MCC APPROVED AS STATE'S FIRST ENERGY INDUSTRY FUNDAMENTALS CERTIFICATE PROVIDER

Madisonville Community College s Energy Management Program has been officially approved as Kentucky s first Energy Industry Fundamentals Certificate provider. Developed by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD), the course takes a comprehensive look at the energy industry, including nuclear, natural gas, and renewable. Instructional materials focus on experiential learning techniques with a comprehensive online assessment at the end of the course. Upon successful completion of the assessment, students would receive the Energy Industry Fundamentals Certificate.

The Energy Industry Fundamentals course is divided into modules that include:
Basic and emerging principles and concepts that impact the energy industry
Compliance with procedures necessary to ensure a safe and healthy work environment
Electric power generation
Electric power and natural gas transmission
Electric and natural gas distribution
Energy careers and entry requirements
Energy hot topics (such as Smart Grid technologies)

Formed in March 2006, CEWD is a non-profit consortium of electric natural gas and nuclear utilities and their associations Edison Electric Institute, American Gas Association, Nuclear Energy Institute, and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. It was formed to help utilities work together to develop solutions to the coming workforce shortage in the utility industry. It is the first partnership between utilities, their associations, contractors, and unions to focus on the need to build a skilled workforce pipeline that will meet future industry needs. CEWD is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for assessment-based certificate programs. In addition to MCC s location in Kentucky, approved course providers can be found in Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Carolina.

The Energy Management program at Madisonville Community College is a fully online program. Textbook-free lecture and lab courses are delivered in 8 week bi-term scheduling through Blackboard, a distance learning platform. The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree along with diploma and certificate options are available. The curriculum includes 5 national, industry-recognized certificates. Graduates can find employment in the growing fields of energy audit, energy consulting, and facilities management in addition to entry level positions in the energy production industry. The AAS degree is transferrable to online Bachelor of Science programs at Murray State University, Western Kentucky University, and Morehead State University.

For additional information about the Energy Industry Fundamentals Certificate or MCC s Energy Management Program, contact Jake Hildebrant, program coordinator, at 270.883.1160 or jake.hildebrant@kctcs.edu.

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