What do you get when you mix gold and silver? An alloy called electrum, which, at least in name, seems at home in an article about the Energy Providers Coalition for Education, CAEL and their 25th and 50th anniversaries, respectively.
Fresh off its golden jubilee, CAEL is already celebrating another important milestone: 25 years of operations at the Energy Providers Coalition for Education. In 2000, CAEL helped found EPCE—a partnership of education and training providers, energy industry employers, unions and associations—to address critical employment needs in the energy industry through online education. CAEL principles such as work-based and other experiential learning are exemplified throughout EPCE’s education and training programs.
To help EPCE’s silver anniversary shine even more, CAEL has rolled out an upgraded website that went live March 4. Enhancements include new energy programs and career navigation resources. The improvements received some support from the GitLab Foundation, which has provided funding to CAEL to attract diverse talent to the energy industry.
More than 3,000 companies trust EPCE to do just that. Their employees represent more than two-thirds of the industry workforce across all 50 states. Since EPCE’s founding, more than 7,200 students have enrolled in more than 41,000 courses and for good reason. Workers employed at EPCE members receive discounted tuition for classes that offer a priceless advantage: unequivocal workforce relevance.
In fact, industry directly informs EPCE curricula. From microcredentials to advanced degrees, an ironclad link between learning outcomes and on-the-job success persists throughout EPCE curricula.
EPCE education providers include Bismarck State College (BSC), Clemson University, Excelsior University, PGS Energy Training (PGS) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Classes are 100% online, instructor-led, fully accredited and transferable, creating options for students to stack credentials into additional certificates or degrees.
For example, electric power technology (ELPW) courses at BSC, EPCE’s founding education partner, are designed to meet training needs within approved apprenticeship training programs such as line construction, metering, substation and system design.
The classes build core competencies as well as foundations in electrical systems, transformers and electric components. In addition to satisfying apprenticeship requirements, the specialized energy courses deliver college credit, which students can apply toward an ELPW degree after completing the program. BSC’s EPCE portfolio includes associate degrees, certificates and noncredit classes.
Excelsior University, a pioneer in distance learning and credit for prior learning, offers several EPCE programs specializing in nuclear energy, including a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology. The program, one of EPCE’s most popular, aligns well with U.S. Navy experience. Like many EPCE programs, it offers ample CPL and transfer credit opportunities.
A popular EPCE program at Clemson University is the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. It is tailored to the unique circumstances of workers who have completed earlier college-level learning. It, too, welcomes CPL and transfer credits.
WPI, which is known for blending theory and practice through rich experiential learning opportunities, offers four EPCE programs, including a master’s in power systems management. The program, which also takes a proactive approach to CPL and transfer credits, includes real-world projects and typically takes two to three years to complete.
PGS, the newest EPCE education and training provider, joined the coalition in January. It offers dozens of short-term, noncredit courses, public classroom seminars and in-house training.
All told, EPCE offers more than 30 programs. Whether students are interested in an introductory course to get a foothold in the industry or a master’s program that can accelerate their careers, they are likely to find a solution that fits their schedule, their budget and their interest in one of the energy industry’s many specializations.
EPCE employers benefit as well. Tuition discounts lower the cost of applicable education benefit programs. Thanks to these savings EPCE employer members enjoy an average return on investment (ROI) of more than 230% on EPCE membership, on top of the ROI derived from recruiting and retention improvements created by education benefits.
To help employers continue to scale EPCE benefits, CAEL accompanied the rollout of the new EPCE website with new toolkits for managers and adult learners. The manager’s toolkit serves as a job aid to help frontline leaders at EPCE member companies talk to workers about EPCE’s program offerings and help them take full advantage of opportunities that advance their careers. The adult learner toolkit is tailored to employees of EPCE member companies who are interested in earning a certificate, associate, bachelor’s or advanced degree to grow their careers. It contains an overview of EPCE, its program offerings, and tips for adult learners.
Employers interested in joining EPCE or NACTEL, a similar coalition for the telecom industry, can contact me at bstrickler@cael.org
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