CSCC's Wildlife Society on a spring 2020 class trip sampling salamanders at Prentice Cooper State Park and Wildlife Management Area
Nature and wildlife conservation is an important part of keeping Tennessee beautiful, and Cleveland State Community College’s Greg A. Vital Center for Natural Resources and Conservation helps students be a part of that. Students can choose from programs that directly correlate working as a professional in natural resources, agriculture, industry and parks.
The center was named after Greg A. Vital, president and chief executive officer of Independent Healthcare Properties, LLC. Mr.
Vital is known for both his business and civic activities. He has always been a strong proponent of conservation, preservation and environmental education and has granted a conservation easement on his 90-acre farm in Georgetown. In April 2013, he was inducted into The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s College of Business Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame and in December 2013 received the Daughters of American Revolution Historic Preservation Medal. This year, he’s honored as the Wildlife Conservationist of the Year from the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.
The Vital Center brings together students, educators and working professionals to apply effective solutions to the challenges that arise at the intersection of the natural environment and human development. Through education, research and dissemination of effective practices in managing wildlife, forests, fields and public lands, the center seeks to minimize impacts on soil and water while optimizing sustainable land use and habitat protection.
“Students can begin their academic careers with us and transfer to a senior institution,” stated Robert Brewer Jr., associate professor at Cleveland State Community College and director of the Vital Center. “We have transfer pathways in place to make the transitions easy, and they gain meaningful experience while here which will enhance their job opportunities when they graduate.”
The Vital Center also houses the Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society and has several internship and undergraduate research opportunities available to students in these programs. The Center offers an associate of science in agriculture or agribusiness, an associate of applied science degree in business, agribusiness, forestry, wildlife, and fisheries program, and an agribusiness certificate. To register for the fall, visit
mycs.cc/fall programs or
agriculture@clevelandstatecc.edu.