Center For Leadership In Environmental Education (CLEEn)
Project Summary and Purpose:
Chesapeake College is a regional leader in energy conservation and sustainability initiatives. The College demonstrates its commitment to environmental sustainability, and to enhancing economic development on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, through its Center for Leadership in Environmental Education (CLEEn). CLEEn is a multidisciplinary institute that spearheads the College’s sustainability programming. Its mission includes education, community leadership and campus planning.
Since establishing CLEEn in 2010, Chesapeake College has built partnerships with local governments in the five county College service area, secondary school systems, other colleges, state and federal agencies, and the business community in pursuit of sustainable initiatives. CLEEn works with these partners to serve as a community resource for green business development, training, and academic learning in sustainability. Over the past six years, Chesapeake College has developed associate’s degrees in environmental sciences, agriculture, landscape design, and landscape management.. Courses in wind power, solar photovoltaic electricity systems, solar thermal systems, geothermal and electrical systems, and more have been offered by the Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Training. CLEEn seeks to expand these programs, and to design new academic experiences in sustainable disciplines and careers. .
The Chesapeake College Center for Leadership in Environmental Education enhances the College's vision of optimal experiences for its students, while supporting the Maryland Governor's education priority of expanding "the opportunity to learn and to earn; ...and to enjoy the health of the environment we love - to more people rather than fewer."
Background on Chesapeake College:
Established in 1965, Chesapeake College was founded as the first regional community college in the State of Maryland, and serves the five upper shore counties of Queen Anne's, Kent, Caroline, Talbot and Dorchester. Chesapeake College offers affordable, quality educational experiences in a learner-centered environment with a number of programs of study in the liberal arts and sciences and career programs. Fully accredited by the Middles States Commission on Higher Education, the College grants Associate of Arts, Associate of Arts in Teaching, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science Degrees, and awards Certificates and Letters of Recognition. The College also offers fully accredited Allied Health and Nursing programs, and is approved for veteran's benefits. Chesapeake College's vision is to have the resources, programs, and services necessary to offer every citizen in its service region opportunities for learning. In Fiscal year 2010, 3,900 unduplicated credit students and more than 9,000 continuing education and workforce training students attended Chesapeake College. Each student's success is nurtured by comprehensive support services, innovative, instructional approaches, and individual attention. Students are encouraged to build on their strengths and excel in the college's dynamic learning environment. The College is guided by the core values of Quality, Student-Centeredness, Community, Diversity and Respect, Adaptability, Teamwork and Collaboration, and Responsibility.
Goals, Outcomes, Evaluation:
Through creative partnerships with the College's five supporting county governments, the business community, state government, schools and other colleges, Chesapeake College established CLEEn as a unique regional resource for specialized training and demonstrations of innovative technology. Additionally, the College anticipates a continuing partnership with the commercial and industrial community to train incumbent and new workers in emerging green technologies. Course enrollment, degrees granted, placement of incumbent and new workers, educational tours by visiting students and the general public, will all be used as measures for evaluating the impact of the Chesapeake College Center for Leadership in Environmental Education on the community at large.