In this issue:

Assessments

Upcoming host sites for the assessments include:

Alaska:
Kenai Peninsula College
University of Alaska, Anchorage
University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Texas:
Alvin Community College
San Jacinto College, Central Campus

Virgin Islands:
University of the Virgin Islands

New Jersey:
ConocoPhillips Bayway Refinery

Ongoing Activities

Pharmaceutical process technician skill standards

Events:

National Conference

Association for Career and Technical Education

National Tech Prep Network

American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)

National Association of Manufacturers

National Energy Education Development

National Council for Workforce Education

AACC Workforce Development Institute (January 2006)

Articles and Broadcasts

"A Relationship with Great Chemistry"
Techniques/Association for Career & Technical Communications, March 2005

"New Technical Talent on Tap"
Techniques/Association for Career & Technical Communications, March 2005

"High school students can get a boost at College’s Kid’s Campus"
TheVictoriaAdvocate.com, 8 June 2005

"Petrochemical Industry Needs Operators"
KPLCTV.com and WorldNow, 5 July 2005

"Program offers girls chance to learn about process technology"
2theadvocate.com (Baton Rouge), 23 July 2005

"District to offer training program" The Facts (Brazosport), 26 July 2005

"The perfect storm ... in education"
The Lake Houston Sentinel, 28 July 2005

"More jobs requiring more education"
Houston Community Newspapers, 10 August 2005

"Professionals gather to identify best practices for work force needs"
BIC Alliance, October 2005

"Who’s going to pay?"
BIC Alliance, November 2005

Publications

Introduction to Process Technology textbook

Updated version of the Introduction to Process Technology Facilitator Guide

2005 Trends in PTEC Education

Oil and Gas Production Technician Skill Standards

Chemical/Refining Process Technician Skill Standards

Introduction to Process Technology student textbook coming

The Introduction to Process Technology student textbook is scheduled for release this January in time for Spring 2006 classes. This textbook is intended for use in both high schools and community and technical colleges and universities. The Intro text includes a variety of topics such as: an overview of various process industries (oil and gas, chemical, mining, power generation, pulp and paper, water and waste water treatment, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical), basic chemistry, basic physics, safety, health, environment and security, quality, teams, process drawings, and process equipment.

SHE student textbook underway

CAPT’s newest textbook in development focuses on Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE). It is scheduled for release in time for the fall semester 2006. The textbook covers a wide range of topics, such as: chemical hazards, biological hazards, physical hazards, ergonomic hazards, environmental hazards, engineering controls, administrative controls, and Personal Protective Equipment. It also discusses physical security and cyber security, helping students understand how to protect against various threats to people, facilities, information, and computers. The CAPT instructional design team is developing the book with the assistance of industry and educational sponsors/reviewers from around the country. Although reviews began in September, there is still a need for education sponsors for the following chapters:

• Chapter 18: Intro to Hazard Controls

• Chapter 22: Administrative Controls: Practices

• Chapter 23: Permitting Systems

• Chapter 25: Monitoring Equipment

• Chapter 26: Fire, Rescue and Emergency Response Equipment

• Chapter 27: Medical and First Aid

To sponsor or review a chapter, please contact the SHE textbook lead developer John Dees at jdees@com.edu

CAPT-funded subawards

CAPT has awarded the following institutions funds to conduct a variety of activities:

• Bismarck State College (Career Awareness Workshop)

• Northern Oklahoma College (Career Awareness Workshop)

• Red Rocks Community College (STeP Institute)

• Bellingham Community College (STeP Institute)

• Alvin Community College (Parent/Student Open House)

• Victoria College (Parent/Student Open House)

Participate in the Program Graduate Exit Assessment Pilot Testing

CAPT is still seeking institutions to serve as host sites to pilot test our newly developed Program Graduate Exit Assessment/Certification Exams. Having quality individuals sit for the assessment is essential to produce the best possible assessment. There are two pilot efforts underway, one for chemical/refining process technology and one for oil/gas production technology.

Although we have had over 350 participants, we still need about 40 individuals to participate to finish the pilot. If you would be willing to be a host site, please contact Melissa Collins at mcollins@com.edu.

Download the CIBP presentations

The Critical Issues and Best Practices conference was held October 19-21 in Houston, Texas. Thank you for contributing to a successful conference that exceeded our goals. The Training and Development Pre-conference had 119 attendees, and the CIBP conference had 170 attendees.

