Harper College continues to expand green economy programs

As Illinois rapidly expands its solar energy development, industry employers find it difficult to keep pace with the demand for skilled staff. Training opportunities such as the Green Economy programs at Harper College in Palatine are helping fill the gap.

In the past four years, Harper’s Continuing Professional Education department has added four new green economy programs, including classes in solar energy, technical sales and cybersecurity.

With support from Illinois Green Economy Network funding and curriculum partnerships with North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners and Solar Energy International, Harper CPE is working to provide foundational training for individuals to gain industry-recognized credentials. Current courses include solar PV associate, solar business and technical sales, cybersecurity in the smart energy environment, and solar energy and networking basics. A solar installation course is underway.

“We know that green economy jobs in Illinois are going to increase over the next few decades,” said Cristina Willard, director of CPE at Harper. “Illinois legislators have made a commitment to this field with the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which directly supports those who want to enter this industry.”

Harper emphasizes sustainability in a wide variety of courses, both credit and non-credit. Traditional credit classes include biology courses (such as humans and the environment), environmental law, and energy and society, the last of which introduces non-science majors to the impacts of energy consumption upon the environment. Learn more at harpercollege.edu/sustainability/green-classes.php.

Meanwhile, the Community Education department has introduced programs to help inform people about the benefits and career opportunities for solar energy, including Green Living Basics: Solar and Renewable Energy Career Exploration. These are facilitated by and funded in part through Harper’s partnership with the Illinois IBEW Renewable Energy Fund. Learn more at ce.harpercollege.edu.

CPE solar courses are housed at the Learning and Career Center campus in Prospect Heights, which features designated classroom space, simulation equipment and working solar panels. Learn more about green economy certification training at Harper at harpercollege.edu/pro/greeneconomy.php.