UGC Launches New Degree to Meet

Growing Need for Energy Expertise in Region

        When Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman and CEO of General Electric, opened the company’s new battery plant in Schenectady last week, he advised Capital Region leaders to focus on the energy industry and called on the country to educate more engineers.

            Now, Union Graduate College is answering the call on both fronts – with a new master’s degree in Energy Systems.

            “We are excited to offer a program that will help our region’s energy sector continue to grow,” said Dr. Laura Schweitzer, President of Union Graduate College. “Our first master’s program was in engineering back in 1905, and more than 100 years later, we continue the mission of supporting local industry.”

            The master’s degree in Energy Systems was just approved by the New York State Education Department and UGC will begin offering the degree this fall.  

            Robert Kozik, Dean of the School of Engineering and a former Bechtel executive, says the new degree is different because it focuses on a specific industry. Traditionally, his programs focus on a discipline, like mechanical or electrical engineering, both of which are also offered at UGC.

            “Local energy companies tell us they want employees with strong practical knowledge,” Kozik said. “This new degree is much more product focused – what does it take to actually design a fuel cell? We will also cover what it takes to gets a product to market and how to navigate government regulations.”

            Kozik says the program’s biggest strength, however, are the professors. Drawing on the best and brightest researchers and engineers from local companies, courses are taught by working professionals who bring first-hand knowledge of industry trends to the classroom. Examples include:

·         Dr. Glenn Eisman, Founder and CTO, H2Pump LLC, Latham: teaching Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Engineering

·         Dr Fasil Ahmad, Research Scientist-Thin Film, GE Global Research Center, Niskayuna: teaching Solar Energy Engineering

·         Dan Bernadette, Chief Engineer, AWS Trupower, Albany: teaching Wind Energy Engineering

            With General Electric’s new battery plant opening, Kozik is also adding courses related to electro-chemical energy conversion and storage. Union Graduate College began developing courses for the Energy Systems degree in 2010, through a $285,000 federal grant secured by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

            “We are deeply grateful to Senator Schumer for championing this degree,” said Schweitzer. “He recognized the potential of the energy industry in the region and how Union Graduate College could partner with companies to develop the level of energy expertise we need to continue to attract and foster investment and innovation.” 

            “Union Graduate College’s degree in Energy Systems will be a key link in the effort to grow our energy capabilities – not just in the Capital Region but across the country,” said Senator Schumer. “I am pleased to have helped UGC develop this innovative program and believe it will attract and retain young and talented professionals in New York State.”

            In addition to the new Energy Systems degree, Union Graduate College’s School of Engineering offers master’s degrees in Electrical and Mechanical engineering as well as a unique Engineering Management degree that combines traditional engineering courses with management courses from UGC’s MBA program.

 (Above: Todd Toliver (right), a General Electric engineer and adjunct professor at Union Graduate College, discusses the construction of a solar panel with students.)

 For more information about the new Energy Systems degree, contact Robert Kozik, Dean, School of Engineering, at kozikr@uniongraduatecollege.edu or 518.631.9881.