Preparing a 21st Century Workforce for the Water Industry

该项目正在通过红岩社区学院与科罗拉多州公共卫生和环境部、里吉斯大学、西部州立学院和科罗拉多州立大学全球校园的合作伙伴关系，扩大环境技术行业水质操作员的劳动力准备。它正在建立一个全州范围的培训网络，通过以下方式扩大水质管理技术人员获得劳动力准备的机会：1)开发和调整由流动动手学习实验室支持的在线教学课程；2)为行业中的女性提供外展和指导；以及3)通过与四年制机构的衔接协议建立无缝的职业道路，从而加速、双重和同时招收学士和硕士学位课程。该项目正在邀请行业专家为21世纪的水工作人员确定可持续发展能力，制定和改进课程，并完善教学战略。更具体地说，该项目正在调整水质管理基础课程，以纳入行业确定的能力；开发继续教育课程，以促进现有工人的技能提升；调整水质管理学位课程，以适应流动培训实验室正在加强的在线教学；以及通过与工商界的合作伙伴关系，建立区域实践培训网络。因此，该项目正在制作1)更新的课程材料，使学生了解可持续发展对水行业的重要性；2)加强妇女在水质管理课程中的入学和坚持性；3)增加水质管理学位课程的入学率；4)增加在职工人获得A类和B类水和废水许可证；5)与学院和大学建立转让协议；以及6)建立一支训练有素的教员队伍，提供在线和地区实践培训。总体而言，这些努力正在发展成为一个日益复杂的行业所需的高级教育，并培养出一批更多样化的高素质水质技术人员。

This project is expanding workforce preparation for water quality operators in the environmental technology industry through a partnership of Red Rocks Community College with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Regis University, Western State College, and the Colorado State University-Global Campus. It is producing a statewide training network that expands access to workforce preparation for water quality management technicians by: 1) developing and adapting curricula for online delivery that is supported by a mobile hands-on learning lab; 2) providing outreach and mentorship for the inclusion of women in the industry; and 3) establishing seamless career pathways through articulation agreements with 4-year institutions that lead to accelerated, dual and concurrent enrollment bachelors and masters degree programs. The project is engaging industry experts to define sustainability competencies for the twenty-first century water workforce, to develop and enhance curricula, and to refine instructional strategies. More specifically, the project is adapting water quality management foundational courses to include the industry-identified competencies; developing continuing education coursework to facilitate incumbent worker skills upgrades; adapting a water quality management degree program for online delivery that is being enhanced by the mobile training lab; and establishing a regional hands-on training network through partnerships with business and industry. As a result, the project is producing 1) updated course materials that prepare students to understand the importance of sustainability for the water industry; 2) enhanced entrance and persistence of women in the water quality management program; 3) increased enrollment in the water quality management degree program; 4) increased attainment of Class A and B water and wastewater licenses by incumbent workers; 5) the establishment of transfer agreements with colleges and universities; and 6) the establishment of a cadre of trained instructors to deliver online and regional hands-on training. Collectively, these efforts are developing pathways into advanced education required by an increasingly complex industry, and producing a more diverse pool of highly qualified water quality technicians.