The Training and Development Pre-conference workshop presentations and the CIBP session presentations are now available on the CAPT website.

Nominate Your Best Graduate

The Student Success Stories publication will highlight program graduates who have been hired by and are productive contributors to industry partners. Each institutional partner is asked to nominate a recent graduate to be included in this great recruitment piece.

These stories will be published as a collection in 2006. Please contact Debi Shoots at dshoots@com.edu for further information.

First Year Student Choice survey results are in

CAPT has completed its survey of first-year PTEC students to ascertain their motivation and influencers for enrolling. Thanks to those of you who participated. The final report from Noel Levitz is now available at the CAPT website. Noel Levitz has also mailed individual summaries of the results to participating campuses.

It is our hope that you will use this information to improve the effectiveness of your marketing and recruiting efforts for prospective students, and as a guide in increasing student retention in your programs.

Professional development opportunities are set for 2006

BP Oil and Gas Institutes in Alaska
Applications will be available in January for two summer oil and gas institutes in Alaska. The first institute will be a week-long institute held in the Kenai Peninsula and is available to the faculty who participated in the 2005 BP summer institute. The second institute will be available to faculty from CAPT partner colleges who teach or plan to teach CAPT's Oil and Gas Production I or II in 2006 or the spring of 2007.

Encourage students to go online for internship opportunities

Students enrolled in, or graduates from, a two-year Process Technology (PTEC™) or Instrumentation degree program can apply for student internships with BP Exploration and Production or Shell EP Americas throughout the year.

To intern with BP, please visit the BP Career Centre and register online. Once a student registers, BP will notify them personally whenever an internship application period opens. BP internships are for 10 to 12 weeks and may be located at an onshore oil and gas facility in several different locations throughout the United States. Internships on offshore oil and gas platforms will be only offered during the summer internship period. The BP Summer internship begins in May, the fall internship begins the last week of August, and, for the first time, a spring internship will begin in mid-February.

Shell EP Americas also offers student internships during the spring, summer and fall on offshore Gulf of Mexico facilities and onshore Texas and Rocky Mountain operations. Please visit the Shell job website to view current internship opportunities, which will be posted as they are available. The deadline to apply for internships varies by location and internship period, so it is advisable to visit the site frequently. All applicants will receive immediate feedback.

Student scholarship opportunities are coming soon

Student scholarship applications will be available soon. In addition, the student newsletter will be distributed in January 2006 with details about applying for scholarship opportunities. BP Exploration and Production, The Dow Chemical Company, Producers Assistance Corporation, and Shell Oil Company are providing the 2006 scholarships.

These scholarships are for students who are currently enrolled or are planning to enroll in the Process Technology (or Instrumentation Technology) two-year degree program. Both full and part time students are eligible, as well as high school seniors who will graduate this spring. Students seeking a four-year degree in Process Technology or Engineering Technology may use this application to apply for scholarships from BP and The Dow Chemical Company after completing their AAS degree.

Virtual Chemical Plant has new activities for young students

Fifth through eighth grade math and science activities are now available at http://capt.com.edu/virtualchemplant/. The Virtual Chemical Plant is a three-dimensional fictitious operating unit in a chemical manufacturing facility. During the past year, CAPT has developed six math and science-related activities based on national educational skill standards targeting 5th through 8th grade students.

Teachers and students may use these activities to enrich essential elements addressed in their curriculum.
New releases include:

• Four basic process variables

• Physical and chemical properties

• From fossil fuels to products

• A-head in math

• Distillation

• Mental Math Microbe

In addition to new activities, CAPT would like to announce:

Monthly Math Mania

CAPT has added another feature, Monthly Math Mania, to the Virtual Chemical Plant under the “Teachers’ Corner” button. Monthly Math Mania is a math problem developed from a USA Today Snapshot that is designed to engage a middle school math class in group problem-solving. Educators are encouraged to access the activity online, solve the problem with their class and submit the answer to CAPT for verification. A new USA Today Snapshot and math problem will be posted each month and classes that correctly solve the most problems will be rewarded by CAPT.

Trends in PTEC Education Survey is available

The Trends in PTEC Education Survey document is available for download at www.captech.org under Press Center and Publications. Thirty-five community college and university partners volunteered to participate in the survey, representing 14 states and one territory. Print copies are available for $5 per document.
Partner colleges have also been asked to fill out a new partnership agreement.