2012 Center for Energy Workforce Development SummitNovember 14-16, 2012

Crystal Gateway Marriott• Arlington, VA

SRS Community Reuse OrganizationNuclear Workforce Initiative

Dr. Gemma K. FrockPresenting For

Ms. Mindy Mets, NWI Program Manager

Nuclear Industry Career Opportunities Abound!

SRSCRO Study 10,000 new nuclear workers needed during next decade!

NWI Academy• In concert with the SRS Community Reuse Organization’s Nuclear

Workforce Initiative (NWI®), Aiken Technical College and Augusta Technical College implemented a NWI® Academy to prepare low-income young adults for career pathways in the nuclear industry

• A collaborative approach was used in developing and implementing the NWI® Academy in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA)– SRS Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO)– The local Georgia/South Carolina Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

organizations– Augusta Technical College, Augusta, GA – Aiken Technical College, Aiken, SC

• Low-Income Young Adults• Government Assistance• Ages 18 to 20• Out of school

– HS Graduate or GED• Need of Career Direction

Target Audience

Aiken Technical College

Augusta Technical College

Phase I• Work Readiness Certificate• Skills USA Assessment • First Aid/CPR Certification • 10-Hour OSHA Certification• Continuing Education Credit• Six semester hours of college

credit that may be used towards a nuclear academic program

• 40 Hour HAZWOPER Certification

Program ModelPhase II • Phase I with the addition of any

certification available from the Energy Fundamentals course will be included in this phase

• Lessons learned from Phase I

• Taught by college faculty • Supported by guest speakers • Tour local nuclear power plants • Supported by a class proctor • NWI® participants received stipends upon reaching identified

benchmarks• Candidates were proficient in basic skills • NWI® Academy was developed and designed based on:

– Completed DACUMs for the Nuclear Programs at Aiken Technical College– Industry expected employability and safety skills

• Modularized Curriculum • Delivered over 6 weeks

Program Model

• GEICC Gates Funding– $33,000 in Phase I– $2,500 in Phase II

• Additional Funding Source TBD– $10,000

• South Carolina Workforce Investment Board• Georgia Workforce Investment Board • Title IV Funding

Funding for NWI Academy

Augusta Technical CollegeNon-Credit

Augusta Technical College’s first NWI® Academy was held in 2012• Work Ready Certificate

– Skills Gap Training• Career Exploration• Employability and Life Skills Training• Nuclear Industry Awareness• Industry Certification Training

– 10 Hour OSHA training– First Aid/CPR

• Education and Training Options

Augusta Technical CollegeOutcomes

• 9 students successfully completed the program• Total of 35 Industry Recognized Credentials Earned

– GA Work Ready Certificates (10)– Energy Employability Skills Credentials (6) – Students Earned OSHA 10 Hour Certifications (9)– Students Earned First Aid/CPR Certifications (10)

• Advancement Following Program– 5 students enrolled in college fall 2012 semester– 2 students opted for employment

Student Comments• “It gave me a new beginning. It opens new

doors to me.”• “It helped us learn more about nuclear

energy, jobs, and educational goals.”• “I knew it was going to be a good learning

experience, and it was!”• “Best college experience I ever been

through in my entire life. Best program to attend. This program was worth it.”

Student Comments

• “This was a great experience.”• “I loved the NWI® Academy”• “I really enjoyed being a part of the first

Academy. It has really given me a new understanding in life and has open new doors for me.”

Aiken Technical CollegePhase I & II

Aiken Technical College piloted the NWI® Academy in 2011 and held the second program in 2012• Nuclear Industry Awareness• College Credit Courses

– RPT 101 – Introduction to Radiation Protection– EGR 105 – Safety in the Workplace– COL 103 – College Skills (Employability and Life Skills)– RPT 120 – Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response

• Student’s Kept a Journal and BLOG• Career Readiness Certificate and Self-pace Tutoring

– Applied Mathematics– Reading for Information– Locating Information

Aiken Technical CollegeOutcomes

• 10 students successfully completed the program

• Total of 26 Industry Recognized Credentials Earned– Students Earned SC Work Ready Certificates (9)– Students Earned Energy Employability Skills Credentials (7)– Students HAZWOPER 40 Hour Certifications (10)

Aiken Technical CollegeOutcomes

• Total of 47 College Credits Earned– COL 103 College Skills (18 credits earned)– RPT 101 Introduction to Radiation Protection (9 credits earned)– RPT 120 HAZWOPER (10 credits earned)– EGT 105 Safety in the Workplace (10 credits earned)

• Advancement Following Program– 6 Students enrolled in college fall 2012 semester

Student Comments2012 Participant – Bianca Bradley

“The experience at Aiken Technical College’s Nuclear Workforce Institute Academy has been good. I’ve learned so much from the program. When I first started, I didn’t even know these opportunities existed. It was exciting to wear the protective gear, and the experience has been eye-opening.

Before this program, I was only planning on getting a nursing degree. However, now that I know about the nuclear industry, I want to focus on Radiation Protection Nursing and work at the Savannah River Site as a nurse specializing in radiation protection.

I plan to begin my nursing degree at USC Upstate in their X-ray technician program, and then return to the Aiken area and pursue a job with the Savannah River Site.”

Student Comments2012 Participant – Roderick Tolbert

“The NWI Academy experience has been wonderful! It’s been the best decision I’ve made so far since graduating from North Augusta High School. It has helped me determine my career and where to take my future.

Our group trip to V.C. Summer in Columbia and SRS locally have been the most exciting parts of the experience. They provided me with a good look at what I will do in the future and what my responsibilities will be.

I plan to begin my two-year degree at Aiken Technical College starting this fall. After that, I want to work for V.C. Summer or SRS.”

The Results• 22 out of 70 individuals who expressed interest qualified for the program• 20 students participated in the NWI® Academies

– 10 students at Aiken Technical College– 10 students at Augusta Technical College

• Students Earned – 61 industry recognized credentials– 47 college credits– 60% of the students went on to pursue post-secondary education

• Recognized at the National Summit as one of the nation’s best workforce development practices for the energy industry

• The number of students participating in the NWI® Academies was lower than expected– Students fail to complete the enrollment process for the college credit

based academy– Students fail to meet the minimum requirements for the programs– Two students who completed the enrollment process were

uninterested in pursuing the program once they learned more about it– Feedback from the Center of Energy Workforce Development and

local WIA directors said that the CSRA NWI® Academy results exceed those from similar programs

Lessons Learned

• A high degree of collaboration between the academic institutions and the WIA programs is required during the recruitment phase of the program

• Recruitment must begin at least six months prior to the program start

• Involvement with local high school counselors has proven successful

• Students with a clear understanding of the time commitment involved for the program were the most successful

Lessons Learned

• Many students were interested in the programs but were not WIA eligible. The NWI® Academy model would be suitable for a variety of students as an opportunity to survey the nuclear industry career opportunities

• Many students who were interested in the programs were not WIA eligible

• The NWI® Academy model would be suitable for a variety of students as an opportunity to survey the nuclear industry career opportunities

Lessons Learned

• Implement a one week Nuclear Camp for 8th through 10th graders• Open-access to the NWI® Academy in 2013 will be encouraged• Grant funds will be restricted for low income students

Future Directions

Skill Dilemma

Linking Students to Nuclear Career Opportunities By

Opening the Door to Skill Development Programs.

NWI Academy