Sustainability

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View of P.I.E., MFA Public Practice Graduate Exhibition, May 2009. Works from Tory Tepp, '09 (left) and Ofunne Obiamiwe, '09 (right).

In Los Angeles, California, the impacts of environmental degradation are acute. Environmental consequences of fire, earthquakes, drought, and pollution are at the forefront of the issues the residents of Los Angeles respond to on a daily basis. At Otis, we recognize the importance of addressing the sustainability of the planet through our practices as an institution, and our instruction as educators.

These pages document the initiatives on campus and in our classrooms that forward the practice and awareness of sustainability at Otis. We approach sustainability from its environmental, social and economic dimensions as a practice and way of life that supports and sustains resources for the future.

It is our intention to support sustainable practices on many levels at Otis. The Environmental Steering Committee (ESC), a committee of faculty and staff, has initiated a green house gas audit, in order to assess the impacts of our buildings and activities on the environment. (see Campus Initiatives)

The ESC is also leading an initiative to “Make Sustainability Visible at Otis” by collecting and highlighting current activities. Ongoing presentations to the Otis community by department chairs and faculty share the current projects and activities that address recycling/reuse, ecological awareness, social justice and the environment as a way to raise the profile of these activities on campus. (see Academic Initiatives and Projects)

In art and design education, designing for sustainability is designing for the future. At Otis, we have a unique opportunity to provide the context for learning about sustainability by preparing our students to be aware of the environmental and social impacts of their creative projects. In addition to specific studio projects, Otis is integrating the teaching of sustainability into its core curriculum. Liberal Arts and Sciences is launching sustainability as one of five themes, and course topics in Integrated Learning support sustainability through its collaborative, interdisciplinary, context-driven curriculum. As we train artists and designers, our intention is that they not only become conscious of the issues regarding sustainability, but also learn to take a position and become informed innovators who are part of the solutions.

Gwynne Keathley
Associate Provost (2008-09)

Additional Resources

Sustainability Wiki