PERSPECTIVES
Page 2

CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
Page 3
Almost 25 regional workforce development partnerships between utilities and community colleges have applied for designation as a Center of Excellence through an important new UBEC initiative.

PSE&G PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES PAYS EMPLOYMENT DIVIDEND
Page 4
A nationally recognized best-practice partnerships between PSEG and New Jersey community colleges that seeks designation as a Center of Excellence has created a pipeline of skilled entry-level talent for the company.

PSE&G, Community College Partner to Create Utility Technology Degree Program

Even before the formation of the Utility Workforce Planning Network, electric and natural gas companies across the country had begun to work with local education institutions to develop programs to address the industry's skilled workforce shortage.

One such program is a three year old initiative in New Jersey that is a result of a partnership between Mercer County Community College and Public Service Electric & Gas. PSE&G now employs the first graduates of the college's associate degree program in energy utility technology, and the partnership has recently been cited by Chartwell's Best Practices for Utilities and Energy Companies.

Mercer County Community College and PSE&G have submitted a request that the site be designated a Utility Workforce Planning Network Center of Excellence, allowing the program to join a nationwide initiative designed to address the utility industry's looming skilled workforce shortage.

The energy utility technology associate degree program was launched in 2002, and five of the program's first six graduates now work for PSE&G. The sixth is working toward a bachelor's degree at New Jersey Institute of Technology. In 2004, the program was expanded to include Essex County College in Newark, and currently, more than 40 students are working toward a degree at the two sites.

The associate degree program was the result of PSE&G's business initiative aimed at creating a pool of academically and technically skilled workers to fill entry-level positions in both electric and natural gas. Like many utility companies, PSE&G was facing a large number of potential retirees in the near future and had experienced limited success in recruiting for those positions.

"We weren't sure we were going to get anyone into the program," Dana DeYoung, director of talent management for PSEG, said. "Now we're moving in leaps and bounds."

The program combines traditional classroom teaching with technical apprentice level training at PSE&G's Edison Training & Development Center. Each student must complete two internships to earn a degree, and must pass PSE&G's pre-employment test to be considered for employment. Currently, PSE&G is working toward developing a four-year bachelor's degree program in energy utility technology. In addition to the associate degree program, PSE&G has reached out to local high schools as well. Lina Hollman, PSE&G program manager, said the company has also established partnerships with local high schools and vocational schools to generate interest in the utility degree program and careers in the technical trades. Students are offered courses for college credit as part of the partnership.

"This is about reaching out to potential new workers before anybody else," Ralph Izzo, PSE&G president and COO, said. "First, we want to make sure future employees have the skills we require. But we also want to reach out to student who might not otherwise consider a career with us. Having positive interactions with the company during high school and college can be a powerful recruiting tool."

PSE&G recognizes that designation as a Center for Excellence provides opportunities for additional growth. "As part of the Centers of Excellence network," DeYoung said, "we see many opportunities where we can share our success with others. At the same time, as the network matures, we believe that we can learn from the experiences of others and help train the next generation of utility employees in a coordinated national effort. That's an exciting prospect."

The Utility Business Education Coalition is a CEO-driven, 501(c)(3) organization established in 1995 as a joint effort of the American Gas Association and the Edison Electric Institute. UBEC supports the electric and natural gas utility industries in raising the academic, technical and employability skills of students and adults through effective community-based business-education collaborative efforts. UBEC works to:

• Assist utility companies and other businesses in defining its role in advancing the development of a skilled workforce at the community level.
  
  
• Create postsecondary partnerships designed to meet the skilled workforce needs of the utility industry.
  
  
• Encourage all students – including at-risk youth – graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary education opportunities, productive careers, citizenship and lifelong learning.
  
  
• Support high academic standards for all students, assessment based on that standards, data-driven improvement strategies, and accountability for results.
  
  
• Work with community-based education partnerships focused on advancing student achievement and workplace readiness.

UBEC's ability to drive education transformation at the local level is tied directly to the unique position of the utility industry. Natural gas and electric utilities serve virtually every American household, have a proven track record of community involvement, and are respected as a business with a community focus. The industry's continued success is directly tied to the vitality of the communities it serves, so utility companies become a natural convener of business collaboration.

UBEC has established relationships with numerous business-education alliances, state and federal offices, education organizations, associations and foundations. UBEC can effectively bring together all sides to achieve common goals and leverage current resources with additional opportunities.

contact us:

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Back to top