Furman University Offers New Program in Corporate Sustainablity

April 6, 2010

GREENVILLE, SC – April 6, 2010 – As companies become increasingly focused on implementing sustainable business strategies, Furman University will offer a new program this fall that will help executives manage the challenges of a socially conscious business environment.

The intensive, five-session course, offered by Furman’s Center for Corporate and Professional Development in cooperation with the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability, will lead to a Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Sustainability.

“Corporate sustainability is being embraced across the country not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes business sense,” said Brad Bechtold, director of Continuing Education at Furman.  “It lowers business costs, improves productivity and enhances reputation.  This new program will provide the tools, techniques and strategic thinking that businesses need to build a coherent sustainability strategy.”Bechtold said the course will offer a broad overview of sustainability as well as a detailed review of major practices in sustainability.  It will also identify the sustainable business strategies that offer the most effective return on investment and demonstrate how sustainability can become an ongoing strategic business practice.

“This program is aimed at business people who are in charge of defining and implementing sustainability initiatives for their organizations,” Bechtold said.  “And since there is a dearth of academic and corporate education programs that provide this kind of knowledge, we believe this program is something the business community will embrace.”The program, which begins Sept. 16 and ends Dec. 10, totals 70 contact hours and 7.0 Continuing Education Units.  Each of the five sessions includes a Thursday (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and Friday (8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) seminar at the Younts Conference Center.

The program will be taught by John Meindl, senior associate with the Center for Corporate and Professional Development; Dr. Wade Worthen, professor of biology at Furman; Barry Breede, CEO of Sustainable Management Systems of Greenville; and Michael Johnson, CEO of Cox Industries.

Cost for the program is $3,950 per person.

For more information, contact Furman’s Center for Corporate and Professional Development at 864-294- 3136 or visit the Furman website at www.furman.edu/cpd/.