The Emerging Sectors Education Consortium comprised of 10 colleges has joined the Green Collar Association.

Out of the 10 member schools and institutions, the pilot membership includes Oakland Community College, Schoolcraft Community College, Baker College, Oakland University, Walsh College and St. Clair Community College.

The Consortium received a two-year grant from the US, Department of Labor and has goals to ensure collaboration and alignment of strategies to connect students with training and jobs.  Their efforts have also included curriculum development, a portable lab for experiential learning for high school students, providing sub-grants to its participants along with soft skill programming for a pilot group of participants.  The group will be part of a very large community event in May.

The consortium based it's planning on a document created by Oakland County, Skills Needs Assessment Report (SNAP), that listed the  needs of business and industry for soft and technical skills in the workplace.  The group feels that involvement in the Green Collar Association will provide students and staff of the institutions relevant data, stats and information to impact and align with the strategic direction of the consortium.  The consortium's fiscal and coordinating agency is Oakland Community College.  A website is being developed and will provide data for the community.

For more information about the Emerging Sectors Education Consortium, contact Consortium manager Deborah Taylor at 248-232-4571 or djtaylor@oaklandcc.edu