Penn State campuses collaborating to offer sustainability certificate program

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DuBOIS, Pa. - Penn State DuBois Continuing and Community Education is offering a new statewide workforce development certificate aimed at helping companies in all industries improve their knowledge and processes related to sustainability.

This non-credit sustainability certificate program, that was developed in partnership with Penn State Scranton and Penn State Sustainability, is aimed to help businesses in all industries be prepared for new climate-related reporting and disclosers.

With the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) having adopted new rules for publicly traded companies to disclose climate-related information in annual reports, sustainability coordinators in all industries need to help assess, recommend and implement plans to ensure processes and policies are efficient and responsible for the three pillars of the triple bottom line: people, prosperity and the planet. The sustainability certificate program aims to help business professionals turn rigorous knowledge into meaningful action.

This program will feature opportunities to learn from experts at Penn State, the top-rated university in the Big Ten in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) sustainability tracking, assessment and rating system (STAR), which recognizes innovations in sustainable procurement, energy, water and climate leadership. The certificate program was developed through the oversight of Penn State Sustainability and addresses key concepts covered in the International Society of Sustainability Professionals' (ISSP) sustainability excellence associate certification.

For those interested in learning more about the program, an information session will be offered online through Zoom at no cost on Aug. 7 beginning at noon. Preregistration is required for this session and can be completed online.

This is an outstanding opportunity for industries across the commonwealth. With Penn State's expertise in this area, this certificate program can give industries a head start when it comes to these new regulations that will continue to update as we move forward.

-John Brennan , director of continuing and community education at Penn State DuBois

"This is an outstanding opportunity for industries across the commonwealth," said John Brennan, director of continuing and community education at Penn State DuBois. "With Penn State's expertise in this area, this certificate program can give industries a head start when it comes to these new regulations that will continue to update as we move forward. With the collaboration across the commonwealth campuses, this also marks a great start to a vision that we have where some level of standardization can be seen throughout Pennsylvania when it comes to sustainability."

The certificate program will take place online via Zoom on Mondays from Sept. 9 through Dec. 9 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Each course date is scheduled to last approximately two hours. The cost to register is $1,249. Registration is currently open and can be completed online.

"I would highly recommend that businesses in all industries enroll their sustainability leader in this course to have them be ready for both the present and the future," Brennan said. "Sustainability has become a focus of manufacturers across the country. Any company making products, parts or materials that will be sold to consumers should be thinking of upgrading their sustainability plan. This course will help those with existing programs or those who have been wanting to start their sustainability planning."

Sustainability has become a focus of manufacturers across the country. Any company making products, parts or materials that will be sold to consumers should be thinking of upgrading their sustainability plan. This course will help those with existing programs or those who have been wanting to start their sustainability planning.

-John Brennan , director of continuing and community education at Penn State DuBois

Continuing and Community Education at Penn State DuBois is a bridge between Penn State resources and our partners, including business and industry, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and state and federal agencies. Our programs cover manufacturing and quality, engineering, human and health services, food service, computer and electronics, construction, professional and business services and more.