Middlesex County College and PSE&G Partner to Create New Degree Program in Energy Utility Technology
Middlesex County College and PSE&G have created a new program to educate and train technicians for the energy utility industry. It will begin in the spring of 2006.
"This program provides an opportunity to work in one of the top electric and gas companies in the country," said Lina Hollman, program manager for PSE&G's Energy Utility Technology Degree Program. "One of the advantages of the program is that students who graduate and pass the appropriate testing are provided a job opportunity with PSE&G. And once you have a job with us, there are a lot of opportunities for growth within the company."
Students in the program take their general education courses and some of the technical classes at Middlesex; the courses specific to the industry are held at the PSE&G training site in Edison. The program also consists of two summer internships that pay $15 to $17 per hour. Those who complete the program will earn an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences.
Students are now being accepted for the spring semester.
Jack Waintraub, chairman of the Electrical Engineering Department at Middlesex, said the utility industry is facing a significant number of retirements in the next five to 15 years and has developed a progressive strategy for recruitment.
"PSE&G is taking the lead in assessing their needs for new technical employees in the future," he said. "The company is also committed to developing a more diverse workforce."
Both Professor Waintraub and Ms. Hollman suggested that this program is being looked at by other utility industries as a model for their workforce development needs. The program started at Mercer County Community College in 2002 and expanded to Essex County College in 2004. There are currently 36 students in those programs.
For information on applying to the program, call 732-906-2584 or 732-906-4243
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