UAF | UAA – PWSCC
Starting in 2016 we are excited to be able to offer the new Mining Mill Operations occupational endorsement (OE)*. The mill operator occupation has been identified by Alaska's mining industry as a high priority occupation and is projected to grow from 28 to 112 mill operators between 2014 and 2022. The Mill Operator training is a three to four month program consisting of a minimum of 16-17 credits of coursework. This design provides a program that is short in duration, focused on the skills and knowledge of a mill operator, and be eligible for students to receive financial aid while completing the program. A mill operator is responsible for running machinery, reading plans and schematics, monitoring the progress of a job, maintaining raw materials as well as finished products, maintaining mill machinery. The mill operator can be responsible for performing maintenance and repairs on the machinery as well.
Some of the exciting topics that will be covered are: Safety and Induction, Working Safely in Mill Environments, Hand and Power Tools, Lifting Devices, Ladders and Scaffolds, Sump Pump Operations, Handling Reagents and Designated Substances, Service Vehicles and Equipment, Processing Basics, Conveying, Crushing, Grinding, Classification, Gravity Separation, Dewatering, Extraction, Physical and Chemical Processes (Hydromet/Pyromet), Tailings Disposition, Sampling & Testing, General Operations, Transportation of Dangerous Goods, Power Line Hazard, First Aid, Fall protection, Basics of PLC and Operation, Housekeeping, Instrumentation, and a Hands on project.
We are able to offer this through a cooperative effort of faculty from UAF-CEM, UAF-CTC, and PWSCC, with focuses in mineral processing, process technology, and millwright programs, respectively. This will leverage research and teaching capabilities of three established, industry-connected programs in two different institutions of higher education.
We are also in the process of developing a unique simulator that will benefit not only this Mill Operator program, but all mill operator programs. Mills are more than just one core process, and employer built solutions are not available to those seeking to enter the occupation. Communication with employers has revealed that a mill process simulator that links some of the critical processes (across multiple vendors) in a single software will be an excellent training tool for a mill operator program, as operators can learn about the impacts of their control decisions across different processes. Additionally, mines can use the tool to improve operator skills without impacting actual operations. Developing a mill process simulator will not only help individuals entering the profession, but will also help employed workers enhance their skills, knowledge, and wages. Existing mill operator programs, such as Corona College in Canada, do not include mill process simulators.
*An occupational endorsement is defined as a program of 9-30 credit hours, which offers training in a specific field.
Mining and Petroleum Training Service (MAPTS) provides health, safety and environmental training for industry in Alaska.
The Underground Mining Operations Camp and the Surface Mining Operations Camp programs orient the student to the rigors of camp life and mining operations in a training mine that simulates activities of an actual underground and surface working mine. Students begin the program with MSHA compliance training, followed by a module that addresses employability skills. An important feature of the training develops and refines hand-eye coordination and muscle memory mastery as the student completes operational tasks required of underground heavy equipment operators using state-of-the-art multi-million dollar heavy equipment simulators. The simulated training is a testing ground that instills recognized Industry and manufacturer’s best practices, policies and procedures prior to the student quickly advancing to hands-on operator training in the actual heavy equipment currently used in a mine. Students also participate in scaling, bolting, jackleg drilling, mucking (LHD) operations and utility work. The training delivered within a ten (10) hour day, over two (2) fourteen-day shifts, incorporates a Soft Skills module which provides an essential life skills component that is reiterated throughout the program, as well as daily pre-shift, on-shift, and post-shift activities.
The Underground Mining Operations Camp and the Surface Mining Operations Camp imbues the exemplary workforce safety standards required in Alaska, the Yukon and across the U.S. and Canada and develops vetted, skilled workers.
Developing a skilled local workforce for all phases of the mining process is of significant value to the mining industry. It helps companies lower operating costs and reduces the need to move personnel from other parts of the country. In addition to reducing safety and environmental risks, it allows earned wages to remain in the State or Province. MAPTS team of competent instructors builds a culture of success in both the classroom and the industrial job site, with the goal of putting qualified Alaskans to work.
Mining and Petroleum Training Service (MAPTS) provides health, safety and environmental training for industry in Alaska.
