Power LineRegistered ApprenticeshipCertificate Program Proposal

Mitchell Technical Institute1800 E. Spruce St. • Mitchell, SD 57301

Presented to the South Dakota State Board of Education

July 2016For Implementation

Summer 2017

MitchellTechnicalInstituteNewProgramProposal: PowerLineRegisteredApprenticeshipCertificate

LengthofProgram: Dependentuponnumberofrequiredapprenticeshiphours/credits

NumberofStudents: 25initialcohort

ProjectedStateDate: CertificateOptionSummer2017

TotalProgramCredits: 71.5

ExecutiveSummary:

MitchellTechnicalInstituteisrequestingapprovaltoofferaspartofourAdvancedTechnicalEducationdivision,aRegisteredApprenticeshiptrainingprogramforacademiccreditasacertificateprogramexpansionfortheexistingPowerLineConstructionandMaintenanceprogram.Thiscertificateprogramwouldprovideanopportunityforemployees,orapprenticestoaccessatrainingprogramthatwouldrecognizetheskillsandabilitiesnecessaryforsuccessinthepowerlineindustry.Academiccreditwillbeawardedforskillstrainingthatoccursoutsideofthetraditionaltechnicalinstituteenvironment.

AccordingtotheAmericanAssociationofCommunityColleges,“RegisteredApprenticeshipisan‘earnwhileyoulearn’modelthatprovideson-the-joblearningandrelatedclassroominstructionfocusedoncertainhigh-skilledjobs.”1TheproposedcurriculumandutilizationofnationallyrecognizedassessmentswillmeetrequirementsoftheOfficeofApprenticeship,adivisionoftheUSDepartmentofLabor.AcomprehensiveStandardsofApprenticeshipdocumenthasbeendevelopedjointlybyMTIandtheUSDepartmentofLabortoencompassthemandatoryapprenticeshipprogramcomponents.2

Thisprogramwillallowstudentstopursuejourneyworkerstatuswithintheircareerfield,framedwithinaformalized,recognizablestructure.Graduatesoftheprogramwillearnstackedcredentials:aninitialdiplomafromMTI;acertificateofcompletionforeachyearofapprenticeshiptraining;andaJourneyworkercertificatefromtheUSDepartmentofLaborattheconclusionoftheirapprenticeshipexperience.

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IdentificationandDescriptionofProgram:ThePowerLineRegisteredApprenticeshipcertificateprogramwillprovideanopportunityforstudentstotakebothonlineandon-campusclassesandperformskillstrainingundersupervisionintheirselectedoccupationalarea.AllapprenticeswillberegisteredthroughthefederalOfficeofApprenticeship,adivisionoftheUSDepartmentofLabor.

ObjectivesandPurposeoftheProgram:ThePowerLineRegisteredApprenticeshipcertificateprogramisdedicatedtoofferingstudentsthepracticalexperience,targetedcurriculum,andfocusedtrainingtobecomeahighlyskilledpractitioneroftheirchosenoccupation.Thisprogramwillprovidedetailedattentiontoallphasesoftheirindustryusingsupervisedon-the-joblearning,combinedwithrelatedinstruction.

GeneralProgramObjectives

AccordingtotheUSDepartmentofLabor,RegisteredApprenticeshiptraininghasseveralprogramobjectives:

• Participantswhoarenewlyhired(oralreadyemployed)earnwagesfromemployersduringtraining

• ProgramsmustmeetnationalstandardsforregistrationwiththeU.S.DepartmentofLabor(orfederally-recognizedStateApprenticeshipAgencies)

• Programsprovideon-the-joblearningandjob-relatedtechnicalinstruction• On-the-joblearningisconductedintheworksettingunderthedirectionofoneormoreofthe

employer’spersonnel• Trainingresultsinanindustry-recognizedcredential.

Advantages

ThereareseveraladvantagestotheoperationofaRegisteredApprenticeshipprogrambyatechnicalinstitute.Theseincludethedevelopmentofastrongsymbioticindustryrelationship;theimmediateidentificationandfamiliaritywithApprenticeshipasanindustrycredential;andthepublicprofilethattheApprenticeshipwoulddisplayasauniqueofferingoftheschool,theprogramandtheemployer.

