Illinois state partner and advisory committee
Heartland Community College
Who We Are:
In 2008, Heartland Community College (HCC) formed The Green Institute to support a wide range of campus initiatives, educational programs and community activities related to sustainability, energy conservation, renewable energy, recycling, water conservation and other environmental technologies. Educational programs offered by The Green Institute focus on training for homeowners, businesses and building industry professionals on sustainability topics such as green construction practices, efficient energy use and alternative energy sources. We strive to offer a variety of innovative workforce training and occupational programs that prepare students for jobs in emerging green industries. In addition, The Green Institute forms partnerships with numerous organizations to share knowledge and seek opportunities to create regional sustainability solutions.
Also in 2008, the President of Heartland Community College partnered with three other Illinois community college Presidents to establish the Illinois Community College Sustainability Network (ICCSN). The ICCSN (also now known as the Illinois Green Economy Network, IGEN), is a vibrant and growing collaboration between the state’s 48 community colleges. This statewide initiative brings community colleges together to expand employment opportunities, improve human and environmental health, foster community engagement and accelerate market competitiveness to drive Illinois’s emerging green economy. There are over 1,100 community colleges in the USA with over 6.7 million students. The Illinois community college system is the third largest, welcoming more than one million students through their gates each year including 650,000 enrolled in certificate programs. With government, business, NGOs, and the community looking for a coordinated pathway forward to energize the green economy, community colleges are well poised to act as one of the primary engines for driving the green economy in the USA.
Our Team:
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Julie ElzanatiIllinois Green Economy Network Director, College Partnerships Heartland Community College |
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Adrienne LaBranche Tucker, Ph.D.Program Assistant,The Green Institute Heartland Community College |
Our Goal for Illinois:
The Illinois Community College Sustainability Network (a.k.a. IGEN) provides a platform for collaboration amongst community colleges in the state of Illinois. This partnership is a cost-effective and efficient approach that enables IGEN to create, test and deploy green workforce training programs such as new certificate programs for renewable energy technicians, energy auditors, and many others. By working together through IGEN, colleges offer their students, communities and local businesses the most current and comprehensive platform for green economic growth possible. This to limit the amount of resources required of individual colleges.
Our Advisory Group:
Mark Burger - Illinois Solar Energy Association
Anthony Corso - Illinois Central College
Bert Jacobson - Kankakee Community College
David Loomis, Director: Center for Renewable Energy, Illinois State University
Participating Instructors and Institutions:
Tim Wilhelm, Kankakee Community College
Jim Gill, Wilbur Wright Community College and Illinois Solar Energy Association
Aur Beck, Heartland Community College, John A. Logan College and Illinois Renewable Energy Association
Lani Greenway, Illinois Central College
Steve Flynn, Illinois Central College
Photo gallery of trainings and facilities in Illinois:
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