Guest Column by Orion Walker
Sustainable Technology at Mendocino College
For just over a year now I’ve been working for the Dean of Career and Technical Education at Mendocino College to develop and launch a new program with the aim of preparing students for business and job opportunities related to sustainability or “green jobs.”
People often ask me, “so what is a green job anyway?” and my response generally goes something like this: Whatever industry or profession you are in, there is a segment of that industry or profession that is “going green.” Whether you are an electrician, a store owner, a farmer, or a mechanic, there are folks in your profession who are figuring out how to do things more efficiently, use less energy, produce less waste, reduce carbon emissions, conserve resources, eliminate toxins, or some other aspect of “being green,” and generally you’ll find that this is one of the fastest growing niches within your industry as a whole. What this means for education and training in our local community is that we need to look within well established industries, particularly those that are non-exportable, and find the opportunity points for growth and innovation.
While the current economic downturn has certainly slowed construction and related industries, there is going to be an ongoing need for people who can assess, maintain, repair, heat and cool, remodel, and upgrade our homes and businesses. These are jobs that generally pay fairly well, and they aren’t going anywhere. Additionally, opportunities in solar, green construction, energy efficiency, energy performance auditing, retrofitting, HVAC, and other niche areas continue to show significant opportunity. Labor market data suggests that with many reaching retirement age, new job opportunities will exist for younger workers with technical training, particularly those with knowledge and skills related to sustainability, energy efficiency, and clean technology.
The new Sustainable Technology Program at Mendocino College intends to meet this opportunity by focusing on three core elements: hands-on technical skill development, knowledge of sustainability (green) principles and practices, and business and entrepreneurship knowledge and skill development. The combination of these competencies will prepare students for adaptability as traditional trade industries continue to evolve, and position students for success in new and emerging technical industries. In today’s shifting economy it isn’t enough to focus solely on technical skill development. Students need to understand the context in which an industry is changing and evolving. It is also important, particularly in a rural economy such as ours, to prepare students to be creative in the job market. You can’t expect to just walk into a job opportunity. The vast majority of businesses in our region are 1 or 2 person businesses. We need to prepare students for this reality by including development of business and entrepreneurial skills. This will allow students to focus in on areas of opportunity and position themselves for success.
Within the Sustainable Technology Program three new certificates of achievement are now available for students to complete: Renewable Energy, Construction, and Residential Performance and Efficiency. These certificates require 32-34 units of coursework. Completing one certificate will generally take 3 semesters, with a second or third certificate taking an additional 1-2 semesters.
In each of these certificates a strong emphasis is placed on hands-on contextual learning. Students complete work experience internships to gain invaluable on-the-job experience and a vacant house on the Ukiah campus will be used as a project lab and testing space allowing students to learn in a typical real-world setting.
Students have the opportunity to get started on these certificates starting on August 22nd with seven new courses that are now open for enrollment:
SST - 162 - Safety Standards for Construction - 1.5 units
SST - 164 - Understanding Blueprints, Diagrams, and Schematics - 3 units
SST - 170 - Sustainability Overview - 3 units
SST - 172 - Intro to Clean Tech - 3 units
SST - 180 - Construction Fundamentals and Green Building - 3 units
SST - 193 - Building Science and Home Performance - 3 units
SST - 196 - SST Occupational Work Experience - 1-8 units
These courses will take place on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday for the fall semester. Students can enroll in the full series or pick and choose courses as they like.
For registration assistance contact the counseling department at 707.468.3048 or visit www.mendocino.edu. For more information on the new Sustainable Technology Program, contact Orion Walker at 468-3224, owalker@mendocino.edu or visit www.mendocino.edu/sustainabletech
Orion Walker is a business and sustainability consultant with expertise in entrepreneurship and renewable energy. He is the Sustainable Technology Program Coordinator and a part time instructor at Mendocino College. He holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College and an MBA in Sustainable Enterprise from Dominican University
Sustainable Technology at Mendocino College
For just over a year now I’ve been working for the Dean of Career and Technical Education at Mendocino College to develop and launch a new program with the aim of preparing students for business and job opportunities related to sustainability or “green jobs.”
