Working Partners
  • Home
  • Workshops
    • Results
    • Information & Registration
  • Toolkit
    • Partnership Models
    • Case Studies
    • Resources & Data
  • Research
    • Goals
    • Methods
    • Advisory Board
  • About
    • Contact
Picture

 Program Support Case Study

Download Case Study (PDF)

Energizing Tomorrow’s Workforce: Creating Pathways to Electrical Utility Careers
ATE Project - Richmond Community College, Hamlet NC


​Key Outcomes
  • Constructed campus-based utility substation for training needs through industry support
  • ​Secured millions of dollars in donated equipment, materials and funding
  • Close to 100% job placement for graduates; starting salary $70K on average​
  • Developed initial partnership with local energy utility, expanded to multi-state, regional partnership network

Summary
Picture
In 2011, Duke Energy approached rural North Carolina’s Richmond Community College with an urgent need for substation and relay technicians.  Employers were training new hires themselves in an attempt to fill jobs vacated by an aging workforce and were spending up to five years readying university engineering graduates for this work. Steve Lampley, a Senior Engineering Technical Support Specialist at Duke, suggested that Richmond Community College could create new industry-specific courses which could be combined with engineering and electronics courses already taught at the college to train technicians in half that time.  With this, the College’s relationship with the electric utility industry was launched.

The College hired Mr. Lampley as the first full-time instructor for the nascent program and collaborated with industry experts to develop the Electric Utility Substation and Relay Technology Program (EUSRT) and the Associate in Applied Science degree.  Mr. Lampley, hired as initial faculty member, leveraged his industry network and secured initial donations of $1 million in equipment resulting in the construction of a campus-based substation facility.  Partnerships expanded to include national utility sector giants, many resulting in donations of equipment, materials or funding. These contributions are run though a non-profit within the College's foundation office so that they can be handled as donations by the donor and College.  NSF ATE funding provided resources to continue to build the program and these relationships.  
Picture
Picture

An example of such industry support is the College’s partnership with Doble Engineering, an industry leader providing equipment and software used to optimize system performance.  Doble uses a lease model to provide clients with its technology, technical support, replacement parts, and software updates, and donated a full lease to Richmond’s program, permitting the program access as a fully licensed leasee. Doble has also installed cutting edge equipment at the College to test it "before it hits the field."  Students thus gain exposure to the most current of technologies.


While not currently soliciting new partners, any company or utility that expresses an interest in collaborating is invited to visit the College and tour the program in a way that meets their expressed interests; this can include reviewing curriculum and assessments, visiting classrooms, meeting with students, touring the facilities, and/or meeting the program administrators and faculty.

The program is open enrollment and has a graduate placement rate of  nearly 100%; as might be expected, the program is currently at capacity with a wait list.  However, student retention from enrollment to degree stands only at roughly 50% ; as a result, the program will soon migrate to selective entry with supports in place for those not meeting minimum requirements and a focus on stronger pathways for regional high schools students. 
​

Most of the time, we'll start out with "Come on down here, and visit us. We'll take the time, we'll open our books, we'll show you what we've got and what we're doing." We let them talk with our students.

Brian Terry
Program Coordinator/Lead Faculty
roPgram
The program has expanded from its regional beginning to supplying technicians to a multi-state area and hopes to expand their service district even further. In addition, the program will be launching industry training programs to supply on-demand training to partner employees.
​


Impacts
  • Program formation, continuation
    Initial and on-going equipment and financial donations from industry partners made possible the construction and maintenance of an on-campus substation testing facility that is critical for the degree program

  • 100% graduate placement
    On-going donations and industry involvement ensure students are trained on the latest equipment and workplace tools.  This has contributed to a near 100% placement rate for graduates. 

  • Employer support
    Employers are asked to provide feedback concerning graduates’ job readiness; this provides opportunities to solicit additional program support.

  • Workforce succession
    Benefits to industry include properly trained and well-skilled replacement technicians who are job-ready.

