Dr. Susan Winsor

After a very long period of inactivity, our region and nation are experiencing a welcome resurgence in nuclear power as utilities make plans to meet future electricity needs.

In the next several years, construction will be complete on four new nuclear generating units not far from us in South Carolina and Georgia. The Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, our region's largest employer, also plans to continue to grow its missions.

Because the nuclear energy industry anticipates a large number of retirees-plus new construction of nuclear power plants-training new workers has become an industry priority nationwide. As we observe National Nuclear Science Week, regional partners are working diligently to implement a comprehensive strategy aimed at supplying the trained workforce in sufficient numbers to meet future demand.

Our region is expanding education programs to meet critical future and current needs.  Under a grant from the U. S. Department of Energy, new nuclear related educational programs are being created by five higher educational institutions in our two-state region. This is an unprecedented collaborative effort which is expected to yield significant benefits in preparing our workforce for future jobs.

Skills developed through planned programs serve both nuclear and other high-tech industry sectors. Training programs under development at each institution include: 

• Aiken Technical College
• Development and implementation of an Associate of Applied Science Nuclear Quality System Program and advanced welding courses
• Augusta State University
• Development and implementation of nuclear science tracks in chemistry and physics degree programs
• Augusta Technical College
• Development and implementation of an Associate of Applied Science Chemical Technology Program and a specialized nuclear advisement program.
• University of South Carolina Aiken
• Development and implementation of a specialized biology degree in environmental remediation and restoration
• University of South Carolina Salkehatchie
• Expansion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics course work in the Salkehatchie region

These new programs involve industry partners and are in addition to the nuclear training programs already established at both Aiken Technical College and Augusta Technical College.

Aiken Technical College's Radiation Technology Program and Augusta Technical College's Nuclear Engineering Technology program were both developed under the nationally recognized Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program (NUCP) guidelines. That means that degrees from these programs meet national standards, reducing a graduate's need for additional industry training once hired.

Aiken Technical College is one of only seven colleges in the nation to offer a NUCP certified program. Augusta Technical College's program is expected to receive certification shortly.

In meeting the challenge of the future nuclear workforce, regionalism must be our watchword. We must join together as a region - economic developers, educators, elected officials, business leaders and citizens - to ensure that our own citizens are prepared to enter rewarding nuclear and other high-tech careers in our own region.

As we celebrate National Nuclear Science Week, we can be proud that much of our heritage lies in our contributions to nuclear technology. We can be equally proud and excited that much of our future employment lies in continuing our role in the nuclear tradition. Our region's workforce development programs are strongly supporting this vision for our community.

It is both an opportunity and a mandate - one this forward thinking region is eagerly embracing.

[The author, Dr. Susan Winsor, is President of Aiken Technical College. She also chairs the Nuclear Workforce Initiative Task Force of the SRS Community Reuse Organization.]