SUNY Canton Brings Solar Ready Vets Program to the Capital District

CANTON, NY (03/21/2018) SUNY Canton is expanding one of its premiere workforce development initiatives to help veterans and retiring soldiers in the greater Albany area.

The college's Solar Ready Vets program will run from June 25 to July 27 through a collaboration with Hudson Valley Community College's TEC-SMART extension campus in Malta, Saratoga County. The deadline for application will be May 25.

The five-week course is offered through SUNY Canton's Career Ready Education and Success Training (CREST) Center for Workforce Development. Classes focus on solar photovoltaic systems and installation through hands-on labs. In addition, the program will facilitate job placement with New York-based and national solar companies.

"We've had great success offering Solar Ready Vets locally through a partnership with Fort Drum," noted Arthur S. Garno, CREST director. "Now our master instructors will be expanding this valuable training to veterans in other regions. There are careers ready for our graduates."

The course is reserved for veterans or retiring military personnel. Attendants can use their GI Bill benefits to cover the $2,850 course fee. Prerequisites for the course include a high school diploma or equivalent, a completed application and a working resume.

The college first began offering this program with the U.S. Department of Energy and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in 2016. The most recent class of veterans helped bring solar power to the newly-renovated community fountain in Norwood.

For more information, contact the SUNY Canton CREST Center, 315-386-7229, or email crest@canton.edu. For GI Bill funding, contact Patrick S. Massaro, director of military & veterans student services, 315-386-7073, or email massarop@canton.edu.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service and recently received number one rankings in library resources, library services and tutoring services in the SUNY Student Opinion Survey. The college's faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 13 online degree programs. The college's 15 athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level and are joining the North Atlantic Conference beginning in the 2018-19 academic year. For more information, visit www.canton.edu.