Davishahl, J., & Swisher, J. N. (2016, June), Advancing Training Pathways for the Renewable Energy Workforce   Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.26534

\bibitem{asee_peer_26534}
  Davishahl, J., \& Swisher, J. N. (2016, June), \emph{Advancing Training Pathways for the Renewable Energy Workforce }
  Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana.
  10.18260/p.26534

Jill Davishahl and Joel N. Swisher.  "Advancing Training Pathways for the Renewable Energy Workforce ".  2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2016, June.  ASEE Conferences, 2016.  https://peer.asee.org/26534 Internet.  18 Apr, 2024

\bibitem{asee_peer_26534}
  Jill Davishahl and Joel N. Swisher.
  "Advancing Training Pathways for the Renewable Energy Workforce ".
  \emph{2016 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2016, June}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2016.
  https://peer.asee.org/26534 Internet.  18 Apr, 2024

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_26534
author = "Jill Davishahl and Joel N. Swisher"
title = "Advancing Training Pathways for the Renewable Energy Workforce "
booktitle = "2016 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition"
year = "2016"
month = "June"
address = "New Orleans, Louisiana"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/26534}
number = {10.18260/p.26534}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Renewable energy careers are emerging at an unprecedented pace and skill sets associated with energy technology cut across both traditional and emerging industries.  Energy production, distribution, infrastructure support, and consumption are significant components of Northwest Washington’s economic and workforce development.  Given these trends, Bellingham Technical College (BTC), Western Washington University (WWU), and the Pacific Northwest Center of Excellence for Clean Energy have developed career training pathways in renewable energy that advance the capabilities of students, increase employability of graduates, and provide industry with a highly skilled workforce.
Through this project, BTC has developed a new Associate of Applied Science – Transfer (AAS-T) degree model with strong academic foundation that focuses on contextualized advanced math and sciences.  This foundation of contextualized academics and advanced technology competencies and skills is coupled with specialized certificate options that focus on renewable energy.  Contextualization of coursework allows faculty to easily modify curriculum to keep up with industry trends in the rapidly changing field of renewable energy technology.  
Faculty at BTC and WWU have collaborated to create undergraduate research opportunities focused on current trends in renewable energy.  This model gives the technical student the opportunity to learn through academic research while providing traditional college student with valuable hands-on technical skills. 
Upon completion of both core and specialized coursework at BTC, students are prepared to enter the workforce as a skilled technician or can choose to directly articulate to the Institute of Energy Studies at Western Washington University.  Having options to enter into the renewable energy industry at a variety of technical levels is powerful for students and is important to industry.  Furthermore, since the AAS-T degree consists of a strong foundation of transferable academic coursework, students have the option to return to school after working in the field to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Energy Studies at WWU at junior level standing. 
The partners for this project each bring unique perspectives and strengths, making is a mutually beneficial collaboration.  Bellingham Technical College provides expertise and facilities for effective and innovative technological education.  Western Washington University participation fosters academic rigor and provides undergraduate research opportunities at the technician training level.  Linking the two academic institutions with industry, the Pacific Northwest Center of Excellence for Clean Energy is a nationally recognized institution that provides strategic coordination for the energy industry’s skilled workforce.  Together these three partners have worked closely with the renewable energy industry to ensure the program meets current industry demands.  
This poster will highlight the structure of the AAS-T degree in renewable energy and will provide the reader with the model for how to create similar degree pathways.  It will also highlight technical undergraduate research opportunities, collaborative teaching and learning opportunities between the two institutions, effective contextualization of academic coursework, and strategies for how to keep coursework current with industry trends in renewable energy.  
Short Summary:  Keeping pace with emerging technologies in renewable energy can be challenging for many academic institutions.  This project involves finding ways to incorporate content related to renewable energy into current coursework through course contextualization and unique teaching and learning opportunities that allow faculty to adapt coursework to follow industry trends.  Through the creation of multiple career training pathways in renewable energy, this project advances the capabilities of students and increases the employability of graduates by providing training in a variety of skill sets related to energy technology. 

AU  - Jill Davishahl
AU  - Joel N. Swisher
CY  - New Orleans, Louisiana
DA  - 2016/06/26
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Advancing Training Pathways for the Renewable Energy Workforce 
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/26534
DO  - 10.18260/p.26534
ER  -