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MethodsofAttainingtheObjectivesoftheProgram:StudentsarerecruitedintothePowerLineRegisteredApprenticeshipcertificateprogramintwoways:eitherthroughmatriculationintothePowerLineConstructionandMaintenanceacademicprogramatMitchellTechnicalInstitute,orbyenrollinginthePowerLineRegisteredApprenticeshipcertificateprogramofferedthroughMTI’sDepartmentofAdvancedTechnicalEducationdeliveredthroughacombinationofclassroom,onlineandworkplacesupervisedinstruction.BoththeMTIAdmissionsofficeandtheDirectorofAdvancedTechnicalEducationmayassistintherecruitmentofprospectivestudents.

MTIprovidesassurancethatitpossessestheresourcesandstaffnecessaryto:

• Developmarketingmaterialsandrecruitstudents• Recruitandsupervisequalifiedstaff• Collaboratewithbusinesspartnerstoidentifystudents• Assesstheabilitiesofstudentsforproperprogramandcourseplacement• Developandadministerbudgets• Makeavailableinstructionalresources• Providecareerguidancetostudents• Evaluateprogramsandstaff• Secureinputfromindustrythroughanadvisorycommittee• Maintainmembershipinprofessionalorganizationsandprovidetimeandfiscalresourcesfor

professionaldevelopment• Provideservicestodisabledstudents• Provideclassroomsandlaboratories

DescriptionofLaborMarketDemand:SouthDakota’sjobgrowthhasoutpacedtheUSaverageforthepast15yearswithanaveragerateofgrowthat12.9%.In2015specifically,SouthDakotaranked15thnationallyforjobgrowthwith2.3%realjobgrowth.RegisteredApprenticeshipsaretypicallyassociatedwithhighlyskilledtechnicaloccupations.ThePowerLineConstructionandMaintenanceprogramatMTIhashistoricallysupportedongoingapprenticeshipsforourgraduates.

AccordingtoUSCensusBureaudata,in2003,82%ofthebabyboomgenerationparticipatedintheworkforce.In2013,thatnumberwasat66%andexpectedtocontinuetodecreaseatanannualratenear5%.ThisprogramwillhelptoincreasethenumberofhighlyskilledworkerswhohaveeitheralreadycompletedatechnicalprogramandareseekingadditionalskillsorwhoareseekingentryintoanoccupationthatisinneedofregisteredjourneyworkersacrossSouthDakotaandinneighboringstates.

StudentswhocompletetheApprenticeshipprogramwillnotonlyseethepotentialforhigherwages,butalsoincreaseddemandfortheirskills,educationandtechnicalexperience.

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SouthDakotaEmployment PercentChange AnnualDemand

2012 2022 ElectricalPowerLineInstallersandRepairers 690 755 9.40% 31

ThePowerLineRegisteredApprenticeshipprogramwillbeavailabletoanyworkernationwidewhohassuccessfullycompletedeitheranaccreditedpowerlinetrainingprogramorwhohascompletedYearOneofarecognizedregisteredapprenticeship.Therefore,wehaveincludedoccupationaldatafromtheMidwestregion:

MidwestRegionEmployment PercentChange AnnualDemand

2012 2022 ElectricalPowerLineInstallersandRepairers 9,080 9,970 10% 400

Source:CareerOneStop(www.careerinfonet.org),May2016,awebsitesponsoredbytheUSDepartmentofLabor,EmploymentandTrainingAdministration.OccupationprofilesfortheaboveoccupationsareforthestatesofIowa,Minnesota,Montana,Nebraska,NorthDakota,SouthDakota,andWyoming.

PopulationServed:MTIdoesnotdiscriminateinitseducationalprogramsonbasisofrace,color,creed,religion,age,sex,disability,nationaloriginorancestry.TheprogramwilldrawtraditionalstudentsfromSouthDakotaandsurroundingstates.MTIalsoanticipatesthattherewillbeinterestintheprogramfromthosealreadyemployedaslaborers,seekingtoincreasetheirskillleveltojourneyworker.OpportunitiesforemploymentwillbeavailableinSouthDakota,thesurroundingstatesandanywherethatlicensedjourneyworkersareneeded.

