Green Economy Colleges

2008-11-21T14:14:00.000-08:00

Green Expo
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and South President Jill Wakefield welcomed nearly 400 educators, labor leaders, business people, environmental advocates, and government officials to Green Expo at South Seattle Community College's Georgetown Campus in October. Both cutting-edge and established examples of green technology were displayed across the campus, including wind power, a hybrid Kenworth truck, geothermal energy, and a demonstration pour of pervious concrete.

The event drew 140 teachers, covering K-12 and higher education. Among other government officials present were U.S. Rep Jay Inslee (D-1) and State Rep Bob Hasegawa (D-11). Co-sponsored by South, the National Wildlife Federation and the Manufacturing Industrial Council of Seattle, the first-time event highlighted the business and career opportunities in the Pacific Northwest created by new energy efficiency investments, renewable energy facilities, and the production of “greener” products.

What is Happening in the Area of Sustainability at Community and Technical Colleges?

2008-08-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

Centers of Excellence Activities

Agriculture
· The agriculture industry and agriculture education has been involved with environmental issues and integrated curriculum in “green” and “sustainable” practices for a very long time. For example, all community and technical college agriculture programs include information about organic production methods. The Center for Excellence in Agriculture at Walla Walla leads efforts in agriculture education for community and technical colleges. WWCC programs that include green technology and sustainability include:
o Water Management Program degree options.
o Irrigation Technology.
o Plant & Soil Science degree
o Water Resources Technology. The Water Resources Technology degree is the focal point for sustainability or “thinking green” to-date at WWCC. This degree produces qualified candidates for jobs with Conservation Districts, Water Managers, Consultants, and Field Technicians to gather and analyze data that enables decision makers to think about economic impacts on our environment.
o Additional degree options are being explored that focus on sustainability assessments.
· WWCC has offered many extended learning classes with a focus on “Green” or “Sustainability” as topics. Walla Walla Community College has recently joined the Association of the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Their membership in AASHE signifies a commitment to sustainability on campus through actions and curricula. Campus wide efforts are being made to reduce energy consumption, waste production, reduce water use, and purchase “green” materials. A campus wide Sustainability Committee is currently being formed to help guide WWCC’s transition to a more sustainable future and assist faculty, staff, and students to “think green”.
· The William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center was recently completed, October 2007; this building is undergoing LEED Certification for energy efficiencies and reduced environmental impact. The WWCC Carpentry Program has hosted a large regional event focused on green building and is partnering with a local community group, Walla Walla Resource Council to spread the word about building green.
· Spokane district will be offering “cultivating success” dealing with development of small sustainable farms and ranches.

Energy
· The Center of Excellence in Energy and Centralia College is quickly becoming a test bed for integrating wind, solar, bio mass, ocean and hydro efficiency upgrades into the program delivery in an effort to support I-937 requirements for power producers to increase renewable sources of energy by 15% by 2020.
o They have created two wind energy videos one focused at the community college level and an animated one just released for use at the high school level.
o COE Energy summit has had a strong focus on renewable energy for the past two years and we will do so again this year.
o They are in the process of creating a Renewable Energy Training and Education Coalition to include 3 elements i.e. power production, process control of bio fuels, and green conduction/energy efficiency. This will involve collaboration among 3 COE’s (Centralia, Bellingham, and Renton) and all other interested community and technical colleges.
o Production of skill standards that outlines occupations in the areas or renewable power production
· Shoreline Community College solar skill standards and hybrid technology in automotive programs.
· Lake Washington Technical College –renewable energy theory.
· Cascadia Community College- new renewable certificate program.
· Bellingham Technical College –biofuels, wind, and solar – certificate program in biofuels. BTC has also been involved in
o Bio-Diesel 49 Degrees Border Project (Bio49) funded by the Washington Technology Center. Bio49 includes 11 bi-national partners who are collaborating to produce and market bio-diesel fuel for commercial vehicles and develop a bio-diesel industry in the Pacific Northwest.
o BTC Received an Alternative Energy Grant from Northwest Clean Air Agency. The following activities have been completed or are in the process:
o Installing a windmill as educational laboratory tool for renewable energy courses (windmill will be set up spring 08)
o Installing solar panels as educational laboratory tool for renewable energy Courses (0809)

Construction
· Construction Center of Excellence is actively working to train education and industry on “Green” principles and practices:
o The COE and Renton Technical College hosted a Green Building workshop on February 19 to educate industry professionals on the greening of the construction industry in WA state
o COE to provide a 3-hour workshop to be presented to high school CTE teachers at the following conference
o COE and RTC co-hosting a “Green Building School” on June 14 at the Renton McClendon Hardware – full day of green building workshops and classes; class to be offered through RTC’s “Lifestyles” continuing education course listings
o COE working with industry, labor, workforce, and education representatives on recently convened Green Building Skills Panel to identify potential training needs for “green collar” jobs
o COE plans to follow up the Construction Math Toolbox with a Green Building Science Toolbox, to be aimed at middle and high school students
· Many apprenticeships already offer “green collar” training as part of their existing programs – electricians learn how to install solar panels, carpenters are taught about new “green” materials they are likely to run into on the job
· Bates offers a series of green construction classes—some are online.
· North Seattle is working with the Built Green program to offer classes toward being “Built Green” certified, which is a residential building certification program in WA State.
· South Seattle is developing an Energy Audit certificate program.
· Walla Walla CC Carpentry Program may possibly build the first “green” home in Walla Walla this spring.
· Spokane CC district is working in green construction and hybrid technology in automotive.

