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When/How did the Wind Energy and Turbine Technology
program get started?
In early 2003, a small group of wind energy experts
and college administrators gathered to begin
discussions on a possible wind program for Iowa
Lakes Community College. By November of that year,
the Iowa Department of Education approved the first
educational wind program in the state: a two-year
Associate in Applied Science, Wind Energy and
Turbine Technology program at Iowa Lakes. There
were 15 students the first year (fall of 2004). By
the second year of operation, admissions to the
program had to be temporarily suspended, due to
limited space.
How is the program
doing today?
Today the program has a total of seven instructors.
In the fall of 2009, 102 freshmen were accepted.
The program has a total enrollment of 155 as of the
fall semester, 2009.
Where do students
come from?
Students attend from Iowa, Minnesota, Vermont,
Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, South Dakota,
Pennsylvania, Michigan, Montana, California and
Florida to study Wind Energy and Turbine Technology
at Iowa Lakes.
Where will students
find jobs?
The top 10 states for wind energy jobs are: Texas,
Iowa, California, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, New
York, Colorado, Kansas and Illinois.
Do wind technicians
make much money?
Average starting salary information: $35,000
- $40,000 entry-level wages, benefits and
responsibilities vary, but this is a pretty good
AVERAGE.
At which campus is
the program located?
The program is located on the Estherville campus.
Students may participate in any extracurricular
activity offered at any of the five campuses.
Where do out-of-town
and out-of-state students live when they take
classes in Estherville?
On campus housing is available at the Estherville
campus. Apply early to ensure a spot.
Click here to learn more about housing. Housing
is also available on the Emmetsburg and Spencer
campuses.
How is the
program curriculum developed?
Curriculum is industry driven. The Wind Energy and
Turbine Technology program has a robust Program
Advisory Committee. Participation continues to be
very valuable. Program faculty attend industry
conferences, including the National AWEA Conference,
annually, to keep informed on what’s going on – and
bring current/emerging technology back to the
students – and infuse it into the curriculum.
What is a
unique or differentiating factor of your program?
Students utilize a 1.65
megawatt working turbine as an educational
laboratory. (It is located about a half mile south
of campus.) Students climb the turbine within the
first week of classes to get a feel for what will be
expected of them (several times/day) on the job.
Industry support for the Wind Energy program has
been tremendous. The Advisory Committee is an
integral part of the education students receive.
Guest speakers, industry input on curriculum, and
faculty development,
along with field trips to local projects as
well as manufacturing and service facilities in the
area make the program unique. The program’s
concentration is on the operation and maintenance of
wind turbines. Classes cover many aspects of the
wind energy industry to include, most importantly,
safety training as well as extensive training in
electrical theory and practical application,
mechanical systems, hydraulic theory and practical
application & field training which includes working
on wind turbines around cranes, rigging and wind
turbine siting.
How much electricity
does your working turbine generate?
The Vestas V-82 is used to generate power which is
sold to the city of Estherville. The electricity
which is sold to Estherville is more than enough to
pay for the electrical usage on the Estherville
campus.
What is your future
plan for growth of the program?
The college is looking for ways to serve the number
of students interested in pursuing a degree in Wind
Energy. Physical space has been a challenge.
However, a new addition to the building as well as
on-site models of wind turbine nacelles and blades
are available for student educational
opportunities. Strategies for growth include
offering some of the theory courses online or
possibly adding a spring entry or evening classes.
The college continues to work diligently on how to
respond to both the student interest in the program
and industry demand for the trained technicians.
Industry training for existing technicians will
continue to grow, also. The college is investigating
adding a blade repair certificate option.
What are job
placement percentages regarding graduates?
Typically, demand for graduates exceeds the number
of program completers; often, students have had as
many as three employment offers in a variety of
entry-level positions. Iowa Lakes completers,
wanting to work in the Wind Industry, have been
successful in securing employment.
What can the
wind industry do to promote interest and careers in
the field?
The industry has been very proactive in promoting
career opportunities. There are several
organizations, including AWEA (American Wind Energy
Association), IWEA (Iowa Wind Energy Association)
and WOWE (Women of Wind Energy) as well as all media
venues keeping the need for technicians in the
public. The cost of providing quality education and
retaining qualified instructors continues to
challenge colleges. The college appreciates the
support it has received in terms of federal and
state grants, and industry contributions.
What background
skills are needed for entering students?
Wind Energy students are
required to meet a math criteria to be admitted and
enrolled into the program. Students need to be
ready to enroll in intermediate algebra or have
already completed a comparable higher level math
course. This high level of technical training
assures their success in the wind industry. A
thorough knowledge of algebraic functions is vital
to understanding and practicing electrical theory –
key to understanding a wind turbine’s theory of
operation.
How do students get
selected for the Wind Energy and Turbine Technology
program?
Students become fully accepted into the Wind Energy
program when they earn a score on the ASSET, COMPASS
or ACT exam which allows them to enroll in
Intermediate Algebra or a higher level math course.
(Students may also have college transcripts which
show they have satisfied the requirement.) Once
fully accepted, students will receive a letter
stating this. With the expansion of the student
enrollment, the Wind Energy program has implemented
a $250.00 deposit to ‘hold’ the 102 freshman slots.
This deposit is applied toward tuition if the
student attends. The deposit is non-refundable if
the student does not attend. If a student becomes
fully accepted after the college has already
accepted 102 students who have paid the $250.00
deposit, then they are placed on a waiting list. The
best advice is to start the admission process
early.
Apply Now
In what
other wind energy activities can students
participate?
The college has a Wind Energy Club. It is an
organization made up of students who are interested
in working together as a group to promote and
educate the public about wind energy and the
college’s program. Members have participated in
activities such as speaking to other student groups,
local groups such as Kiwanis, Rotary and American
Legion to inform them about the program and the wind
industry. Wind Energy Club members have
participated in activities such as a reading program
for local elementary students. They also have group
activities such as Frisbee golf, outdoor cookouts,
etc. A goal each year is to raise enough money to
offset the costs of attending the American Wind
Energy Association conference each year, so they
conduct a number of fundraising activities such as
selling coffee, T-shirts and hats.
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The Wind Energy and
Turbine Technology program is featured on a DVD and
is used for student recruitment and general
information about the Wind Energy and Turbine
Technology program.
Watch the video now… Then click on ‘Wind Energy
Overview’.
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