EUGENE, Ore.— Lane Community College will increase access to water conservation technician training in fall 2019, with funds from a $537,310 grant from the National Science Foundation.
Program staff will use the 2018/19 academic year to redesign Lane’s two-year Water Conservation Technician associate of applied science degree program for online delivery.
Online delivery will increase access to rural communities and diverse populations. Field experience will be provided by LCC-trained mentors at utilities. The program will serve the Western United States and could expand nationally.
"Water conservation is such an important issue," says Roger Ebbage, a nationally known educator in energy management and water conservation. “With our grant partners, we should have a significant impact on developing a water conservation workforce.” Ebbage is principal investigator on the grant and coordinator of Lane’s Water Conservation Technician and Energy Management programs.
The demand for a water conservation technicians will increase, says Ebbage. “Water rates are going to rise precipitously in many parts of the country over the next five years,” impacting seniors living on fixed incomes and businesses who need to shield their bottom line against increasing costs. Employers need a strong pool of skilled candidates to fill vacancies created by baby boomer retirements.
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Lane Community College educates over 25,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $850 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 13,000 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.