Terra going 'green' with two new classes to be offered in fall

FREMONT -- A long-time program at Terra Community College has a new look to reflect what its graduates will see in their 21st century careers -- a greener and more environmentally-friendly America.

When classes start in the fall of 2008, there will be two new courses in the architectural/construction curriculum at Terra. Fundamentals of Alternative Energy will be offered in the fall and Sustainable Architecture will follow in the spring semester.

The new curriculum will make the program's graduates even more marketable, according to Bill Hotz, the full-time faculty member in the Architectural/Construction Management program.

"Our program has always been a starting point for many jobs in the building industry," he said. "Students find employment in all areas of the industry, but this will further broaden their marketability and the avenues they can take."

The new courses will definitely make students think and understand green.

Fundamentals of Alternative Energy -- This course is for anyone who has an interest in the related technologies for electric power and the current status of our non-renewable sources. Topics of alternative energy, including fuel cells, solar energy, wind energy, hydrogen energy, biomass, geothermal, wave and tidal energy are discussed.

Sustainable Architecture -- This course is a study of the process of green building, covering the theory, history and current materials and systems that are used in today's building industry to meet the environmental needs.

The associate degree program in architectural/construction has also been streamlined. Students beginning the program in the fall of 2008 will have only 63 credits to complete which will allow them to be finished in two years.

Terra will be offering both day and night sections of the new courses, Hotz said. That would allow someone who is interested in green technology the opportunity to attend the class one night per week or during the day.

Having been in the field since he graduated with a master's degree in architecture from the University of Detroit in 1978, Hotz has seen concern for the environment come full circle.

"We went through this in the 70s with the energy crunch," he said. "Then we got to the point where we thought we didn't need to worry about it anymore.

"If we had acted and kept acting back then, we wouldn't have the problems with energy that we do now. I really hope that this time our concern sticks. It just makes sense."

For more information on the architecture/construction program, call Bill Hotz, associate professor, at 419-559-2448.