Nine community colleges from across the nation have been awarded prizes for exemplary efforts to promote sustainability education, practices, programs and training.
The colleges are recipients of the 2016 Green Genome Awards, part of a larger Green Genome initiative created by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and its Sustainability Education and Economic Development Center (SEED). More than 480 community colleges representing more than 3 million students have joined AACC’s SEED Center, pledging leadership in sustainability education and training and reaping the benefits. Winning colleges will each receive $10,000.
“Community colleges continue to take the lead on sustainability,” said Walter G. Bumphus, president and CEO of AACC. “Whether developing cutting-edge training for green collar jobs or implementing green practices, sustainability efforts at community colleges benefit students, local business, and the community. We are very proud to work with Kresge Foundation to provide leadership in green efforts on campuses across the nation.”
Two awardees were selected in each of four categories: Governance, Program Design and Delivery, Strategic Partnerships, and Community Engagement. In addition, one awardee was chosen as the Overall winner. The colleges recognized for their achievements are:
- Lewis & Clark Community College, IL – Overall
- College of Lake County, IL – Governance
- Northeast Community College, NE – Governance
- Johnson County Community College, KS – Program Design and Delivery
- Northeast Texas Community College, TX – Program Design and Delivery
- Chesapeake College, MD – Strategic Partnerships
- Guam Community College, Guam – Strategic Partnerships
- Cedar Valley College, TX – Community Engagement
- Lincoln Land Community College, IL – Community Engagement
The awards are based on SEED’s The Community College Green Genome Framework: Integrating Sustainability and Clean Technology Workforce Development into the Institution’s DNA. This free tool for colleges details the Green Genome framework, paths for success, and offers profiles of previous winning colleges. The framework was developed by a national advisory panel made up of senior leaders from the U.S. Department of Energy, industry, national associations, and over 50 community colleges.
AACC’s SEED Center and the Green Genome Awards are supported by The Kresge Foundation. The Kresge Foundation works to expand opportunities for vulnerable people living in America’s cities and promotes post-secondary access and success for low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students.
About SEED
AACC’s Sustainability Education & Economic Development (SEED) initiative, SEED, advances sustainability and green workforce development practices at community colleges by sharing innovative models and free resources to increase the capacity of college leaders, faculty, and staff to build the green economy. www.theSEEDcenter.org
About the American Association of Community Colleges
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 12 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all.www.aacc.nche.edu
About The Kresge Foundation
The Kresge Foundation is private, national foundation that works to expand opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and investing in arts and culture, education, environment, and health. www.kresge.org
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.