YTC is Setting the Tone with Sustainability
The College's true potential as an institution is directly linked to realizing the potential of our students and
our region. The Energy and Environmental Program is in the process of establishing new interdisciplinary
models of education for the renewable energy and environmental fields. Opportunities such as experiential
learning, work experiences, hands on training and community engagement will be central to student success
and job placement. We strive to serve as an incubator of innovative problem solving in sustainability through
interconnections between industry and curriculum.
The Energy and Environmental Program is already successfully engaged in collaborative
relationships with other departments and programs across the College and with other institutions
and business partners across the State-aimed at creating a community of trained experts to
address complex environmental challenges. The Energy and Environmental Program, in cooperation
with the College's Facilities Management, Operations and Maintenance Departments and the
internal Energy Conservation Committee, are in the process of developing a college-wide initiative to
raise awareness of sustainable practices.
The Energy and Environmental Program's courses of study emphasize experiential learning,
engagement with faculty, business, industry, community and K-12 schools to create and share
knowledge, train a new generation of practitioners and develop practical solutions to some of the
most pressing environmental, economic, and social challenges of sustainability in our region.
Our enrollment is growing as more and more students and employers recognize the value and opportunities
associated with renewable energy technologies, sustainable and environmentally responsible jobs. You can
join us. Check out the course web-page to
see how you can upgrade your skills for a job in these exciting new fields.
The Energy and Environmental Program covers a broad range of disciplines and takes a
multidisciplinary approach in its curriculum offerings, addressing a broad spectrum of local and
regional challenges.
These local and regional issues that impact our way of life require creative and effective institutional
arrangements and industry partnerships to harness the potential of our local workforce with
innovations and advancements in science and technology. Interrelated challenges that create the
need for an emerging workforce include:
- Increased competition for water and other essential natural resources that are in relatively fixed supply;
- the need for renewable energy, "smart" materials, and effective knowledge systems
- the need for policy and governance that supports sustainable programs and behaviors;
- the need to understand the human dimensions that influence sustainable programs and practices;
- the need to conserve biodiversity, ecosystems and wildlife habitats
- the challenge of providing for global growth and equity in standards of living without endangering the Earth's natural systems.