http://216.235.169.213 en-us Fri, 09 Mar 2012 http://216.235.169.213/syndicate/rssnews.png http://216.235.169.213/news/ http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=132
The Instrumentation and Control (I&C) Technology program is one of the newest technical programs offered from the BSC National Energy Center of Excellence and the demand for graduates needed to fill these highly-regarded positions is outpacing the supply.

"Good candidates for this program are those that enjoy troubleshooting, electronics, working hands-on and in teams. The starting wages range between $19-32 an hour for new hires with no experience and the opportunity to move up from there is fantastic," said Vance Vesey, Assistant Professor for I&C Technology.

Students can enroll in the I&C program either online or on-campus starting in August of each year. On campus students have the opportunity to learn this trade utilizing state-of-the-art lab equipment. Online students have the flexibility of taking their courses via the Internet to work around their busy schedules. Students who enroll online are required to attend labs on the BSC campus in the summer semester, which provides them an awesome opportunity to obtain hands-on experience and work with their instructors in person.

Students interested in pursuing an Instrumentation and Control career should contact Vance at Vance.Vesey@bismarckstate.edu or 701.224.2442.
]]> Fri, 09 Mar 2012 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=131 State College is pleased to announce a new operator
training program dedicated to the field of water and
wastewater treatment. Bismarck State College has been
a leader in operator training for four decades working
with and for industry to help fulfill the need for skilled
workers.

Beginning in the fall of 2012, online courses for a
Certificate in Water and Wastewater Technology will
be offered. This program is designed for entry-level
employment in water treatment plants of all types; city
and rural utilities, power plants, process and other
industrial facilities.

"The Water and Wastewater technology program
addresses a huge need for qualified technicians as the
demand for water continues to rise. Employment
opportunities exist in many rural areas, as well as in
industrial facilities across the world. The online courses
offer a flexible method for people to become qualified to
work in one year," said Joan Mapel, assistant
professor, NECE.

Check out our youtube video here!]]> Wed, 29 Feb 2012 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=130
The NECE offers three online, open enrollment courses for anyone within your company an opportunity to learn more about the Smart Grid. The courses are designed to enhance knowledge of the smart grid and introduces new technologies and operation procedures implemented during the smart grid deployment.

Smart Grid, Smart Customer: This course is a nontechnical overview of what the smart grid is and what enhancements it will provide both the consumer and the electric power industry.

Renewable Energy Sources and the Smart Grid: This course examines electricity production from various forms of renewable energy and provides a vision of the smart grid.

Operation Considerations for the Smart Grid: This course examines the operation considerations for the Smart Grid and will focus on understanding the operational considerations for technicians who will install, control, monitor and maintain the smart grid.

Interested in enrolling your employees?

Contact us: Meghan Schaefer or 701.224.2519.

Coming Soon!
New Course: Impact of the Smart Grid]]> Wed, 04 Jan 2012 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=129 Power System Switching Training" course boasts 7 Simulation hours within its total value of 9 CEHs. This course introduces and reviews power system switching concepts such as switching priorities, safe switching communication and switching procedures.

"With 2012 right around the corner, companies are reviewing their budget priorities andupcoming training needs. The NECE offers many online NERC CEH options that are for CEHs and college credit, or as stand-alone CEH offerings. Since the courses are available online at a rate as low as $17.00/CEH, the resource savings can be huge in terms of time and dollars. The courses are led by industry-experienced professionals and are offered in various time blocks or as an
open-enrollment option, depending on the course," said Alicia Uhde, Training & Partnerships Manager.

For more information on the NERC CEH course options offered from the NECE click here.]]> Mon, 26 Dec 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=128 Lineworker program is now the proud owner of a new EZ Spot UR pole setter! This new piece of equipment was recently donated by Earl Emerson and EZ Spot UR and is valued at $9,500.

The EZ Spot UR allows for one person to safely remove a standing pole and provides a more efficient and safe method of handling poles. The pole setter is an excellent addition to the Lineworker program. In combination with other types of modern equipment, the pole setter provides the students great hands-on work experience for preparation to be electrical lineworkers across North Dakota and the country.

"Support from Earl Emerson and the energy industry is very appreciated. Contributions allow for our students to have the most up-to-date equipment and technology to provide the real-world experience necessary to begin working in the energy industry! These types of donations help the students obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to make both the companies and students successful. We are truly fortunate for the commitment to our programs," said Keith Landeis, Associate Professor of Electrical Lineworker.

Every year, the energy industry makes contributions to the Lineworker department to purchase a new set of poles. Contributions can be used as a match for needed equipment and this type of match allowed for the Lineworker department to purchase a John Deere skidsteer.

Many thanks to Earl Emerson and the many contributors who support the Lineworker program and the National Energy Center of Excellence!

Interested in donating funds or equipment?

Contact Gordy Binek: Gordon.Binek@bismarckstate.edu
or 701.224.5697.
]]> Fri, 23 Dec 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=127 Laramie River Station now and hopefully when I finish my degree next year I will have an opportunity for an interview there," thought Justin Herstein. Much to Herstein's surprise, not only did he get an interview, he was hired in his second semester of Power Plant Technology courses!