All miners in the United States are required, by Federal law, to have earned a current, signed, safety certificate issued by an instructor that is certified by the US Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to teach that course. MSHA classes are delivered across the entire State of Alaska by Instructors who have worked in the Mining industry. MAPTS is designated as the State Provider by MSHA and our Instructors are “blue card” certified and subject matter experts in the subjects they teach.
To receive the certification a new miner must attend 24 hours of training for a surface (outside the mine tunnel) occupation and/or 32 hours of safety training for an underground occupation. This certification is only valid if the miner attends an annual 8 hour refresher course each year, for the classification of the certificate they have earned. There are currently 700 miners employed in the region by mining companies, not including those working for contractors. Contractors are also often required to undergo safety training.
The Mission of the UAS Center for Mine Training is to provide world-class workforce training in occupational fields leading to employment in the mining industry, with a special emphasis on expanding an Alaskan workforce for underground hard rock mining.
UAS created the Mining Occupations and Opportunities class in 2012 to introduce youth to careers in the mining industry, and entice them into the UAS mine mechanic programs. The course had 20 students the first year. The following year demand increased and it was offered, via distance education, to 75 students spread over 22 schools including in remote villages. This course is now the entry point to Hecla Greens Creek “Pathway to Mining Careers”. Hecla, which operates the Greens Creek mine near Juneau, is the primary supporter of the program, and has committed to hiring graduates of the program. Support from Hecla includes support of various components of the program such as Greens Creek Academy and job shadowing. Other mining companies in the region, Coeur Alaska and the Donlin Gold Project have also provided significant support.
We offer classes and training for people looking for work in the mining industry as well as upgrade training for those already employed in the mining industry.
The Mission of the UAS Center for Mine Training is to provide world-class workforce training in occupational fields leading to employment in the mining industry, with a special emphasis on expanding an Alaskan workforce for underground hard rock mining.
Most of today's mining is done with heavy equipment. Mines rely heavily on a well-trained crew of mechanics to keep that equipment running.
UAS offers two programs that provide training for a career as a mine mechanic. One is an associate’s degree level program (Associate of Applied Science or AAS in Power Technology, Mine Mechanic emphasis), while the other is a lower level Occupational Endorsement (OE)*, in Power Technology (with Mine Mechanic emphasis).
We are currently renovating and expanding this program to enhance learning opportunities.
*An occupational endorsement is defined as a program of 9-30 credit hours, which offers training in a specific field.
This workforce product was funded by an $8.1M grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership.
The program is an equal opportunity employer/program and that auxiliary aides and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
It is against the law for this recipient of Federal financial assistance to discriminate on the following bases: against any individual in the United States, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation or belief; and against any beneficiary of programs financially assisted under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), on the basis of the beneficiary’s citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or his or her participation in any WIA Title I–financially assisted program or activity. The recipient must not discriminate in any of the following areas: deciding who will be admitted, or have access, to any WIA Title I–financially assisted program or activity; providing opportunities in, or treating any person with regard to, such a program or activity; or making employment decisions in the administration of, or in connection with, such a program or activity.
If you think that you have been subjected to discrimination under a WIA Title I–financially assisted program or activity, you may file a complaint within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation with either: the recipient’s Equal Opportunity Officer (or the person whom the recipient has designated for this purpose); or the Director, Civil Rights Center (CRC), U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Room N–4123, Washington, DC 20210. If you file your complaint with the recipient, you must wait either until the recipient issues a written Notice of Final Action, or until 90 days have passed (whichever is sooner), before filing with the Civil Rights Center (see address above). If the recipient does not give you a written Notice of Final Action within 90 days of the day on which you filed your complaint, you do not have to wait for the recipient to issue that Notice before filing a complaint with CRC. However, you must file your CRC complaint within 30 days of the 90–day deadline (in other words, within 120 days after the day on which you filed your complaint with the recipient). If the recipient does give you a written Notice of Final Action on your complaint, but you are dissatisfied with the decision or resolution, you may file a complaint with CRC. You must file your CRC complaint within 30 days of the date on which you received the Notice of Final Action.
