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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

MCC Solar Students Explore Pathways at Empire State College and R.I.T.


On Monday, October 17th students in Solar Thermal Technologies 101 were given a facility tour of the newly completed Empire State College Westfall Campus. The campus is equipped with an 8-collector array of evacuated tube solar collectors. Students were able to view the pressurized glycol system which is used for supplemental space heating and snow removal. The tour was given by facilities manager Pat O’Connor in which he answered many student questions about the system.

Upon the completion of the tour, faculty, staff members and students from R.I.T. and Empire State where on hand to speak about specific pathways for the solar students to ladder into such as Business Management, Engineering Technology and even Sustainability. MCC alumnus Timothy J. Cosgriff the Regional Operations Coordinator for the campus was instrumental in making this collaboration occur. He spoke on all Empire programs available and provided snacks and refreshments. Enid Cardinal the Chief Sustainability Officer and instructor Kimie Romeo were on hand to talk specifically about the sustainability programs available at R.I.T. and the Golisano Institute for Sustainability Facility. The Rochester weather was very cooperative and tour pictures will be shared on the M Drive. 

Students in STT 101 move on to STT 102 Solar Thermal Installations, and, in years past, have gone on and assisted industry partners in the field on Solar Installs. STT 101 runs every spring and fall semester and is part of a standalone certificate (Solar Thermal Technology Certificate) that ladders directly into a degree in Heating Ventilation Air-Conditioning which is housed at the Applied Technologies Center. MCC has a completely off-grid facility students learn to install such systems as part of the course work called the S.T.A.R. unit. The grant funding was provided by NYSERDA (New York State Research & Development Authority).

Dale Pearce
Applied Technologies
10/24/2016