"Some people that I know work at power plants and suggested BSC's program to me. I am from Wyoming and was hoping to get a job near my home area. Since I was hired before completing the program on campus, I was able to enroll in the online courses to continue my education," said Herstein.

"I recommend enrolling in one of BSC's energy programs. I really enjoyed the small classrooms and that the teachers are previous employees in the industry. Enrolling allowed me to tour facilities related to the energy industry and helped me learn about different career options," said Herstein.

Herstein recently began his position as a Laborer at the Basin Electric Power Cooperative's Laramie River Station in Wheatland, WY and is completing his Power Plant Technology Associate degree online.

Congratulations, Justin! Best wishes in your new position!]]> Thu, 22 Dec 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=126
The Get Educated Official List of Best Buys ranks the top 35 regionally accredited and most affordable online bachelor degrees in management in the United States. BSC is the only institution in North or South Dakota to receive a ranking.

Based on costs from Spring 2011, BSC's Energy Management degree received an A- in the rating scale and a number seven ranking for its overall degree cost of $29,194.

Richard Northrup, assistant professor and developer for the BSC BAS program believes the program is quickly becoming the premier energy management on-line program.

"The BAS is training the present and future managers needed in the energy field. I am proud to be a part of the program. Although I instruct many of the classes, I continue to marvel at how much I learn from the students. The various parts of the business they work in and their perspectives of the industry give me, and their fellow students, insight into how diverse the energy business really is."

The program currently has more than 200 students located all over America and different parts of the world.

"BSC's National Energy Center of Excellence is proud to offer the Bachelor of Applied Science in Energy Management, where students receive a quality education for a great value," said Tammy Heupel, coordinator, BAS in Energy Management.

The Get Educated online university rankings were objectively calculated by comparing tuition and distance education fees at 61 regionally accredited or regional candidate colleges that offer 158 distance bachelor degrees in the formal major area of business management.

GetEducated.com is a consumer group that publishes online college rankings and online university ratings along the dimensions that matter most to online students themselves: affordability and credibility. For more information, go to www.GetEducated.com.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

About Bismarck State College
Bismarck State College, an innovative community college in Bismarck, N.D., offers high quality education, workforce training, and enrichment programs reaching local and global communities.

]]> Tue, 29 Nov 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=125 Tri-State Generation and Transmission, was founded in1952, with its headquarters being in Westminster, Colorado. Tri-State employs around 1,200 people and is
responsible for generating and transmitting electricity to its member systems throughout a 200,000 square-mile service territory. Their territory spreads across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming and serves approximately 1.5 million consumers.Tri-State's power is generated through a combination of owned baseload and peaking power plants that use coal and natural gas as their primary
fuels, supplemented by purchased power, federal hydroelectricity allocations and
renewable resource technologies.

With the large service territory, attending training at a centralized learning facility is not a practical solution for some employees at Tri-State. "Online learning is an effective way for our employees to get the training they need using a resource-saving method. The courses offered from the Bismarck State College National Energy Center have proven to be a great asset to our training program. We were able to develop a customized training program by cherry-picking the exact courses we needed which saved us money and time. The flexibility of the online courses allows our employees to take courses and do their jobs collaboratively which provides an excellence learning experience for them," said Mike Jakulewicz, Training Manager for Tri-State.

The program began with a team of representatives from Tri-State, the EPCE Coalition and BSC to determine the class requirements, student enrollment information and scheduling.

"Tri-State uses courses from the Electric Power Technology program as part of their Substation Technician apprenticeship program. The up-to-date curriculum teaches the apprentices skills relative to their job. Since the courses are taught for college credit, the apprentices are very close to obtaining an AAS degree upon completion of the courses required by their employer. Each of the apprentices is assigned the same NECE Academic Advisor that is knowledgeable about the details of the program, which makes the transition to becoming a college student very manageable," said Alicia Uhde, Training and Partnerships Manager, NECE.

Many thanks goes out to Mike and his staff for their continued support of the BSC NECE programs! Best wishes for a safe and successful year ahead.
]]> Mon, 21 Nov 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=124 Green River Power Station, Kentucky Utilities a PPL company.

Troost enrolled in the Electric Power Technology program in 2003 and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree in 2006. He returned to BSC in 2010 and is pursuing the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in Energy Management.

"I like having the ability to complete my class work while working at my job. I am pleased to have been able to complete the Associate degree and to be enrolled in the BAS program. Enrolling in the programs have been a very good experience for me," said Troost.

"The energy industry is about to lose 30-40% of its workforce to retirement. The industry is also being reinvented. I would recommend BSC to anyone looking to improve their electric utility understanding - broaden your knowledge and think about renewables."

Congratulations, Tom!]]> Fri, 07 Oct 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=123 energy technology education partnership between Ghana
and Bismarck State College.

In a recent news conference at the BSC National Energy
Center of Excellence, Rev. Daniel Nyarko, president of
Takoradi Polytechnic of Ghana, and BSC President Larry
Skogen said the program might involve both an exchange
training program and online courses. They said discussion
of a future partnership is in the early stages.

