SUNY Canton Brings Solar Ready Vets Program to the Capital District

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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.

Solar Ready Vets - students install solar panels on a practice roof.

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

As Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs, SUNY Canton delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, management, and healthcare fields. It is home to the Center for Criminal Justice, Intelligence and Cybersecurity. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. As SUNY's leader in online education, SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 23 online degree programs. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos 15 traditional athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level as part of the North Atlantic Conference. SUNY Canton also features varsity esports and cheerleading.