Preparing a 21st Century Workforce for the Water Industry

该项目通过红岩社区学院与科罗拉多公共卫生和环境部、里吉斯大学、西部州立学院和科罗拉多州立大学全球校区的合作，扩大了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的劳动力准备：1）在移动的动手学习实验室的支持下，开发和调整在线交付的课程; 2）为将妇女纳入该行业提供外联和辅导;以及3）通过与四年制院校的衔接协议建立无缝的职业途径，从而加速，双重和同时入学的学士学位和硕士学位课程。该项目正在让行业专家参与确定21世纪世纪水务工作人员的可持续能力，制定和加强课程，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，以包括行业确定的能力;开发继续教育课程，以促进在职工人的技能升级;调整水质管理学位课程，使其在线交付，移动的培训实验室正在加强;通过与企业和行业的伙伴关系建立区域实践培训网络。因此，该项目正在制作：（1）更新课程材料，使学生了解水行业可持续性的重要性;（2）提高妇女参加水质管理方案的人数和坚持程度;（3）增加水质管理学位方案的入学人数;（4）增加在职工人获得A类和B类水和废水许可证的人数; 5）与学院和大学签订转让协议; 6）建立一支训练有素的教员队伍，提供在线和区域实践培训。 总的来说，这些努力正在为日益复杂的行业所需的高级教育开辟道路，并培养出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.