NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Academia: Proof Alterative Realities ExistA guide to working with community colleges

Richard ‘Doc’ KnaubProject Leader

Deployment and Market Transformation Center

303-275-3261 Richard.Knaub@nrel.gov

Get Into Energy Career Pathways –Opening Doors to New Opportunities

CEWD 2011 Summit

Alexandria, VANovember 7-9, 2011

Innovation for Our Energy Future

Have – an education mandate

• Note “education” is defined vaguely and has something to do with self improvement and is not generally connected to job readiness

Four Year Colleges and Universities

Innovation for Our Energy Future

Have – An economic development mandate– A workforce development mandate– A placement mandate– A system that allows for more rapid development and

deployment of programs

Community and Technical Colleges

Innovation for Our Energy Future

Community Colleges

Profit

No reference pointSuccess is measured in:

– Graduation rates– Placement rates

Loss

UnderstoodMeasured in student enrollment

– Number of sections– Number of students/section

Results in– Loss of budget– Loss of faculty– Loss in space– Elimination of program

Innovation for Our Energy Future

Disconnect #1

Profit

No reference pointSuccess is measured in:

– Graduation rates– Placement rates

Loss

UnderstoodMeasured in student enrollment

– Number of sections– Number of students/section

Results in– Loss of budget– Loss of faculty– Loss in space– Elimination of program

Metrics for success and failure are not in the same units. A program can have low placement rates but if enrollment stays high the program is not considered a loss.Maybe not a success, but not a failure

Innovation for Our Energy Future

1. Don’t expect community colleges to operate like a business

a. Decisions are not made according to traditional business models

Lesson

Innovation for Our Energy Future

Structure

Business

CEO

VP

Staff Staff

VP

Staff

Community Colleges

President

VP Academics

VP Operations

Staff

VP of Academics

Innovation for Our Energy Future

Faculty are Independent

A Successful Dean or Vice President

An Unsuccessful Dean or Vice President

Innovation for Our Energy Future

1. Faculty member writes an academic proposal, including:a. Present demandb. Job outlookc. Salariesd. Similar programs from other schoolse. Existing courses used in programf. New courses for programg. Resources needed for the new program

2. Proposal goes to academic counsel for review a. Voted on by senior faculty

3. Processed by the VP of Academics’ Office4. Sent to State for approval

How an Academic Program is Initiated:

Innovation for Our Energy Future

Bottom Up Process

Right Way to Initiate a Program

1. Talk to the faculty member who will run the program

2. Outline the industry needs3. Outline the support available

a. Fundingb. Equipmentc. Adjunct Instructorsd. Internshipse. Placements

Wrong way to Initiate a Program

1. Talk to the leadership 2. Outline the industry needs3. Expect the leadership to drive

program creation

Innovation for Our Energy Future

Disconnect #2

Right Way to Initiate a Program

1. Talk to the faculty member who will run the program

2. Outline the industry needs3. Outline the support available

a. Fundingb. Equipmentc. Adjunct Instructorsd. Internshipse. Placements

Wrong way to Initiate a Program

1. Talk to the leadership 2. Outline the industry needs3. Expect the leadership to drive

program creation

Contrary to what they might say, academic administrators typically have little control over what is taught for credit on a their own campus.

Innovation for Our Energy Future

1. Decisions are not made according to traditional business models because the organization and the metrics are different.

2. Academic change is driven from the bottom up not from the top down, if you want a program created or changed, talk with the faculty.

Lessons

Innovation for Our Energy Future

It’s a custom build requestExpect to purchase the product when it is delivered

• Or don’t be surprised if they won’t work with you in the futureTalk to the designer or the engineer

• Not the CEO or the VP of SalesGet involved in the design

• Define the specificationsGet involved in the process

Sample the product through out production Identify the factory seconds before they ship

How to Think About a Training Program

Innovation for Our Energy Future

Decide the scope of the need There is a minimum and maximum program size

• Placement is important to the college so balance placement with program size

Decide what resources are available to support the college These resources support your training program

• If the college doesn’t have the resources the training will sufferPropose a working relationship to a FACULTY member

Agree to recruit from the program• Placement is a measure of program success

Agree to recruit for the program• Enrollment is another measure of success

Offer a Memorandum of Understanding• It formalized the custom built agreement

A suggested process

Innovation for Our Energy Future

Conclusions