Greenforce is collaborating with the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA), coordinating with their Alternative Energy Consortium and the Breaking Through network. Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the country and their governor in an effort to address this has created a high level green jobs Initiative through the Department of Labor's Energy and Economic Growth office. Greenforce is working with a network of schools that are interested in green jobs training programs and campus sustainability efforts.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNERS
EVENT ARCHIVES
The event link below includes event materials including agenda and presentations
Michigan Greenforce Summit - February 17, 2011
RESOURCES
- Clean energy solutions in Michigan, National Wildlife Federation
- Effective Engagement: Employers and Community Colleges in Michigan, A True Story, Bruce Thompson, Rockford Berge (PPT)
- Global warming impacts in Michigan, National Wildlife Federation
- Green Jobs: Transforming Michigan's Workforce, Marcia Black-Watson, DELEG (PPT)
- Mapping the Green Economy: Michigan, clean energy and energy efficiency companies
- Michigan Green Jobs Report: Occupations and Employment in the New Green Economy
- Michigan Leadership in the Coming Blue-Green Economy, John Austin, Michigan State Board of Education (PPT)
- Michigan Skills Alliances, Diana Carpenter, DELEB (PPT)
- Re-Energizing the Heartland (December 1, 2009)
Delta College is located in University Center, Michigan
Current green jobs courses and programs
Credit courses
Delta College launched its offering of sustainability-related courses with the Fall 2010 semester. The 30 plus course sections include Biology, Chemistry, English, Engineering, Math, Social Science, Political Science, Management, Residential Construction, and Environmental Science. The college also offers two full degree curriculums–Global Peace Studies and a Wind Energy Technology.
Their approach is to infuse sustainability throughout existing curriculum with sustainability-related courses while developing a sustainability–focused course "Introduction to Sustainability" to eventually build to a Certificate Program in Sustainability.
Sustainability-related
- Course tied to sustainable issues
- Evaluated by Academic Sustainability Team
- Incorporates sustainability as distinct module or concentrates on a single TBL aspect
Sustainability-focused
- Educates how different dimensions of sustainability relate to & support the other
- Equips students with skills to weave together disparate sustainable components
- Understanding of sustainability incorporated into TBL projects
- Sustainable immersion thinking and acting to develop and apply understanding, experience, and skill
Certificate Program
- Introduction to Sustainability–Explores the many facets of sustainability. Investigates how TBL shapes all aspects of our planet. In a multidisciplinary framework, students develop sustainability literacy by studying the interdependence of humans and the environment within historical and current contexts
- Build toward full program with sustainability-focused courses
Non-credit courses
LifeLong Learning Fall 2010
Courses/Sessions include:
- Home Inspector
- Michigan 60hr Builder's License Exam Prep
- Journeyman/Master Electrical License Prep
- Journeyman/Master Plumbing License Prep
- NEC Code Update
- Automotive Recertification (Electrical Systems, Engine Tune-up, and Brakes & Braking Systems)
- MIOSHA Safety
- Small Engine Repair
- Green Talk: A Crash Course in Sustainability
- Green Team: Template for Establishing a Workplace Eco-Team
- Discovering the Green in Your Business: Recognizing & Promoting Sustainability
- Business of Being Green: Measuring Your Impact & Creating a Plan for Reduction
- 50+ Bits & Bites - Creating a Sustainable Lifestyle
Delta College LifeLong Learning partners with E2Go to bring a greater selection of online green job training such as:
- Solar Power Professional
- Biofuel Production Operations
- Certified Green Supply Chain Professional
- Oil Refinery Operations
- Performing Comprehensive Building Assessments
- Principles of Green Buildings
- Senior Certified Sustainability Professional
- Building Analyst Quick Start Program (BPIBA Certification)
- Certified Indoor Air Quality Manager
- Chemical Plant Operations
- HVAC Technician
- Natural Gas Plant Operations
- Paper Mill Operations
- Power Plant Operations
- Pulp Mill Operations
- Wind Energy Apprentice
Corporate Services:
- Fundamentals of Lithium Ion Batteries On-Line Training
- Chemical Process Training
- Solar Manufacturing
Future goals
- LifeLong Learning New Program Development:
- Health Information Technology (EMR)
- National Sustainable Building Advisor Program (LEED)
- Credit courses - expand offerings for Winter 2011 to be available by mid-October
- Corporate Services Training - Lithium Battery Fast Start (Spring 2011) to meet Dow Kokam hiring needs and a proposed AAS degree
Campus sustainability
Delta College has many and varied projects aimed at climate action which can be found on our website.
Campus sustainability as hands-on training
The Delta College campus and its sustainability projects are utilized as a living laboratory for many courses including the academic sustainability-related courses, Learning Communities, and Honor Program courses. They have incorporated such climate action projects as energy reduction measures, campus recycling and ride share programs, and snack bag decomposition research in their studies. The storm water management project has been utilized as a living laboratory for science course study.
The Greenforce Initiative Partnership
The Great Lakes Bay Region is successfully diversifying its economy into the alternative energy sector and creating an overall awareness of sustainability. Delta College is uniquely positioned in the region to provide education, workforce training and retraining opportunities in alternative energy and green jobs, so The Greenforce Initiative is an exciting and timely partnership for the college. Delta hopes that with direction from NWF and JFF to strengthen its program offerings, they will be able to better connect with a greater number of students in need of workforce development and sustainability practices, and build partnerships with the businesses and organizations in need of qualified workers.
Websites
Main contact: Linda A. Petee, Sustainability & Risk Management Coordinator, Facilities Management, 989-686-9209
Lake Michigan College is located in Benton Harbor, Michigan
Current green jobs courses and programs
Lake Michigan College is offering two main non-credit programs: Green Energy Academy, a high school early college program, and the Green Building Academy that includes the following courses:
- Green Advantage–Environmental Certification
- Residential Wind Energy
- Weatherization and Home Energy Auditing
- Bale Building: Straw Structures
- Introduction to Concrete Countertops
- Solar Energy: Sun Harvesting (photovoltaic)
- Greenwash
Future goals
Wind and solar credit courses are under development and will be offered in the coming semesters. A second goal of the College is to improve the marketing capacity to generate more interest in topics.
The Greenforce Initiative Partnership
Through this partnership, Lake Michigan College hopes to:
- Network with other professionals and educators dedicated to educating workers for green jobs
- Collaborate with colleagues who have diverse experiences and educational programs (peer-to-peer learning)
- Share resources, including professional development opportunities
- Participate in an advocacy group focused on garnering support for education and training for green jobs
- Gain market expertise to assist in generating enrollment interest in the College's Green programs
Lake Michigan Community College Website
Main contact: Ken Flowers, Chair Technologies, 269-927-8100 ext 3032
Oakland Community College is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Current green jobs courses and programs
Oakland Community College has integrated green curricula into our biology, architecture, automotive and heating and cooling courses. The College has wrap around services and developmental education to support lower- skilled adults interested in taking these courses. There is more information on the Renewable Energies and Sustainable Living website
Future goals
Oakland Community College has the components of sustainability education in the general education core outcomes, the professional development for faculty that is ongoing and an active sustainability committee working on integrating sustainability across the institution.
Campus sustainability as hands-on training
The College's energy management students do real world (on and off campus) energy audits.
The Greenforce Initiative Partnership
Through this partnership, Oakland Community College hopes to share resources, and collaborate on synergies across the state and the country.
Oakland Community College Website
Main contact: Debra Rowe