General Education
· Many of our community and technical colleges are infusing “sustainability” across the curriculum. Here are two examples:
· Pierce College has a faculty on sabbatical who is working with Jean McGregor to develop learning community curriculum focusing on sustainability and a plan to infuse sustainability across the curriculum.
· Bellevue Community College has sustainability concepts across the curriculum such as Anthropology, English, Early Childhood Education, Interdisciplinary studies program, and the sciences. BCC is also involved in the following:
o Providing a quarterly program “Do More Than Survive: Make a Difference Through Your Work,” emphasizing sustainability as a career path
o The establishment of an Environmental Advisory Committee that provides resources and strategies to programs across disciplines in the area of green workforce development
o Two BCC staff members serve on the steering committee for the Curriculum for the Bioregion

Are High Gas Prices Driving Students Online?

2008-07-25T16:38:00.000-07:00

These recent articles ask whether higher gas prices contribute to higher enrollments in online courses. Whether or not gas prices are one of the reasons for increased enrollments in online courses, online technology can drastically reduce the number of trips taken to attend college classes.

· http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/education/11colleges.html?scp=1&sq=high%20cost%20of%20gas&st=cse

· http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/368017_colleges23.html

http://news.opb.org/article/2583-high-gas-prices-driving-students-online-classes/

GREEN FOR ALL NATIONAL TELECONFERENCE WITH VAN JONES

2008-07-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

Join the Green For All National Conference Call with Van Jones

WHAT: A Call to Introduce Green Jobs Now!

WHEN: Thursday 7/24 1:00pmPST

DURATION: 1 hour

Conference Phone Number: (512) 225-3567

Guest Access Code: 466595#

RSVP: Please email josh@greenforall.org to RSVP. Slots are limited.

Join Van Jones, founder and president of Green for All, and 1Sky Campaign Director Gillian Caldwell for a national conference call on Thursday as we announce Green Jobs Now! Come hear what it's all about, what kind of events people are already planning, and why we need you to get involved right now.

Get Ready...9.27.08

On July 17th , in a landmark speech, Vice President Al Gore set forth a challenge to America to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity in the United States within a decade. In addition to addressing environmental, economic, and national security concerns, this effort has the potential to lift people out of poverty and into prosperity.

On Saturday, September 27th, 2008, one day after the first Presidential Debate of the most important election in our lifetime, join Green For All, 1Sky, and tens of thousands of Americans for: Green Jobs Now! A Day to Build the New Economy.

From the streets of Los Angeles to the hills of Appalachia, people from all walks of life will organize events large and small to demonstrate to Congress, to the next President, and to the nation that we are ready to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty and solve the climate crisis.

It is a simple message we're sending: "I'm ready to build the green economy." Yet it is profound.
It is an "at-risk" youth saying, "I'm ready to be trained in solar panel installation." It is an entrepreneur saying, "I'm ready to green my business." It is a college activist saying, "I'm ready to stand up for working families AND the environment." It is tens of thousands of ordinary Americans asserting the extraordinary: we are ready for an economy that is good for people, and the planet. We are ready for Green Jobs Now!

9.27.08… Get Ready.

GreenJobsNow.com website and more information coming soon.

Van Jones, President & FounderGreen For All

Washington's Community & Technical Colleges Launch Green Economy Blog

2008-05-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

Washington's 34 community and technical colleges are pleased to introduce Green Economy Colleges, a blog showcasing how the colleges are preparing workers for "green" jobs.

Spurred by the passage of HB 2815 (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) by the 2008 Washington State Legislature, the appetite for information about what colleges are doing to prepare the workforce for a greener economy has exploded. The purpose of Green Economy Colleges blog is to create a clearinghouse of educational initiatives, including instruction, facilities/operations and campus life to meet these needs.

Community and technical colleges can use the blog as a place to promote innovations and best practices in preparing workers for green economy jobs and get new ideas for how to integrate green economy initiatives into instruction, facilities/operations and campus life.

Over time, as the blog becomes populated with information about education programs and campus initiatives, we'll invite the media, elected officials and other external audiences to use it to gather information.

The blog operates on a stewardship model, in that college administrators from across the state are invited to post content. A small team of stewards are on hand to provide technical assistance and assure that content matches the intent of the blog.

The first team of stewards are:
Sharon Buck, Dean for Student Learning, Cascadia Community College (sbuck@cascadia.edu)
Tom Henderson, Director of Capital Budget, State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (thenderson@sbctc.edu)
Barbara Hins-Turner, Director, Center of Excellence for Energy Technology (bhins-turner@centralia.edu)
Carolyn Cummins, Policy Associate, State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (ccummins@sbctc.edu)

Please contact any of the stewards to learn how you can participate.

Washington Community & Technical College Presidents Sign Climate Commitment

2008-05-30T15:05:00.000-07:00

Nine of Washington’s community and technical college presidents have signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment to date. The Commitment is a visible commitment among now 550 signatories to take tangible steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote more research and education to address climate change.

Washington Community and Technical College signatories:

Bellevue Community College
B. Jean Floten, President

Cascadia Community College
William Christopher, President

Centralia College
James Walton, President

Edmonds Community College
Jack Oharah, President

Lake Washington Technical College
L. Michael Metke, President

Olympic College
David C. Mitchell, President

Shoreline Community College
Lee D. Lambert, President

South Puget Sound Community College
Gerald Pumphrey, President

Whatcom Community College
Kathi Hiyane-Brown, President

For more information about the Commitment, go to: http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/index.php.