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The Dobbs Ferry educational center debuts a new curriculum based around Westchester County’s booming cannabis industry.
Mercy College has announced a new partnership with Green Flower that will provide students with certificate programs for positions in New York’s exploding cannabis industry. This new partnership represents a joint effort on behalf of both Mercy College and Green Flower to provide interested students with the necessary skills to better navigate a completely novel field of industry as it takes shape.
This partnership couldn’t have come at a better time, with New York State becoming one of 18 states to legalize recreational marijuana use this past April. This has led to the birth of a new industry in the state – one that has great demand, but a distinct lack of qualified and certified professionals. This worker shortage is at the very heart of Mercy’s decision to partner with Green Flower.
“We are excited to partner with Green Flower, an industry leader in providing cannabis education,” says Brian Amkraut, Ph.D., Vice President and General Manager Workforce Development and Community Impact at Mercy College. “There are thousands of opportunities for entrepreneurs interested in this new industry, but many lack the basic and advanced knowledge of the various scientific and business elements of the field. Mercy is looking forward to being a part of the solution and providing resources for individuals to enter this field.”
This partnership comes mere days after Mercy College announced the launch of CERTIFi, a new offering that allows professionals, both in and out of the workforce, to acquire new skills through educational courses and certificate programs. CERTIFi is especially catered to those who are looking to specialize in a new or emerging field of industry. “Many jobs are sitting open because employees and potential candidates lack the skills to fill them,” says Amkraut. “Mercy is prepared to fill that gap by connecting with the workforce needs across the country.”
This new partnership with Green Flower is one of the first specialized programs that will be offered through CERTIFi by Mercy College.
Mercy’s partner, Green Flower, is one of the forerunners of the growing cannabis industry. Founded in 2014, it specializes in the education and training of aspiring cannabis entrepreneurs. It has since offered its training services to companies, higher education institutions, governmental agencies, and individuals who have a passion for cannabis. Its mission is to educate the world in how to succeed in this novel industry, providing both job-seekers and corporations alike with the skills, strategies, knowledge, and expertise to drive the industry forward.
“Green Flower is honored to be working with Mercy College and the new CERTIFi by Mercy College division of the school. It was obvious to us that this new division and vision for helping adults access opportunities for career-focused education would be a perfect fit for these cannabis programs,” says Daniel Kalef, Senior Vice President of Higher Education, Green Flower.
“As the State of New York moves closer to finalizing the regulations regarding the newly approved recreational cannabis use, the demand for a qualified and educated workforce and entrepreneurs is increasing daily. We applaud and appreciate the commitment of the administration at Mercy College to be a part of the solution and pathway for opportunity in the cannabis industry,” Kalef adds.
The certificate programs are available in eight-week and six-month variants. The eight-week standalone programs cost $800 and offer certificates for the positions of Advanced Dispensary Associate, Advanced Cultivation Technician, and Advanced Manufacturing Agent. The full six-month program costs $2,250 and is comprised of three separate eight-week courses. These courses will cover the following topics: Cannabis Healthcare and Medicine, Agriculture & Horticulture, Cannabis Law & Policy, and The Business of Cannabis.
All programs offered through this partnership utilize online learning, and are scheduled to accommodate working professionals. There are no prerequisites for enrollment, and students of either program will receive a certificate of completion from Mercy College upon successfully finishing their course(s).
