| Join Our Mailing List |
| Join the list |
| Upcoming Events |
|
CONTE Conference
Booth 19
Jacksonville, FL
February 8-11, 2009
Bismarck State College
National Energy Center of Excellence Bismarck, ND
June 4-6, 2009 |
|
Bismarck State College Offers Online Resource Center to Industry |
|
Innovation continues at Bismarck State College in North Dakota with the launch of the online Industry Resource Center (IRC), a virtual place for energy companies to have continuing access to selected BSC training materials.
Made available by the college's National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE), the IRC contains multimedia simulations and animations designed for training employees in the electrical transmission industry.
Company supervisors and trainers can access the interactive learning tools for six months through a licensing agreement with BSC. The trial period for these educational products extends through June 30, 2009. Introductory rates are $500 prior to March 31 and $375 after March 31.
"We can classify this as a first step to creating a curriculum resource center where the NECE licenses and customizes training products for industry," said Daniel Schmidt, manager of the Electrical Transmission Systems Technology and Process Plant Technology programs. "These same learning tools are used in our classes, but students wanted ongoing access after the classes ended."
He said BSC developed the Industry Resource Center at the request of company representatives, who wanted such tools for their internal training programs.
Bismarck State College, a national leader in providing energy technology education, has been training workers for the energy industry since 1976. The college offers programs online and on campus.
|
| Employee Spotlight |
|
|
Kelly Heihn
Adjunct Faculty
Wayne "Kelly" Heihn comes to BSC's National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE) with a tremendous amount of experience from all aspects of the power generation field. Heihn began employment at Basin Electric Power Cooperative's Leland Olds Stanton Station in Stanton, North Dakota in 1967 as a laborer-trainee. While working at Leland Olds, he worked in several plant operator positions.
In October 1981, Heihn transferred as a Shift Supervisor to the then under construction Antelope Valley Station (AVS) in Beulah, North Dakota. Throughout his service at AVS he held various positions including start-up coordinator, contract maintenance coordinator and plant operations supervisor at the time of his retirement.
Heihn decided to join the NECE to convey his knowledge and experience to those enrolled in the energy technology programs. He teaches courses in Energy Sources & Conversions, Gas Turbines & Combined Cycle Operations and Boilers.
Heihn resides in Mandan, North Dakota and is married to Eileen.
Kelly - Welcome and thank you for your service to BSC! | |
|
|
Dorgan Announces Education Program Agreement between BSC and the U.S. Navy |
|
|
(From the Office of Senator Byron Dorgan)
U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced on January 16, 2009 that an education partnership he helped facilitate between Bismarck State College and the U.S. Navy is official. BSC will now provide Navy personnel with an online curriculum, giving them an accredited education related to power plant operations and other energy technology and academic programs. The partnership will improve recruitment and retention by allowing sailors to complete Navy-relevant higher education without having to go into a traditional classroom.
Dorgan, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, helped forge the partnership and secured $400,000 to develop the program.
"I'm very pleased to see that this partnership has been finalized," Dorgan said. "This creates unique opportunities for Navy members and for North Dakota. It will give sailors flexible access to advance in their careers, and it will also give a boost to the Great Plains Energy Corridor initiative."
"We really appreciate Senator Dorgan's help in making this project happen," said BSC President Dr. Larry Skogen. "His work has been a huge factor in expanding many energy-related initiatives at BSC in recent years, which have brought us national recognition."
Dorgan has secured $2.15 million in other funding to help BSC expand its online energy technology training curriculum and another $5.4 million to establish a National Energy Center of Excellence facility. A ribbon-cutting for that state-of-the-art facility took place last September. It now houses BSC's energy training programs, continuing education, and training for North Dakota businesses. In 2007, BSC was designated the National Power Plant Operations Technology and Education Center as a result of a provision Dorgan secured in the Energy Policy Act.
|
|
Student Success Story |
|
When Clark Preszler graduated from the Power Plant program in May of 2008 he was hoping to get a job that had great pay and benefits. What he didn't expect is to be hired by a company that not only offered those things but relocation funds and tuition reimbursement. Preszler was recruited in June to work at First Energy's W.H. Sammis Plant in Stratton, Ohio. At 20 years old, Preszler was earning $23.50 an hour. "I feel BSC's energy education program was great at achieving a practical education that opened the doors for an easy transition to the real life at work," said Preszler.
Since then, Preszler has worked up to earn a higher wage and has enrolled in BSC's Energy Management degree online to learn more about energy economics, government regulations in the energy industry, energy markets, managing energy facilities and ethical Iissues in the energy industry. When asked about the Energy Management program, Preszler said "Thank you BSC for your time and effort in helping support the Energy Management Program. It opens doors to great opportunities."
Congratulations, on your accomplishments Clark! |
| BSC NECE Lab Equipment Spotlight |
|
This month's feature is the new DarbyTech Distillation Unit trainer. This trainer is designed to teach students a variety of industry related topics including distillation, instrumentation, measurement, heat exchange, control systems and equipment.
Students in the Process Plant Technology program utilize this equipment in the new NECE lab to separate liquid mixtures and recover the individual components. The trainer is equipped with industry-typical process measurement and control devices and the trainer is controlled from a distributed control system. Dan Schmidt, Process Plant Technology Program Manager, said, "We could not be more pleased with the equipment and facilities we now have. The entire group of faculty is very excited to put this equipment to good use, educating and training future industry technicians."
Funding for the equipment was provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. | |
|
|
|
