College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
Construction Management Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Construction Management
Date
6-2025
Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Joseph Cleary, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department
Abstract/Summary
Skip the Grid (STG) is a program where companies within the construction industry come together to better the quality of life for the people of the Navajo Nation. Through collaboration with Goal Zero, SOLV Energy, NEXTracker, and Heart of America, the fourth Skip the Grid Trip installed 40 solar systems on homes within the Chinle region in northeastern Arizona. Officially finishing on March 27th, 2025, the trip not only consisted of providing a service for the people of Chinle but also allowed California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students to learn about the history of the Navajo Nation and interact with a culture that they may have otherwise never experienced. Due to the previous trips conducted by both returning faculty and students, the expectations for the trip and installation procedures were cut down to a science which was a major contributing factor for the increased amount of homes we were able to install. This interdisciplinary relationship is an excellent example of how creative thinking and partnerships in education can promote social change and raise the standard of living for marginalized populations.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cmsp/878
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