OCC courses target jobs in sustainability

Seeing evidence of a surge in demand for what were referred to as “green-collar jobs” during the presidential election, OCC has decided to debut some new classes to capitalize on the trend.

For the first time, there will be courses on solar-panel installation, sustainable architecture and energy-efficient water heaters at the school.

Many of the faculty members in departments like construction and architecture also work in industry, and, along with a panel of other professionals, they noticed the emerging need for people trained in environmentally conscious design and advised the college to do something about it, according to Dean of Technology Programs Doug Benoit.

Their advice turned out to be prophetic. The photovoltaic-system installation class, for instance, has almost filled up after only a couple of weeks, and many prospective students haven’t even had a chance to enroll.

“It was something we knew was coming to a degree, but we weren’t ready for the degree that it has become popular. We were in the right place at the right time,” Benoit said, adding that more sections of the class may need to be added.

OCC is using a $460,000 state grant to pay for solar panels, tools and other supplies for its hands-on solar panel installation class.

Dejah Swingle, a grant coordinator with the district, says she sees a lot of growth potential in the field of sustainable development jobs given the political climate.

“There is a lot that they say is coming down the pike. The stimulus package that President Obama has put together — there’s all kinds of green money coming from that. That’s a very hot area when it comes to grants because many see that as the direction we need to take in the future,” Swingle said.

The college is hoping to make this initial wave of classes the first in a series of similar partnerships with local businesses, where the businesses advise the college on what skills a person looking to get into the industry needs and then the businesses offer to hire OCC graduates when they finish their training.

This summer the school is looking to design a curriculum for a full certificate in solar installation that would be available starting fall 2010.