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ProjectedThree-YearBudget:Categories 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019

Salaries/Benefits* $22,500 $26,500 $28,000Travel/Training $1,000 $3,500 $3,500Supplies $500 $3,000 $4,000Miscellaneous $500 $500 $1,000TOTAL $24,500 $33,500 $36,500

*MTIanticipatesthatinstructorsinrelatedprogramswilldevelopthecurriculumforthisprogram.Contractualagreementsoutsideoftheirregularfull-timecompensationwillensurethatthecurriculumisdevelopedbyhighlyqualifiedinstructors.FundsfromtheTAACCCT#4federalgrantwillbeusedtosupportthecostofprogramdevelopmentandanyup-frontcosts.Curriculumdevelopmentisscheduledfor2016-2017and2017-2018.In2018-2019,althoughcurriculumdevelopmentwouldbecompleted,therewouldbesometrainingexpenseandtheanticipatedneedforapart-timeApprenticeshipCoordinatorasenrollmentgrows.

ProgramCompetenciesandEntryandExitPoints:Thepowerlineindustryalreadyrequiresanapprenticeshipforallentry-levelworkersandlineworkersmustattaintheirjourneyworkerstatuswithinadefinedamountoftimeinordertomakecareerprogressandreceivethebenefitsofaregisteredjourneyworker.

StudentswillconcurrentlyregisterasapprenticesuponenteringthefulltimePowerLineConstructionandMaintenanceprogramatMTI.Thecoursestheycompleteduringtheirfirstyearofenrollment,alongwiththefieldtrainingandlabactivities,willallowthemtoadvancetoasecond-yearlevelapprenticeaftercompletingtherequisitenumberofon-the-jobhours,typically1,000,followinggraduation.

Thecurriculumisdesignedtohelpparticipantsdeveloptheknowledge,skills,andbehaviorsnecessarytobesuccessfuluponcompletionoftheprogram.Theprogramwillfollowadefinedworkprocessscheduleasrequiredbythetermsoftheapprenticeship:

• Overheadandundergroundconstruction• Overheadandundergroundmaintenance• Secondaryconnectionsandlighting• Useandcareoftoolsandequipment• Vehicleinspectionandmaintenance• OCR/regulators/capacitors• Transformersandmetering• Engineeringandstaking• Rollingstockorinventory• Records• Safetymeetings• Livelinemaintenance

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• Troubleshooting• Substations

Inordertoobtainjourneyworkerstatus,theapprenticemustspendaminimumoffouryears/8,000hours,plustheminimum576requiredhoursofrelatedinstruction.

StatementofNonduplication:Atthepresenttime,therearenosimilarprogramsofferedinaneducationalsettinganywhereinSouthDakota.However,privatecompaniesusefor-profitapprenticeshiptrainingprograms(Merchant,NorthwestLinemen’s,etc.).TheuniqueaspectofanMTIPowerLineRegisteredApprenticeshipcertificateprogramisthevalue-addedcomponent.MTI’sprogramhasdeepandrobustsupportfromthepowerlineindustry.Ourgraduatesaresoughtaftertofillentry-levelpositionsatallkindsofpowerlinecompanies:investor-ownedutilities,ruralelectriccooperatives,andconstructioncompanies.Withourmorethan40yearsofexperiencetraininglineworkers,weareconfidentthattheindustrywillbeeagertojoinMTI’sPowerLineRegisteredApprenticeshipcertificateprogram.

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ProposedCurriculumDesign:Thecurriculumproposedforthisprogramwillbedeliveredinavarietyofmethodsincludingtraditionalclassroomdelivery;labactivities;supervisedfieldwork;onlinematerialsandassignments;short-termannualworkshopsoncampusduringyearstwo,threeandfour;andsupervisionattheworkplace.

FirstYearApprentice

FirstSemester SemesterCreditsPL111CharacteristicsofDC/AC....................................3PL141PowerGridDesign..............................................3PL150FieldTrainingI...................................................2PL151ConstructionofUndergroundLines..................2PL152ConstructionofOverheadLines.........................2PL171UtilitySafetyI......................................................2PAT100IntrotoGPSTechnologies..............................1CPR100FirstAid,CPR&AED.....................................0.5OSHA101OSHA10Training..........................................1SSS100StudentSuccess................................................1EnglishElective...............................................................3 20.5SecondSemester SemesterCreditsPL112TransformerConnections...................................3PL143PowerGridDesignII...........................................3PL154MaintenanceofUndergroundLines...................2PL155MaintenanceofOverheadLines.........................2PL156FieldTrainingII....................................................2PL172UtilitySafetyII.....................................................2TRAN100IndustrialTransportation/CDL.......................1CIS105CompleteComputerConcepts..........................3MathElective..................................................................3 21Diplomaearnedwithsuccessfulcompletionof41.5credits

