Manchester, Connecticut

Green jobs are more than a slogan. According to the Advanced Technology Environmental and Energy Center, many careers that focus on the environment – from weatherization and energy auditing to building energy assessment – are seeing strong growth. In response to the growing need for this skill set, Manchester Community College (MCC) has created a new certificate program focused on sustainable technologies, alternative and renewable energy sources, and environmental science and engineering.

The Sustainable Energy certificate program is designed to provide students and community members the opportunity to learn about the field of sustainable energy and engineering. This program is part of the Sustainable Operations: Alternative and Renewable (S.O.A.R.) Energy Initiative, which is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Labor Community-Based Job Training grant.

The new certificate program will expose students to topics in environmental science, sustainable technologies and engineering fundamentals. Students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and will learn about major energy sources including wind, solar, hydroelectric, biofuels and fossil fuels.

“In today’s economy, it is vital to provide training opportunities to those in the workforce who are interested in current and emerging fields of clean energy,” said Aynsley Diamond, S.O.A.R. regional coordinator at MCC. “We are excited to be offering a certificate that not only serves as a career advancement tool but also shows our commitment to educating our students in the fields of alternative and renewable energy sources.”

The goal of the program is to prepare students for employment and/or the establishment of a small business in the fields of sustainable energy.

As our definition of “green jobs” grows, so do the employment prospects, particularly in green technology careers. The Sustainable Energy certificate is an opportunity for our students to obtain college credentials to support their commitment to this expanding career field,” said Diamond.

Students may enroll in this program on a full-time or part-time basis. Courses are offered during the day, evening and online. For more information on this new certificate program, contact Aynsley Diamond at 860-512-2720 or email:  mcc.commnet.edu.