EPCE News and Information
Energy Providers Coalition for Education announces Online Bachelor of
Science in Nuclear Engineering Technology
Denver, CO (February 9, 2007) - The Energy Providers Coalition for Education (EPCE) has recently joined forces with Excelsior College to offer the school's Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology to its member organizations. The BS degree is a part of EPCE's overall education progression model designed to prepare incumbent and incoming workers to help fill anticipated workforce shortages.
A recent study conducted by the Nuclear Energy Institute (www.nei.org)
shows that approximately 40 percent of nuclear workers will retire within
the next five years. Combined with plans for new nuclear plants in the
near future, this will lead to critical workforce shortages.
The BS degree is a logical next step for students completing EPCE's Associate of Applied Science in Nuclear Power Technology, offered by Bismarck State College (BSC), and introduced by EPCE in 2003. Employees can also bring accredited training to apply toward the degree at Excelsior College.
"The unique thing is that EPCE, as a coalition, brings the key players from nuclear power to work together toward solving the workforce development issues we're all facing. The EPCE programs provide the education necessary for the next generation nuclear worker to enter the industry and the existing nuclear workers to move forward in their career," said Rufus Murphy, Training Manager of Exelon Nuclear.
"We are pleased to be selected as one of the educational providers
for the EPCE coalition, which has representatives from the majority of
nuclear power generating companies in the nation," said Dr. Harpal
Dhillon, Dean of the Schools of Business and Technology at Excelsior College.
"EPCE's involvement in the development of curriculum ensures that
our nuclear degree remains relevant to, and meets the needs of, the industry
it was designed to serve."
Excelsior College, with over 35 years of experience in distance education for working adults, is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Its BS degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology is accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (TAC/ABET). A private, nonprofit institution, Excelsior College has forged collaborations with numerous professional associations in areas that dovetail with Excelsior's curriculum. The College also offers a Power Plant Technology specialty among its bachelor's degrees. In addition to delivery of its own online courses, Excelsior helps students complete their degrees using credits earned through examination, acceptance of credit from other accredited institutions, and through evaluation of corporate and military training programs for college-level learning. More information about associate's, bachelor's, master's, and certificate programs is available at www.excelsior.edu.
About EPCE:
The Energy Providers Coalition for Education (EPCE) is an industry coalition
with members from the broad spectrum of the energy industry. EPCE develops
and sponsors industry-driven online education solutions for workforce
development in the energy industry. EPCE is managed by the Council for
Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), a non-profit organization based
in Chicago and was initially funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Information about EPCE can be found at www.epceonline.org; information
about CAEL can be found at www.cael.org.