SecondYearApprentice

APPL111AdvancedConnections...................................2APPL112AdvancedMetering........................................1APPL143PowerGridIII..................................................2APPL151ConstructionofUndergroundLines...............1APPL152ConstructionofOverheadLines.....................1APPL154MaintenanceofUndergroundLines...............1APPL155MaintenanceofOverheadLines.....................1APPL171SafetyIII..........................................................1 10

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ThirdYearApprentice APPL211Adv.TransformerConnectionsII....................2APPL212MeteringConnectionsII.................................1APPL241PowerGridIV..................................................2APPL251Transmission/DistributionTroubleshooting...2APPL254Transmission/DistributionLiveLineMaint.....2APPL271SafetyIV..........................................................1 10

FourthYearApprentice APPL220Relays..............................................................1APPL242PowerGridV...................................................2APPL252Trans/DistributionTroubleshootingII............2APPL255Trans/DistributionLiveLineMaint.II.............2APPL272SafetyV...........................................................1APPL275Supervision&Leadership...............................2 10

Atthecompletionoffouryears/8,000hourson-the-jobtraining,plusaminimumof576hoursofrelatedinstruction,thestudentwillbeawardedaJourneyworkercertificatefromtheUSDepartmentofLaborandacertificateofcompletionfromMitchellTechnicalInstitute.

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WageFactor:Typically,apprenticesarepaidonagraduated,increasingscaleofwagesandbenefitsastheirtrainingprogresses.Theestablishedhourlyrateforajourneyworkerpowerlineinstaller-repaireris$28.58perhour.3

Theworkdayandworkweekforapprenticesisthesameasthatforjourney/craftworkersandissubjecttothesameconditions.

4-YearTermExample:

Source: Standards of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship, Appendix A

CIPCode:46.0303Title:PowerLineRegisteredApprenticeshipCertificate

Definition:Aprogramthatpreparesindividualstoapplytechnicalknowledgeandskillstoinstall,operate,maintainandrepairlocal,long-distance,andruralelectricpowercablesandcommunicationlines;erectandconstructpoleandtowerlines;andinstallundergroundlinesandcables.Includesinstructionincableinstallationandrepair,fibre-optictechnology,trenching,mobileequipmentandcraneoperation,high-voltageinstallations,maintenanceandinspection,safety,remotecommunications,andapplicablecodesandstandards.4

FirstYear: 1st1,000hourPeriod: 50% 2nd1,000hourPeriod: 55%

SecondYear: 3rd1,000hourPeriod: 60% 4th1,000hourPeriod: 65%

ThirdYear: 5th1,000hourPeriod: 70% 6th1,000hourPeriod: 75%

FourthYear: 7th1,000hourPeriod: 80% 8th1,000hourPeriod: 85%

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SourcesCited

1Dembicki,Matthew.“Fedprogramaimstobridgecollegecreditforapprenticeships.”www.ccdaily.com/Pages/Workforce-Development/Fed-program.aspx.April7,2014.

2StandardsofApprenticeships.USDepartmentofLaborOfficeofApprenticeship,2014.

3StandardsofApprenticeships:AppendixA.USDepartmentofLaborOfficeofApprenticeship,2014.

4“DetailforCIPCode46.0303.”Retrievedfromhttps://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/cipdetail.aspx?y=55&cipid=88607.

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LettersofSupport

400 North Fourth Street Bismarck, ND 58501 (701) 222-7900

May 12, 2016 Mr. Mark Wilson, President Mitchell Technical Institute 1800 E. Spruce St. Mitchell, SD 57301 Dear Mr. Wilson: On behalf of Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., I would like to lend my support to the efforts of Mitchell Technical Institute to implement a Registered Apprenticeship program. As a provider of electric power and gas services over a multi-state region, we hire many entry-level employees as apprentices. Some come to us from programs like MTI’s Power Line Construction & Maintenance program where they have developed foundational skills; others are hired with a variety of skills that we believe will make them effective line workers. Whatever their background, if it is necessary for us to enroll them in a registered apprenticeship program in order to obtain their Journeyworker certification, we look forward to the opportunity to the possibility of expanding our relationship with MTI. We know that MTI will combine their many years of experience training line workers with a high quality registered apprenticeship program. Montana-Dakota Utilities is pleased to support the application for a Registered Apprenticeship program. Please know that MDU will be happy to provide any necessary assistance or information. Sincerely. Doug Dixon Director, Safety & Technical Training cc: Pat Darras, VP Operations Jim Kaiser, Director, Human Resources