Luminant Academy and Tyler Junior College provide students with a ‘career-test drive’

By Jackie Hardy, NDG Contributing Writer

Tyler Junior College (TJC) partnered with Luminant, a power generation company and subsidiary of Energy Future Holding Corporation, to create Luminant Academy in 2008 and a Power Track program in 2011.  Luminant Academy provides technical, craft skills, lean manufacturing, and leadership training for Luminant’s plant and mine employees.

“Students will learn the technical and safety aspects of plant operations, the responsibilities of plant operators, and the mechanical and chemical technology needed for working in related industrial operations,” describes Bryan Baker, Department Chair Industrial Trade/Professional Welding at TJC, in a written response to North Dallas Gazette.

With its 1.7 million dollar investment, the company constructed Luminant Academy, a two-story, 24,000-square-foot training facility on TJC’s West Campus, which includes classrooms, training labs and simulators for the nearly 300 combined continuing education TJC students and Luminant employees.

The Power Track program offers concentrated training in power plant operations, electrical technology, mechanical technology, and instrumentation and control to accelerate the learning process for new workers.

Within the Power Track program, students can pursue the Power Plant Technology degree program.  The college course program was designed to train students for entry-level employment in the operation of modern fossil fuel power plants, gas turbine facilities, hydroelectric plants, and other facilities; where steam and/or electricity is generated.

Students enrolled in the Power Plant Technology degree program can earn an associate degree while gaining practical plant operations experience from the on-site stimulators, which give students “real-life” application of the various technical disciplines taught ranging in safety, EPA regulations, basic electricity, boiler operations, mechanical skills as well as instrumentation and controls.

“Power Track graduates have an advantage because they receive a ‘career test-drive.’  As a company, we learn more about their capabilities, their desire to learn new concepts, and their communication skills.  Additionally, the graduates receive firsthand knowledge about our company, which hopefully leads to fewer surprises about what it means to work at a power plant,” advises Terry Bagley, Plant Manager at Luminant Stryker Creek Power Plant.

According to Luminant, the Academy met its employment needs and made corresponding adjustments to the number of Power Track students and new hires over the last year.

As workforce needs have been met across Luminant’s power plant sites, an increasing number of students are now entering TJC’s Power Plant Technology degree program.  Approximately 80-100 graduates have complete the program since its inception in 2011.

According to Luminant, The Power Track program began with 33 students enrolled in the Fall of 2011. As of the graduating class of 2014, 55 students have successfully completed the two-year degree program. Of these graduating students, 87 percent are now employed in the electric utility industry.

Former student and graduate of the Power Track program, Joel Mendoza felt a program such as the one at TJC is very important as he accredits the program in helping him gain employment.

“Power Track is a great program for an entry-level employee. I received excellent training and knowledge from senior employees to help me get started in my job at Stryker Creek plant,” states Mendoza, Production Technician for Luminant Stryker Creek Power Plant.

“The Tyler Junior College program is one of the few that was created with direct input from a power generation company and was specifically designed with the energy industry in mind,” Baker adds.

According to Baker, the partnership between TJC and Luminant occurred after much hard work and planning was made to address a hard reality facing the company.

“Luminant did a study and saw that approximately 60 percent of their workforce would be eligible to retire within the next 10 years. The problem was that the skills needed to operate their facilities and plants are not possessed by the majority of people that might apply for a job to fill the soon-to-be open positions,” explains Baker on the concept behind the TJC and Luminant’s partnership.

According to the TJC Student Handbook, approximately 300 students enroll in the program each year.

Baker described the typical profile of a student pursing the program as someone between the ages of 18 to 25 often from a rural area.  He also shared that those from urban/metropolitan areas have a more difficult time adapting to living in a small town; where many of the Luminant Power Plants are located.

Per a survey conducted by the American Association of Community College (AACC), of the 46 percent of all U.S. undergraduates that attend community college, 14 percent African American and 21 percent Hispanic choose a two-year community college to pursue their education.  These figures were based on enrollments in the Fall of 2013.

A National Center for Education Statistics reports that it would cost roughly $23,872 to attend a four year institution compared to the roughly $9,574 amount it requires to attend a two year institution.

Rising cost of four year colleges and universities is what makes the Power Plant Technology degree program an attractive alternative for many students looking to acquire a degree in less time and money.

The cost of the Power Plant Technology degree program is based on the number of semester hours that a student is enrolled per semester and the cost is also contingent on a student living in and/or outside the Tyler Junior College District.

Approved TJC College District Service Areas, per the Texas Education Code (Section-130.206) are:  Chapel Hill, Grand Saline, Lindale, Tyler, Yantis, Winona, Alba-Golden, Arp, Bullard, Hawkins, Jacksonville, Mineola, New Summerfield, Quitman, Rusk, Troup, and Whitehouse Independent School Districts; and the Van Independent School District, except the part of the district that is located in Henderson County.

Baker explains, “In general for a student who is enrolled full time and is in the District, the cost would range from$1,500 to $1,700 per semester. In most cases the total cost for the degree, excluding housing and board would be just under $10,000.”

Baker also explains students enrolling in the program are eligible for scholarships and to qualify students need to pass the Plant Operation Selection System (POSS)/Maintenance Selection System (MASS) exams and he advises it has been difficult to find enough students who can meet those qualifications.

Additionally, Luminant promotes Power Track students can receive a full scholarship covering books and tuition toward a two-year associate degree contingent on applicants passing the POSS exam as well as receive a paid internship and the opportunity to foster a relationship that could grow into a full-time Luminant position upon graduation.

According to Baker, characteristics of students who succeed in their program will be dedicated and motivated in addition to having excellent study skills.  Students must also have strong reading and writing skills as well as possess strong math skills.

“They must be willing to do more than the minimum of what is required. They have to show up to class each day on time.  Employers value our graduates and you must treat your time in the program just as if it was a two year interview,” exclaims Baker.

“Students who were offered full-time employment with the company are expected to take their classroom knowledge and transition into employees capable of fulfilling important roles and responsibilities at a power plant. The new hires are expected to be on time, work well with others, work rotating shifts and perform their jobs safely,” adds Bagley.

To ensure successful student retention and program completion TJC put measures in place where students can receive the support they need in finishing the program.

“Students have access to tutoring.  Tyler Junior College also has a Retention Specialist and Early Alert Program that can help to identify students who are struggling and provide needed help,” states Baker.

Mendoza believes the program has been a gift to him and he also feels the non-traditional academic route he chose was the best choice.  He highly recommends this program to individuals who would like working in a rural environment and enjoy a hands-on type of job.

“I’m the first one in my family to graduate with a college degree and now I have a full-time job where I can gain firsthand knowledge about power plant operation from senior employees. I can see myself building a lifelong career at Luminant,” shares Mendoza.

For more information about the Power Plant Technology degree program visit:  tjc.edu/info/2004134/professional and_technical_programs/187/power_plant_technology

For map information on the location of Luminant plant facilities visit:  https://www.luminant.com/powering-texas/#.V1X2ZvkrLcd.