Washington State University Tri-Cities and Columbia Basin College collaborated with the Tri-City Development Council to receive a $994,600 award from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management to train project managers, nuclear engineers and radiation safety professionals.
“This DOE Financial Assistance Award comes at a significant time in our community’s economy, especially given the ongoing state budget cuts to higher education,” said Carl Adrian, TRIDEC president.
It is effective immediately and extends through June 2012, said Adrian.
CBC will use $611,140 to establish a one-year certificate in project management, a associates degree program in project management, curriculum for a PMP certificate, a project management training center and a bachelor’s program in project management. In addition, it will issue $200,000 in scholarships. The funding allows CBC to hire three full-time and two part-time employees to implement the programs.
“This grant funding will allow CBC to train students on Primavera, a commonly-used project portfolio management software used in business and industry today,” said CBC President Rich Cummins. “Developing project management curriculum through the DOE funding ultimately will provide certificates, associate and baccalaureate degree options in project management.”
WSU Tri-Cities will receive $383,460 to enhance a nuclear engineering graduate certificate, develop a health and safety graduate certificate, create a career readiness web portal, and support student success through mentoring, tutoring, technical internships and select scholarships.
“These graduate certificate programs will enable us to address two areas of significant demand from employers for professionals who have expertise in radiation protection and for engineers who understand advanced principles of nuclear engineer,” said James R. “Dick” Pratt, WSU Tri-Cities’ vice chancellor for academic affairs”
Adrian said TRIDEC’s proposal had the support of Hanford contractors, HAMMER, area Congressional delegates and IBEW-77.
“I applaud TRIDEC and their partners for their contributions to Central Washington and am confident that this investment will continue the success of CBC and WSU Tri-Cities,” said Congressman Doc Hastings-R, Pasco.
by Mary Hopkin
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business
