(SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sept. 9, 2013) SUNY Empire State College announced the offering of an innovative interdisciplinary program in a key field relevant both to students’ personal lives and regional economic development.

The undergraduate Business and Environmental Sustainability Certificate encompasses management education in environmental sustainability, ecological economics, business ethics and managing sustainable organizations and is applicable to any individual, business, or organization overseeing the deployment of resources including:

• real estate organizations and property managers
• landscape design, consulting and contracting companies
• construction and manufacturing companies
• environmental, education and community nonprofit organizations.

“Businesses, government and nonprofit organizations of all types are rapidly increasing their focus on environmental sustainability,” said college President Merodie A. Hancock. “The demand for Empire State College’s Business and Environmental Sustainability Certificate is driven by high-cost energy resources, good will, ever-increasing demand by consumers for environmentally sustainable goods and services and overall economic and ethical common sense.”

Responding to a request to offer courses in business and sustainability from CenterState CEO, a 12-county business, leadership and economic development organization based in Syracuse, the college determined that an undergraduate certificate program would address Central New York and statewide needs.

“Our goal as a college is to support the career aspirations of individual students and to help meet the state’s environmental and economic development needs,” said Deborah Amory, the college’s acting provost. “This new undergraduate certificate allows us to do so in a critically important and rapidly emerging field.”

“The Business and Environmental Sustainability Certificate at SUNY Empire State College will help our region’s talent meet the needs of regional employers with skills and knowledge in environmentally sustainable, cost-saving measures and socially responsible practices,” said Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO. “This program’s multiple study options, including online instruction, will ensure access to more people, which is essential to the growth of the Central New York economy.”

Comprising four courses, the certificate can be earned by studying online, face to face and a blend of both. Further, for those seeking to complete or earn an undergraduate degree, the certificate’s 16 credits are fully applicable toward a bachelor’s in business, management and economics.

About SUNY Empire State College

SUNY Empire State College was established in 1971 to offer adult learners the opportunity to earn associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the State University of New York.

In addition to awarding credit for prior college-level learning, the college pairs each student with a faculty mentor who supports that student throughout his or her college career. Students engage in guided independent study and course work onsite, online or a combination of both, which provides the flexibility for students to learn at the time, place and pace they choose.

The college serves more than 20,000 students worldwide at more than 35 locations in the state of New York and online. Its 70,000 alumni are active in their communities as entrepreneurs, politicians, business professionals, artists, nonprofit agency employees, teachers, veterans and active military, union members and more. More information about the college is available here.

###

Media contact: David Henahan, director of communications

518-587-2100, ext. 2918

David.Henahan@esc.edu

518-321-7038 (after hours and on weekends)