By Degrees - Zane State College

around campusEnergy at Zane State CollegeOne bright spot in the U.S. job market in recent yearshas been the marked increase in careers in the energyfield. Potential students, eager to enter a field with realemployment prospects, are looking at these opportunitieswith avid interest. Enter Zane State College’s energy degrees,a cadre of programs designed to meet employer andemployee needs in the booming energy industry.According to the independent nonprofit PEW CharitableTrusts, jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a nationalrate of 9.1% between 1998 and 2007, while traditional jobsgrew by less than 4%. In Ohio, clean energy jobs grew by31% during the same time period.Zane State College, which has offered energy programssince the College opened its doors in 1969, has expanded itsenergy offerings to ensure the region is adequately preparedto meet the growing workforce needs (see table below). TheCollege’s new Natural Gas Engineering Technology (NGT) isone example.“The NGT program is a result of more than three yearsof research and collaboration with the Ohio oil and gasindustry,” said Daniel Durfee, professor, engineering andenergy science. “The development of the Marcellusand Utica Shales, along with a pending loss of industryemployees due to retirements, will require a tremendousincrease in trained workers.”“We have worked closely with companies to ensure thatour curriculum adequately prepares the workforce to meetindustry needs,” said Dr. Chad Brown, vice president foracademic services and workforce development. “When ourstudents graduate from our energy programs, they will beperfectly positioned to enter the growing energy field.”In addition to energy degree programs, Zane State Collegehas launched a training initiative to prepare unemployed,underemployed, and displaced workers to enter the energy/green workforce. Funded through a grant from the U.S.Department of Labor, the “Energize Appalachian Ohio”short-term training initiative provides training in a variety ofcareer areas and, in some cases, for certification. Careerareas include traditional energy, alternative/renewableenergy, energy management and conservation, sustainableagriculture, and welding.Energy Programs at Zane State College• Natural Gas Engineering Technology• Alternative Energy Technology• Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology*• Environmental, Science, Safety, and Health• Sustainable Agriculture• Petroleum Engineering Technology• Short-Term Job TrainingVisit ZaneState.edu/energyprograms.pdf for more information!*Technology Accreditation Committee of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.(ABET, Inc.) 111 Market Pl., Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202, (410) 347-7700.zanestate.edu 3