"I have recently learned of SEED and am very impressed with the programs and resources offered on www.theSEEDcenter.org! Your Green Action Plan series caught my eye, especially the initial focus on energy policy."

Vera Cole

Faculty for the Energy and Sustainability Policy program

Penn State University

Welcome New SEED Member, February 

If your college is not a member yet, join today, or refer a college to join and begin taking advantage of free resources SEED offers. 

Comprehensive manual from the Department of Labor designed to assist women with job training and career development. Training providers, educators, counselors, and other workforce development professionals will also find this useful to promote the recruitment and retention of women in green career paths.

Don't Miss... Conferences:   

Sustainability Symposium - All About Energy

Presented by Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, Western Illinois University & Black Hawk College

3/23/2012, Davenport, IA

Climate, Community and Culture

4/2-4/2012 - Syracuse, NY

AACC Annual Conference

21st Century Vision: Igniting Innovation

4/21-24/12, Orlando, FL 

Agriculture-based Renewable Energy Professional Development Workshop

Community college and high school agriculture and science teachers will learn ways to bring research on ag-based renewable energy technologies to the classroom.

Applications due: 4/1/12

Workshop: 6/11-12/12,  

Iowa State University,  

Ames, IA

AMS Climate Studies for Minority-Serving Institutions

Second Nature & American Meteorological Society (AMS)

workshop to promote the importance of basic climate science education at all colleges and universities.

MSIs nationwide participate for free.

Application due: 3/21/2012

Workshop: 5/20-25/2012, Washington, DC

Don't Miss... Webinars:

JCCC Center for Sustainability

Monthly web conference. 

3/21/12, 1PM EST

How to Grow Green Jobs

CERET - Consortium for Education in Renewable Energy Technology

3/22/12, 1 - 2:30 PM EST

Beyond teaching technological skills and knowledge, a successful green business employee also needs to understand how to effectively communicate about the green product and how to help the employer understand and utilize the successful green business models.

Communicating Climate Science in the Classroom

Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network

Registration deadline: 3/20/12

Workshop dates: 4/2-11/2012

Explore climate literacy case studies and discuss effective modes of communication in regards to sustainability.

Teaching Climate Complexity Workshop

Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network

Registration deadline: 3/31/2012

Workshop dates: 5/7-16/2012

Faculty, expand your knowledge of the climate system and gain pedagogic strategies for effective teaching of complex topics.

HVAC & Building Technician Credentialing

Laney College

4/13/12, 1-3PM EST

Presenters include Green Building Certification Institute (LEED AP O&M), HVAC Excellence, The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), North American Technician Excellence (NATE), and National Resource Center for

Aerospace Technical Education (SpaceTEC).

• Learning outcomes
• Classroom and lab activities
• Laboratory and training manuals 
• Syllabi  
• Equipment lists
• Lesson plans
• Textbooks

Issue 14, March 14, 2012  

As chair of the AACC SEED Sustainability Task Force and as Second Nature presidential fellows we have the opportunity to learn about some of the most effective and dynamic sustainability and green workforce efforts initiated by community colleges. One common thread seems to characterize these innovative institutions: strong leadership from the administration. College presidents and senior leaders who make commitments to campus sustainability realize multiple tangible benefits. When they espouse and implement an institutional culture that supports the triple bottom line concept, they generate significant cost savings, enhanced reputation, and local clean economy job growth. 

At the AACC's annual convention next month we, along with other leading college presidents, will be teaching a  ½ day workshop that builds on these leadership skills. Participants will learn how to cost effectively accelerate their sustainability initiatives by implementing proven best practices. The session will include dynamic discussion on some of the most common challenges senior leaders face. We'll discuss how to maximize campus ROI, how to develop green curricula, and how to secure new green economy and sustainability-related grants and donations.

We encourage college presidents and executives to join this dynamic workshop.

Sincerely, 

Jerry Weber, Ph.D. 

Chair, AACC Sustainability Task Force

President, College of Lake County, IL

Diana Van Der Ploeg, PhD. 

President (retired), Butte College; Second Nature Fellow

Mitchell Thomashow, PhD.  

President (retired), Unity College; Second Nature Fellow

Community College and Employer Partnerships:  

Real Jobs in the Clean Economy

In light of President Obama's recent promotion of innovative community college and employer partnerships, learn how Georgia Piedmont Technical College and Fortune 500 companies and suppliers in the building automation and controls industry have come together to develop career pathways and design curriculum for workers learning how to manipulate new energy efficient technology.

Speakers included:

• Jay Murdoch, CEO, Efficiency First
• Debra Rowe, Oakland Community College (MI) 
• Amanda Evans, Santa Fe Community College (NM), Energy$mart Academy

$500M More Available to Colleges

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has announced the next round of Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grants. Totaling $500 million, the grants will help create and expand innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to train workers with the skills employers need. Energy is a key sector. At January's AACC Workforce Development Institute, DOL Assistant Secretary Jane Oates, expressed an interest in seeing proposals that build regional clean energy skills.

Last year a number of SEED member colleges were awarded TAACCCT grants to build their clean energy training programs: Delaware Tech for a project that better prepares targeted populations for employment opportunities in agriculture and energy; College of Lake County (IL) which will serve as the consortium leader for the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) Career Pathways initiative; and Alpena Community College (MI) which will provide expanded and innovative training opportunities in five clean energy sectors across the Northeast Michigan region .

Application closing date: 5/24/12, 4:00 PM (ET)

A pre-recorded webinar with information is available. 

AACC SEED Green Genome Framework & Awards

SEED's Green Genome project is aimed at helping community colleges realize a strategic and integrated approach to green growth, talent development, and sustainability, with the ultimate goal of ensuring green becomes part of the DNA of the institution.

The project examines four institutional competency areas: community engagement, governance, program design and delivery, and strategic partnerships.

At the AACC Annual Convention next month, a Green Genome Awards application will be issued to distinguish exemplary colleges in these areas. More than $40,000 will be distributed to winning colleges.  Learn more.

TheSEEDcenter.org Gets a New Look

Share your feedback. 

 SEED Colleges in the News

Discover details on these newsmakers and send us your clean energy and sustainability news. We'll share it with the SEED community.  

Funding through Innovations in Global Climate Change Education program has been awarded to three SEED member colleges, Edgecombe (NC), Wayne County (MI), and Wilbur Wright College (IL) to integrate climate change science, tapping NASA resources, into their green career education and training programs.

Electric-Vehicle Charging Stations Available at Austin Community College (TX) Campuses

A total of 18 stations are available at 9 campus and administrative locations. Each location has charging spots open to the public.

Call for Applications, AASHE 2012 Awards Program

Applications accepted through 7/2/2012

Discover a collection of resources on solar technologies and best practices to implement solar, both at the local level and with large-scale deployment. Resources include articles, case studies, fact sheets, how-to guides, model rules and ordinances, presentations, sample government documents, technical reports, tools, and webinars. 

USDA launches Energy Web 

Find access to USDA energy efficiency and renewable energy data, including an interactive Renewable Energy Investment Map, a Renewable Energy Tool, and Energy Matrix.

President Obama proposes $8-billion Community College to Career Fund

The fund would help public two-year colleges and businesses train 2 million Americans for jobs in high-demand industries, such as health care, advanced manufacturing, clean energy and information technology.