"We expect to have 200,000 jobs in the oil and gas
industry. So far, a majority are non-Ghanaians. Our
government has a plan to make sure that by 2020, that 90
percent of workforce in the oil and gas industry will be
trained Ghanaians. This is where we come in as a trainer,"
Nyarko said.

He said they hope to start with 50 students in two programs
- Process Technology and Instrumentation and Control
by September of 2012.

"There may be the possibility of BSC delivering part of the
program here and Polytechnic would be part of the program
there," Skogen said. "There are all kinds of different models
we can work out, but we don't know what that is going to
look like."

Al Dohrmann, deputy adjutant general of the North Dakota
National Guard, said this kind of partnership would help the
Guard mission in Ghana through the State Partnership
Program that builds cultural, political, military and civilian
interaction between North Dakota and Ghana.

In 2009, Skogen and Kari Knudson, vice president of the
BSC National Energy Center of Excellence, visited Ghana
to start talks with educational institutions and people in the
energy industry about future partnerships.

Takoradi Polytechnic is located along the coast of Sekondi-
Takoradi, the twin-city capitol of Ghana's Western Region. It
is near developing oil fields and is known as an industrial
and commercial center.]]> Thu, 06 Oct 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=122 Power Plant Technology program. While he hadn't taken college courses for 13 years, he decided it was time for something new.

"I loved the online flexibility! I could study at the hockey arena when my son had practice and when I moved during my enrollment I could continue from that location. I could go to class at any time, at my convenience. My instructors provided their contact information so I could get in touch with them if I had questions," said Gill.

Completing the Power Plant Technology program brought Gill a whole line of opportunities. He now works as a Control Room Operator, Lab Technician and in Maintenance for a rural water company called W.E.B. Water out of Selby, South Dakota. W.E.B. provides water for fourteen counties in South Dakota and three in North Dakota, along with water to five ethanol plants. His job is unique in that there are no other employees during his shift, which keeps him very busy.

Gill said, "I worked in my previous job for 14 years mainly because of the pay. Now I can say the pay is good and I like my job. There are a lot of jobs out there that don't necessarily put you into a power or process facility which is nice to know that there are options".

"I would recommend contacting BSC and speaking with an advisor from the National Energy Center of Excellence. They have all kinds of information to guide you in your interest and the classes that need to be taken," said Gill.

Congratulations, Randy!
]]> Thu, 25 Aug 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=120

The award is an acknowledgement of superior career and technical education programs in North Dakota. The programs were recognized for teaching students all phases of power generation and process industries operating all types of equipment in a variety of facilities in a safe and efficient manner, continually adapting curriculum, lab equipment, and online tools including many one-of-a-kind lab devices, and an increase of 60% in enrollment of females in a male-dominated STEM industry.
]]> Mon, 22 Aug 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=121
Smart Grid, Smart Customer provides a non-technical overview of the smart grid and helps utility industry employees respond to questions about smart grid and reduce customer confusion about the new technology as it is introduced.

Designed as an overview, this 90-minute course was developed as part of a U.S. Department of Energy workforce training and development grant administered by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). Students can access the course online anytime, anywhere.

This course is part of a series of online smart grid courses being developed to provide workforce preparedness training for thousands of current and prospective energy utility employees with the support and expertise of EPCE's DOE grant partners: Arizona Public Service; ComEd, an Exelon Company; JEA; Northeast Utilities Service Company; Oklahoma Gas and Electric; and PJM Interconnection. EPCE association partners, the American Public Power Association (APPA), Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA), and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), are providing additional support for the program.
]]> Sun, 21 Aug 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=119
Click here for more info]]> Fri, 15 Jul 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=118
Petroleum Production Technology builds on the curriculum of BSC's Process Plant Technology program. Offered online, the program will emphasize production operations, safety, and environmental aspects of the petroleum industry. The program is designed to provide students with a broad background to operate and maintain the equipment used in the oil extraction and services industry in a safe and responsible manner.

Students have the option of completing a program certificate or an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. Degree completers can transfer the AAS degree into the BAS in Energy Management, also available entirely online from BSC.

"The Petroleum Production program is an exciting addition to the NECE portfolio of programs. The curriculum of this program couples nicely with the Process Technology program so we can have graduates with knowledge of both sides of the Oil & Gas industry, both production and processing," said Dan Schmidt, NECE Program Manager.

For more information click here: bismarckstate.edu/energy/prod/.
]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2011 http://216.235.169.213/news/default.asp?NID=117
Signers of the agreement are BSC officials Dr. Drake Carter, provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Kari Knudson, vice president, National Energy Center of Excellence, and Dr. Christopher Picard, provost of academic affairs at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Graduates of SLCC's two-year program in Energy Management would feed directly into the BAS program.

"This articulation agreement allows students to transition seamlessly from their technical program at SLCC into our BAS in Energy Management," said Carter. "Graduates of the BAS are set to move into managerial positions on the next rung of the career ladder."

For more information click here: bismarckstate.edu/energy/slcc/ ]]> Thu, 16 Jun 2011