Pierpont Community and Technical College and West Virginia Northern Community College (WVNCC) have formed a partnership with Murray Energy Corporation to offer a new associate degree program, Mine Maintenance. The two-year program also includes opportunities to gain experience with Murray Energy. The program will begin with the fall 2018 Semester, and students can enroll now at either school. Informational sessions will be held at Pierpont’s Fairmont Campus on Saturday, June 9, and at WVNCC’s Wheeling Campus on Saturday, June 16.
Anyone interested in the new Mine Maintenance Program must apply by July 9 for the fall semester by visiting www.pierpont.edu or www.wvncc.edu. Once accepted, students will be required to complete a two-week training offered by Murray Energy. Upon acceptance into the program at either college, students will also have the opportunity to work part-time with Murray Energy. After successfully completing the program students will have the potential to be hired by Murray Energy full-time.
“In recent years, we have seen and have forecasted an increased need for talented maintenance personnel within our business,” said Ryan Murray, Murray Energy vice president, operations. “This program will allow us to recruit and train the proper individuals for unprecedented career growth opportunities in the maintenance fields. The partnership will be our No. 1 conduit for hiring maintenance personnel. We encourage applications to the program starting today.”
“This innovative partnership with Murray Energy Corporation is another successful model of how business and education can work together to create opportunities for our local residents. Pierpont is one of the most versatile higher education institutions in North Central West Virginia, and we are an integral part of the solution to help our state out of the current economic hardship,” said Pierpont President Johnny M. Moore
“We are grateful to Murray Energy for their commitment to our region and the success of our students,” commented WVNCC President Vicki L. Riley. “We are excited for our students to obtain a great technical education and the potential for a wonderful career close to home.”
Located in Fairmont, W.Va., Pierpont offers two-year associate degree programs; one-year certificate programs; and short-term training programs that prepare West Virginians for high-demand careers close to home.
West Virginia Northern Community College is a two-year comprehensive community college offering transfer degrees and programs in the liberal arts, career-technical and community and continuing education on three campuses in the Northern Panhandle.