Energy Utility Technology Program: Grant, Partnerships, and Accomplishments

1. Energy Utility Technology October 27, 2008 This program is supported by a Preseident’s Community- Based Job Training Grant from the US Department of Labor

2. Outline of Presentation • Grant and Partnership Details • Accomplishments to date • National Grid Participation • Curriculum • Recruitment • Placement 7 • Next Steps

3. Partners National Grid Middlesex Community College North Shore Community College Quinsigamond Community College

4. Program Facts • Supported by President’s Community-Based Job Training Grant from US DOL $1.87M • 3 Year Grant – Began January 2007 • Operates at 3 colleges in partnership with each other and National Grid • Leadership Team • Nancy Alberto, North Shore CC • Pam Arons, National Grid • Kathy Rentsch, Quinsigamond CC • Barry Werner, Middlesex CC, Program Manager

5. What Interested the Colleges • National Grid seemed an ideal partner • Helped with the grant writing • Pledged tangible support to the colleges • Would have worked with colleges even if we didn’t get the grant • Would help recruit students • Jobs were desirable – easy to recruit students • High pay • Great benefits • Job security • Good evidence of need for EUT workers

6. Grant Objectives • Develop Certificate Programs at each college • Create EUT Lab at each college • Hire or Identify faculty at each college • Recruit 162 students in 3 years • Graduate 129 certificate students • Place 100 students in energy utility jobs

7. Accomplishments • Hired faculty • Built labs for the program • Developed curriculum • Recruited, instructed and graduated students • 58 began in September 2007 • 45 graduated in May, 2008 • 88% passed CAST on the first attempt • 33 graduates placed to date • 60 students started classes in September 2008

8. National Grid Participation • Search Processes • Lab Development • Curriculum Development • Recruitment • Faculty Training

9. National Grid Participation • Donations • Scholarships • Equipment • Practicum • Visits to classes

10. Labs • Colleges identified lab space for the programs • Mutual agreement on lab equipment • National Grid personnel helped determine what to order • National Grid donated equipment • Use system by LabVolt

11. Curriculum • Curriculum Committee • Pam Arons – National Grid • Bill Dylengoski, North Shore • Sharron Gillies – Quinsigamond • Joe Kalus - Middlesex • Ken Lomax – National Grid • John McNamara – National Grid • Neil Sheer – Middlesex • Barry Werner – Program Manager

12. Curriculum • Developed in the Curriculum Committee • Similar Courses at each college • Same textbooks • Revised as we continue the process

13. Courses

14. EUT Practicum • Resume writing and Interview Skills 2 weeks • Training at NG Training Site 8 weeks • Tour of a Substation 1 week • CAST Test 1 week • Tour of a Municipal Utility 1 week

15. Activities and Recent Accomplishments • CAST Testing • 88% passed on first attempt • 3 of 5 passed on second attempt • Career Fair – 135 potential job seekers attended • National Grid increased scholarship funding • Aimed to increase women and minority participation • $5,000 per college in first year • $10,000 per college in second year • Presentation at NEPPA

17. Activities and Recent Accomplishments • Visits to class by industry personnel • Visits to Municipal facilities (Shrewsbury and Concord) • Classes in resume writing and interview skills • Sharron Gillies training at National Grid

18. Incoming Class Demographics Gender Male – 53 Female - 1

19. Recruitment Efforts • Recruitment has been very successful – More applicants than openings • Admission standards are high • Read and write at college level • Ability to do basic algebra • Efforts at High School Recruitment • Open Houses • High School Visits • Career and College Fairs • Work of Career Centers

20. High School visits to NG Training Site Ken Lomax talking to High School Students at NG

21. National Grid at a Career Fair Kate Darwin Showing a Service Truck to Students

22. Job Placement • 31 students placed at National Grid so far • 5 are in process of being hired • 3 placed into local municipal utilities • A few students have been offered jobs and declined them

23. Industry Participation in Classes • August – Curriculum Team met to review the year • Satisfaction with results • Need for more industry participation in the classes • Safety class requires person with industry experience • Industry personnel should give guest lectures in the Intro to the Industry Course • Looking for industry personnel to visit classes at Middlesex and Quinsigamond

24. A Great Partnership • Colleges cooperated – did not compete • Sharing • National Grid Personnel are champions of the program • Communication • People like and respect each other

25. Sustainability • Enrollment is sufficient to maintain the programs at the colleges • How do we maintain the partnership?

26. Conclusion • This is a model that works • From college perspective – No brainer • Lot’s of student interest in program • Relatively inexpensive lab that is easy to maintain • Good job prospects for graduates • From Company Perspective • Get good applicants • Demonstrated Commitment • Understand underlying principles of the work

27. Issues Colleges are short of money Companies will need to provide a robust commitment to the programs • Curriculum • Training support • Help with funding lab equipment • Recruitment Check out federal grants

28. Contact Information Barry Werner, Program Manager wernerb@middlesex.mass.edu