Page 17 - July/Aug 2015 Vol. 33 No. 2
P. 17
Education By Dr. Philip Clifford
Vol State Offers New Educational
Technical Certificate Program
Of the many challenges facing the Utili- mote economic development, strengthen the period of 2012-2020 estimate that
ties industry today, one of the more con- community and workforce partnerships, an additional 370 Water and Wastewater
cerning is the dual issue of an aging work- and, finally, inspire lifelong learning. The Treatment Plant Operators positions
force and very few potentially qualified proposed Environmental Technology cer- will become available across the state (an
candidates in the employment pipeline. tificate curriculum is designed specifically increase of 14.1 percent from 2,630 to
To heighten awareness of the availability for workforce development and will: 3,000). Local utilities (City of Gallatin,
of these solid, essentially recession-proof • Be delivered through a combination of City of White House, Wilson County, City
jobs, and to ease the training burden that of Lebanon, City of Goodlettsville, TAUD)
the Utilities are saddled with in preparing dual enrollment, online, hybrid, and are telling us that they have few qualified
new employees to not only perform their on-ground courses, individuals interviewing for the positions
jobs, but to pass Operator’s Licensure ex- • Require Learning Support completion that are becoming available and need our
ams, the help of local community colleges as the only prerequisite, help bringing those individuals applying
is sought. The community colleges will • Be highly focused toward the needs of for positions up to educational levels that
be tasked with the job of basic academic Middle Tennessee and regional utili- will allow them to meet the challenges of
preparation (reading, writing, math, basic ties industries professionals and their the job and to prepare for the required
sciences, computer skills, oral presenta- licensure process, licensure examinations.
tion skills, etc.) while the Utilities and the • Prepare students to move directly from
Tennessee Association of Utilities Districts the classroom to the job by coordinat- Need
will retain control of the majority of the ing with utilities industry’s internship
technical training. programs under the Tennessee Labor Tennessee Department of Labor and
and Education Alignment Program Workforce Development projections for
Purpose (LEAP), and the period of 2012-2020 estimate that
• Promote lifelong learning and diversity approximately 65 percent of the water
The purpose of this certificate program through its appeal to non-traditional and wastewater treatment plant operators
is to respond to interest made by several students. jobs available in the state of Tennessee will
Middle Tennessee Utilities Districts (City be due to replacement needs, and do not
of Gallatin, City of White House, Wilson Institutional Priority represent new openings. This is consistent
County, City of Lebanon, City of Good- with the “aging workforce” described by
lettsville, TAUD) that potential employees The utilities industry is composed of professional managers in the local utilities.
reaching their facilities are insufficiently many jobs that are highly technical and
prepared to sit for licensure examinations requires employees to have substantial “Employment of water and wastewater
and that there are no specific programs or training in a broad range of disciplines. treatment plant and system operators is
certificates currently geared toward meet- Tennessee Department of Labor and projected to grow eight percent from 2012
ing their specific needs. Workforce Development projections for
Continued on page 18
The College’s mission is:
Volunteer State Community College
is a public, comprehensive community
college offering associate degrees, certifi-
cates, continuing education, and service
to northern Middle Tennessee. The
College is committed to providing qual-
ity innovative educational programs;
strengthening community and workforce
partnerships; promoting diversity, and
cultural and economic development; in-
spiring lifelong learning; and preparing
students for successful careers, university
transfer, and meaningful civic partici-
pation in a global society.
This curriculum fits easily within the
institutional mission to offer certificates,
provide innovative quality programs, pro-
View online at tnpublicworks.com 17
Vol State Offers New Educational
Technical Certificate Program
Of the many challenges facing the Utili- mote economic development, strengthen the period of 2012-2020 estimate that
ties industry today, one of the more con- community and workforce partnerships, an additional 370 Water and Wastewater
cerning is the dual issue of an aging work- and, finally, inspire lifelong learning. The Treatment Plant Operators positions
force and very few potentially qualified proposed Environmental Technology cer- will become available across the state (an
candidates in the employment pipeline. tificate curriculum is designed specifically increase of 14.1 percent from 2,630 to
To heighten awareness of the availability for workforce development and will: 3,000). Local utilities (City of Gallatin,
of these solid, essentially recession-proof • Be delivered through a combination of City of White House, Wilson County, City
jobs, and to ease the training burden that of Lebanon, City of Goodlettsville, TAUD)
the Utilities are saddled with in preparing dual enrollment, online, hybrid, and are telling us that they have few qualified
new employees to not only perform their on-ground courses, individuals interviewing for the positions
jobs, but to pass Operator’s Licensure ex- • Require Learning Support completion that are becoming available and need our
ams, the help of local community colleges as the only prerequisite, help bringing those individuals applying
is sought. The community colleges will • Be highly focused toward the needs of for positions up to educational levels that
be tasked with the job of basic academic Middle Tennessee and regional utili- will allow them to meet the challenges of
preparation (reading, writing, math, basic ties industries professionals and their the job and to prepare for the required
sciences, computer skills, oral presenta- licensure process, licensure examinations.
tion skills, etc.) while the Utilities and the • Prepare students to move directly from
Tennessee Association of Utilities Districts the classroom to the job by coordinat- Need
will retain control of the majority of the ing with utilities industry’s internship
technical training. programs under the Tennessee Labor Tennessee Department of Labor and
and Education Alignment Program Workforce Development projections for
Purpose (LEAP), and the period of 2012-2020 estimate that
• Promote lifelong learning and diversity approximately 65 percent of the water
The purpose of this certificate program through its appeal to non-traditional and wastewater treatment plant operators
is to respond to interest made by several students. jobs available in the state of Tennessee will
Middle Tennessee Utilities Districts (City be due to replacement needs, and do not
of Gallatin, City of White House, Wilson Institutional Priority represent new openings. This is consistent
County, City of Lebanon, City of Good- with the “aging workforce” described by
lettsville, TAUD) that potential employees The utilities industry is composed of professional managers in the local utilities.
reaching their facilities are insufficiently many jobs that are highly technical and
prepared to sit for licensure examinations requires employees to have substantial “Employment of water and wastewater
and that there are no specific programs or training in a broad range of disciplines. treatment plant and system operators is
certificates currently geared toward meet- Tennessee Department of Labor and projected to grow eight percent from 2012
ing their specific needs. Workforce Development projections for
Continued on page 18
The College’s mission is:
Volunteer State Community College
is a public, comprehensive community
college offering associate degrees, certifi-
cates, continuing education, and service
to northern Middle Tennessee. The
College is committed to providing qual-
ity innovative educational programs;
strengthening community and workforce
partnerships; promoting diversity, and
cultural and economic development; in-
spiring lifelong learning; and preparing
students for successful careers, university
transfer, and meaningful civic partici-
pation in a global society.
This curriculum fits easily within the
institutional mission to offer certificates,
provide innovative quality programs, pro-
View online at tnpublicworks.com 17
