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The Power of Community Colleges to Create the Green Economy: Leadership: A Key to Success

AASHE 2011, Monday, October 10, 2011 / Room 406 / 11:00 AM

Moderator: Julie Elzanati, Illinois Green Economy Network
Presenter: Jerry Weber, College of Lake County;
Session Organizer: Allessandra Cairo, Illinois Green Economy Network;
Presenter: Robert Hilgenbrink, Southwestern Illinois College/IGEN

Summary:
This panel presentation addresses building successful partnerships across broad sectors including higher education, government, business, non-profits and communities. The Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) is an innovative partnership between the state's 48 community colleges, businesses and local communities serving as a national model for sustainability and green workforce development in the United States. IGEN was formed in 2008 as a leadership initiative of the college presidents and the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB). IGEN began implementing substantial collaborative programs throughout the state. These programs focus on greening college campuses, greening curriculum, greening communities and green workforce development. Today, the Network provides funding for 22 sustainability professionals who are employed at various community colleges across the state. The outreach, scope and magnitude for substantial change is tremendous. The Network, through these collaborations and partnerships is able to focus on the critical problems we can solve together, but cannot solve alone. If you are interested in a conversation that places the higher education sector within this broader context of successful partnerships in the emerging green economy, this panel presentation is for you.

Introduction

Julie Elzanati:
The power of community colleges to create the green economy with a focus on leadership.

Almost half of all undergrad students in US are at community colleges. Community colleges are nimble and empowered.

What is IGEN?

Illinois Green Economy Network
Presidents were gathered speaking about sustainability initiatives, AASHE, etc. Community colleges already collaborating across the State, but a sustainability network had not yet been formed.
• president-led consortium of 48 community colleges
• platform for collaboration
• financial support from state agencies, US Departments of Education, Energy and Labor

Started in 2008 with four college sustainability centers and a $490,000 Illinois DCEO start-up grant. Significant growth in funding history. Now over 20 centers. Just received $19,366,375 from US Department of Labor (TAACCCT)

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Jerry Weber
History and success of IGEN

Vision: to position the Illinois Community College system as a global leader
* Green careers
* Curriculum
* Communities
* Campuses

Accomplishments:
* Hired admin team
* Funding for college professionals
* Funded personnel
* Awarded seed funding
* Created financial officers committee

Walking the talk: a working network
* campus demonstrations
* curriculum development
* etc

Sustainability coordinators focus work on their campus
Admin agent to IGEN, etc.

STARS, ACUPCC, AASHE, state initiatives

Green jobs programs- included in curricula

Community partners: over 200 community partners with multiple peer-to-peer exchanges addressing many audiences:
* Students
* Community
* Sustainability
* Master plan

Robert Hilgenbrink
Talked about IGEN Leaders

Focus on Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC)
Located near St. Louis

More leadership from the top, got board involved, developed leadership team now owned by students and faculty. Master planning was a board initiative, insured LEED certification for all projects.

Allessandra Cairo
Talked about Future of IGEN

FY 12 initiatives
Include expansion of sustainability centers, green economy centers, best practice packages, Green Career Pathway consortium, purchasing, task force and work groups, energy efficiency training and education, website.

Online communications:
• IGEN Members Only section. Private area for discussions.
• IGEN's Network News. Highlights initiatives and events, organization building section.
• IGEN communication Preferences. Helps streamline communications to the right personnel.

Report Database System
Place to report on activities and programs taking place on each campus as a result of IGEN program dollars. Can be submitted a bite at a time, compare with peers, do custom reporting. All grants, documentation can be tracked in this system.

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Robert Hilgenbrink
Talked about Green Career Pathways Consortium

$19.37 million awarded
Dvelop comprehensive program in
Architecture and construction science
STEM
Etc.

Major feature: use of Department of Energy NTER System
* serves instructors
* serves Learners
* Open source platform
* Supports traditional, advanced training models
* Includes authoring tools, performance-based testing

Delivery via online and hybrid, public domain
Adult transition service centers
Embed general education components to enable accelerated completion
Entrepreneurial resources

SEED: Sustainability Education and Economic Development
• 400 community colleges

Check out IGEN website.
Check out SEED website

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Q & A

• Funding distribution: Base funding provides for centers state-wide. Other funding varies.
• Use of lobbyist: went to Senate and key House offices, all congressional aides--who tend to be younger college grads. They immediately understood the value. Every congressman signed on to support the initiative. This was based on earmarks, a source now dried up.
• Funding approach: propose something that helps your funding partner.
• Structure of Community College system in Illinois: no State Chancellor, more autonomy to each district. Made it challenging to get every president to sign on initially.
• Founders: the was a team of presidents who initiated IGEN, the were also early grants that focused on collaboration which helped.
• Difference between Sustainability Center, Green Economy Center: sustainability centers are housed on each campus, green economy centers focus on partnerships and driving the development of the green economy within the state
• Food Hubs: focusing on legislation that is preventing the growth of local food sales. Also adds element of training, gardening, etc.
• Interstate cooperation: IGEN would be happy to coordinate interstate cooperation in developing web tools, etc.