The National Science Foundation has awarded Lone Star College a $430,291 grant to develop instructional modules for workforce training programs in Process Technology.
“The purpose of this project is to develop instructional elements called Process Technology for various energy degree programs,” said Dr. Melissa Gonzalez, LSC vice chancellor, workforce and economic development. “We are excited that the National Science Foundation chose Lone Star College to help construct this very important program.”
LSC will hire industry experts to develop the curriculum which will be piloted at 10 colleges across the U.S. Once complete, the modules will be housed on a website that all colleges can access.
Once implemented, the program will increase student’s knowledge of equipment-based and process-based troubleshooting, which will lead to increased safety and improved efficiency in the energy industry. In addition to the petrochemical and refining industry, students with this training and the Associate of Applied Science degree (AAS) will also be qualified to work in a variety of other industries such as food and beverage processing, pharmaceutical and bio manufacturing, and brewing and distilling process businesses.
The grant will primarily fund curriculum development and testing. It will also establish an annual college team simulator competition that will allow students the opportunity to showcase the troubleshooting skills acquired during an energy degree program in an environment that mimics the urgency associated with troubleshooting abnormal operations.
The new LSC Process Technology program will be housed in a new 50,000 square foot Advanced Technology Center that will be constructed as part of the recent bond election which voters approved last fall. The program will be implemented in the fall 2016 pending approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and will be a partnership between LSC-Kingwood and LSC-University Park.
In addition to “stackable” progressive Level I and Level II certificates and the AAS degree, the Process Technology program will enhance the offerings for customized corporate training in the area of Process Technology.
Lone Star College has been opening doors to a better community for more than 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSC remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with almost 83,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 95,000, Lone Star College is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the nation. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, seven centers, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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