Member Highlight: Greenway Institute
Tell us about Greenway Institute and how it found its way on the VCFA campus?
Greenway Institute is building a different approach to undergraduate engineering education that will better serve students, industry, and the world. Our mission is to inspire current and future generations to engineer our sustainable future. We are building a four year undergraduate engineering college that is rooted in sustainability, has a hands-on approach to learning, and uses industry immersion to prepare students for engineering careers. Our educational model will result in students who graduate with an engineering degree, a job, and zero debt.
Greenway Institute was on the market for a campus where we could begin making our ideas a reality when the VCFA campus went up for sale. We were thrilled by the opportunity to put roots down in Montpelier because it’s a city that has made a commitment to be the first carbon-neutral state capital in the country by 2030 - making it the ideal location for Greenway Institute. We are committed to making the former VCFA campus a thriving space for students and the community as a whole.
How will Greenway Institute benefit our downtown?
Greenway Institute is building an ecosystem of students, local businesses, and community members that all contribute to a thriving downtown. In addition to bringing students on campus, we are currently providing workforce housing to local organizations that allows them to hire and retain employees. We have hosted successful programs such as The Governor’s Institutes of Vermont and are currently partnered with Good Beginnings of Central Vermont to provide a space for its weekly Baby & Caregiver Meetups in Montpelier. We would love to partner with more local organizations and find ways to work with our community and downtown.
What are you currently working on?
We are welcoming another cohort of students in Spring 2025 who will be piloting the work-integrated learning portion of our education program. We are busy getting ready for them by building out the curriculum and partnering with local businesses who are interested in employing an engineering intern. If you know of anyone who would like to host an engineering intern in the Spring 2025 - and possibly through the summer - please let us know!
What do you like most about Montpelier?
Montpelier is the heart of Vermont and has so much to offer. It’s one of the best recruiting tools we have when it comes to bringing students and staff to our organization. Montpelier is the perfect intersection of government, business and education - with four seasons of outdoor adventures to offer its residents and workers. We have felt so welcomed by our neighbors and wider Montpelier community and are excited to add to what Central Vermont has to offer.
We interviewed Kristin Cantu, Greenway Institute Program Manager for this highlight.