  • Testing new equipment
    Industry partners test new equipment at the College's substation benefiting both the companies and the students.

Challenges
  • Initial challenges 
    Duke Energy approached the College with a willingness to partner and a vested interest in doing so; as a result, there were no initial partnership challenges.
  • Expanding partnerships
    Employers accustomed to hiring university graduates were dubious about the skills of a two-year graduate. After hearing about these graduates or hiring one themselves, they began to “realize the potential of the program and became partners.”  These partnerships then generated donations and other program support.

  • Maintaining relationships
    Establishing new contacts when existing contacts retire or move onto new positions can result in a dip in partnership activity.

"If we find we need something, we invite a representative [of a targeted company] to come see what we're doing, to try and solicit some equipment from them. [Sometimes] a wasted trip, but that's okay. Every partnership does not work. we try"

Brian Terry
Program Coordinator/Lead Faculty
r
  • Non-Program Support Challenges
    Difficulties in recruiting high paid industry workers for faculty positions, and ensuring internship opportunities were adequate in number were also mentioned as program challenges.

Implementation Strategies
  • Find an industry champion (or champions)  
    One key to the successful implementation of this program was leveraging the extensive professional network of industry-member-turned-faculty Steve Lampley.  These relationships were mined for equipment and donations but also for curriculum development/review and workplace-based learning opportunities. Finding such a champion, or several, within industry is key.​​
​
  • Cultivate a variety of partners  
    Larger companies have more resources for equipment and financial donations but "smaller companies that have a need for highly trained employees with very specific skill sets“ will sometimes provide access to specialized equipment and information so that they are ensured graduates have the skills they seek. Don't get set on just one particular employer or type of employer; keep open to opportunities.
​
"If you have a good partner, maintain that partnership but don't put all you eggs in one basket"

Cynthia Reeves, internal evaluator
  • Communicate, communicate, communicate
    Maintaining regular, ongoing, and open communication with industry, including transparency of curriculum and assessment, is noted as another key element to engaging industry for program support.  Be open to their input and don't be afraid to ask for what you need.

  • Establish administrative support  
    Getting buy-in from your institution is critical to success.  As noted by the staff of "It was key to have our president and CFO believe in this program from the start."

Additional Resources

​Program website

http://richmondcc.edu/academics/programs/electric-utility-substation-relay-technology
 
Promotional Video
An overview of the Electric Utility Substation Relay and Technology program
https://youtu.be/kPd-NkMQj28

​Related Press Releases

Company donates substation panel (2018)
http://richmondcc.edu/about-us/news/pee-dee-electric-donates-relay-panel-eusrt-program
 
Duke Energy donates funding (2017): 
http://richmondcc.edu/about-us/news/duke-energy-foundation-grant-supports-growing-substation-program
 
International Company Donates Equipment (2017):
http://richmondcc.edu/about-us/news/international-company-donates-%E2%80%98field-ready%E2%80%99-training-substation-students
 
Program Receives National Attention (2017):
http://richmondcc.edu/about-us/news/richmondcc-substation-program-receiving-national-attention

Subject Information
NSF-ATE Project
Energizing Tomorrow’s Workforce: Creating Pathways to Electrical Utility Careers
Institution
Richmond Community College, Hamlet NC
Discipline
Engineering; Electric Utility Substation and Relay Technology Program (EUSRT)
Contact
Cynthia Reeves
Case Study Participants
Cynthia Reeves, Internal Evaluator
Brian Kelly, Program Coordinator/Lead Faculty
Steve Lampley, Emeritus Faculty
Home
Contact
The Working Partners team is based at Bellevue College and the Internet Scout Research Group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with support from an advisory committee made up of education, industry, and professional association experts.  The project was originally funded by the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education program, under DUE 1501176 and continues under DUE 1931215.  The material on this site and any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
  • Home
  • Workshops
    • Results
    • Information & Registration
  • Toolkit
    • Partnership Models
    • Case Studies
    • Resources & Data
  • Research
    • Goals
    • Methods
    • Advisory Board
  • About
    • Contact