Building on the success of a single course first offered this fall, St. Petersburg College is launching an Office of Sustainability to prepare students for careers that are so new they’re still on the drawing board. The two-pronged effort also will also strive to minimize the college’s impact on the environment.

Among the initiatives: adding instruction in “green lodging” to the college’s hospitality program, emphasizing sustainability in the parks and leisure services program, and introducing water conservation to the management technology program.

Additionally, architectural design and construction technology students will learn sustainable construction practices, the college of technology and management will offer a sustainability and green management track as part of the bachelor’s degree in management and organizational leadership, and school officials will continue to develop an environmental science technology program with tracks in water, energy and sustainability.

“It is our intention to become a leader of the sustainability movement inside the classroom, throughout the college and within the community,” said Jason Green, the college’s new sustainability coordinator.

Donna  Winchester, higher education reporter