People often ask me, “so what is a green job anyway?” and my response generally goes something like this: Whatever industry or profession you are in, there is a segment of that industry or profession that is “going green.” Whether you are an electrician, a store owner, a farmer, or a mechanic, there are folks in your profession who are figuring out how to do things more efficiently, use less energy, produce less waste, reduce carbon emissions, conserve resources, eliminate toxins, or some other aspect of “being green,” and generally you’ll find that this is one of the fastest growing niches within your industry as a whole. What this means for education and training in our local community is that we need to look within well established industries, particularly those that are non-exportable, and find the opportunity points for growth and innovation.
While the current economic downturn has certainly slowed construction and related industries, there is going to be an ongoing need for people who can assess, maintain, repair, heat and cool, remodel, and upgrade our homes and businesses. These are jobs that generally pay fairly well, and they aren’t going anywhere. Additionally, opportunities in solar, green construction, energy efficiency, energy performance auditing, retrofitting, HVAC, and other niche areas continue to show significant opportunity. Labor market data suggests that with many reaching retirement age, new job opportunities will exist for younger workers with technical training, particularly those with knowledge and skills related to sustainability, energy efficiency, and clean technology.
The new Sustainable Technology Program at Mendocino College intends to meet this opportunity by focusing on three core elements: hands-on technical skill development, knowledge of sustainability (green) principles and practices, and business and entrepreneurship knowledge and skill development. The combination of these competencies will prepare students for adaptability as traditional trade industries continue to evolve, and position students for success in new and emerging technical industries. In today’s shifting economy it isn’t enough to focus solely on technical skill development. Students need to understand the context in which an industry is changing and evolving. It is also important, particularly in a rural economy such as ours, to prepare students to be creative in the job market. You can’t expect to just walk into a job opportunity. The vast majority of businesses in our region are 1 or 2 person businesses. We need to prepare students for this reality by including development of business and entrepreneurial skills. This will allow students to focus in on areas of opportunity and position themselves for success.
Within the Sustainable Technology Program three new certificates of achievement are now available for students to complete: Renewable Energy, Construction, and Residential Performance and Efficiency. These certificates require 32-34 units of coursework. Completing one certificate will generally take 3 semesters, with a second or third certificate taking an additional 1-2 semesters.
In each of these certificates a strong emphasis is placed on hands-on contextual learning. Students complete work experience internships to gain invaluable on-the-job experience and a vacant house on the Ukiah campus will be used as a project lab and testing space allowing students to learn in a typical real-world setting.
Students have the opportunity to get started on these certificates starting on August 22nd with seven new courses that are now open for enrollment:
SST - 162 - Safety Standards for Construction - 1.5 units
SST - 164 - Understanding Blueprints, Diagrams, and Schematics - 3 units
SST - 170 - Sustainability Overview - 3 units
SST - 172 - Intro to Clean Tech - 3 units
SST - 180 - Construction Fundamentals and Green Building - 3 units
SST - 193 - Building Science and Home Performance - 3 units
SST - 196 - SST Occupational Work Experience - 1-8 units
These courses will take place on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday for the fall semester. Students can enroll in the full series or pick and choose courses as they like.
For registration assistance contact the counseling department at 707.468.3048 or visit www.mendocino.edu. For more information on the new Sustainable Technology Program, contact Orion Walker at 468-3224, owalker@mendocino.edu or visit www.mendocino.edu/sustainabletech
Orion Walker is a business and sustainability consultant with expertise in entrepreneurship and renewable energy. He is the Sustainable Technology Program Coordinator and a part time instructor at Mendocino College. He holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College and an MBA in Sustainable Enterprise from Dominican University
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