MULTI-AGENCY OPERATOR TRAINING PROGRAM Douglas J. Craig Bay Area Clean Water Agencies Annual Meeting January 24, 2008
DEMAND FOR WATER/WASTEWATER OPERATORS • 50 percent of operators to retire in seven to ten years. • 5, 220 certified wastewater operators in California • Twice as many water treatment operators as wastewater operators
RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES • Limited awareness of job opportunities • No “pool” of operators to draw from • Time requirements to advance – difficult to replace Grade IV and Grade V operators • “Stealing” operators from other agencies does not solve the problem
CURRENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES • Regional Occupational Programs (ROP) • Limited accredited community college curriculums – one in Northern California
MULTI-AGENCY APPROACH • Provide contract education classes at other locations • Contract between Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA) and Solano Community College • Offer at least three accredited classes per semester • Advertise opportunities to promote interest ü Press releases ü Website postings ü High school and Regional Occupational Program ü California Water Environment Association (CWEA) website
PROGRAM GOALS • Expand the awareness of job opportunities as a water or wastewater operator • Develop a pool of operator candidates to replace retiring operators • Advance the education of existing operators and potential operator candidates Ø Ø 28½ credits for Certificate of Achievement in Water/ Wastewater 60 credits for Associate of Science Degree from Solano Community College
AGENCY PARTICIPATION • • • Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Contra Costa Water District Delta Diablo Sanitation District Diablo Water District Dublin San Ramon Services District East Bay Municipal Utility District • • City of Livermore Mountain View Sanitary District Oro Loma Sanitary District Rodeo Sanitary District West County Wastewater District Union Sanitary District Zone 7 Water Agency
ISSUES WITH CONTRACT EDUCATION • Classes offered in Contra Costa County • Community colleges in Contra Costa County must approve an agreement with Solano Community College • Agreement must be repeated each semester • Similar agreement required with other counties
CLASSES OFFERED WATER 100 Introduction to Water and Wastewater Treatment WATER 104 Introduction to Water Supply and Treatment WATER 105 Wastewater Treatment WATER 106 Instrument and Controls WATER 107 Mathematics of Water and Wastewater Treatment
RESPONSIBILITIES • Solano Community College provides books, teachers’ salaries, and college accreditation • Multi-agencies provide class location, student recruitment activities, course fees, and teacher selection
ADVERTISEMENT AND PROMOTION • Radio and newspaper announcements of the classes • Developed and distributed a brochure • Websites • High school and Regional Occupational Program mailings • Word of mouth
CONTRACT EDUCATION COSTS • $12, 000 per semester class • No charge to students • Administrative efforts and advertisements contributed by agencies
AGENCY PARTICIPATION COSTS (PER SEMESTER) • < 5 MGD $1, 500 • 5 -10 MGD $4, 000 • > 10 MGD $6, 000
RESULTS OF FIRST SEMESTER • 61 students in three classes offered at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District • Teacher ratings were high • Student pass rate was 98 percent • 3 students have accepted permanent positions
RESULTS OF SECOND SEMESTER • There are 110 students in four classes; 3 classes at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District and 1 class at West County Sanitary District • 25 repeat or continuing students
LESSONS LEARNED • Administering contract education and coordinating with the college can be challenging • Ensure students are committed through teacher contact • Start early advertising, recruiting, and coordinating with community colleges • Student must enroll in the community college and register at site of class, which can be confusing if brochure is not read carefully
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? • Continue to offer classes in multiple locations • Encourage other community colleges to add water/wastewater curriculum • Continue to provide the opportunities for a career in water/wastewater operations • Evaluate program effectiveness and revise, as necessary
MULTI-AGENCY REQUESTS • If you are interested in being a teacher, let us know • If you are interested in joining the multi-agency training program, let us know
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