. Now students globally can earn a certificate in ERM&P2 without ever having to step on the DeAnza campus.

His students now include not only those living in the San Francisco Bay Area (where DeAnza is located), but throughout California (via the California Virtual Campus), across the nation, and globally as well from places as far away as London and Hong Kong. Furthermore, the continuing studies-like course offerings in ERM&P2 have attracted many students already possessing degrees in environmental studies/science to further their knowledge and education.

“It is an exciting time to be teaching in the online space,” Staudinger said. “Gov. Jerry Brown is looking to reach more students both within and outside of California by establishing a new online-only community college, and I’m currently gearing up to be a part of that groundbreaking effort.”

Staudinger is also proud of the wide diversity of students that his program is attracting. “Given the open nature of community college, my virtual classrooms are extremely rich in student diversity – in terms of age, ethnicity, educational background, educational goals, physical location, you name it – which really lends itself to a robust educational experience, including for myself. I learn a tremendous amount from my students, for which I am grateful.” Staudinger is grateful for the education he received at SEAS. “The experience was a real turning point in my life. I wish to thank all the professors I had for all the wisdom and knowledge they imparted to me, both within and outside the classroom.”