GCPTA MEETING MINUTES

Holiday Inn, Houston, TX

Date:  Friday, January 30, 2004

Time:  9:00 am – 1:00 pm

 

Steve Ames, President, opened the meeting and welcomed everyone in attendance.  The participants introduced themselves.  There were 40 members and guests in attendance.

 

Approval of Last Meeting Minutes– Minutes of the November 21, 2003 meeting were distributed, read, and approved January 30, 2004.

 

Subcommittee on Rules/By-Laws – Lisa Arnold

The following members were approved by the steering committee.

 

Voting

In District                Don Parsley, Valero Refining Company, Texas City, TX

 

Non-Voting

In District                Linton Lecompte, Sowela Technical Community College, Lake Charles, LA                             

                              Bob Lucas, Gulf Coast Education That Works, Houston, TX

 

Out-of-District          Jim Thorne, Jefferson Community College, Louisville, KY

 

Executive Directors Report – Steve Erickson – Steve explained that the Executive Committee was revising the GCPTA Bylaws.  A copy of the new proposed By-Laws and an Organizational Chart was distributed to the membership.  Steve will send out an email to all voting members asking for their approval of the proposed By-Laws explaining that a two-thirds vote is required to adopt them.  He thanked Ed Stiles, Mike Kukuk and Martha McKinley for their hard work revising the By-Laws.  A discussion on the changes ensued.   

 

Steve thanked CAPT for their support of the Instructional Analysis (IA) forum on Applied Physics.  CAPT will also sponsor an IA on Applied Chemistry and the Applied Math.  All are being hosted by Baton Rouge Community College.  The Applied Chemistry IA will be held February 12 & 13, 2004.  The Applied Math IA will be held at a future date to be announced. 

 

Steve announced that the Education Subcommittee would be working with CAPT to support their efforts in developing textbooks. 

 

Steve noted that a GCPTA newsletter would be mailed out within the next couple of weeks.

 

Steve explained that the GCPTA would be holding developmental workshops, as part of a subaward from CAPT. More information on these workshops will be sent out soon.

 

Steve encouraged everyone to attend the next GCPTA meeting that will be held on Friday, April 23, 2004 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

 

The GCPTA has sent a letter of support for the USDOL grant.

 

Steve reminded everyone that at every GCPTA business meeting, there would be a best practices session.  He announced Clint Hardage with Eastman Chemical would present at this meeting. 

 

Financial Report and 2004 Budget Highlights – Mike Gragg reported that the total Income for 2003 was $44,599.75 with the Subscription Income only being $31,250.00.  The Expenses for 2003 were $48,644.68.  The Bank Balance as of December 31, 2003 was $40,699.26.  Mike explained that the budget for 2004 is $81,329.00.  With the GCPTA taking in approximately $36,000 in subscriptions and with a bank balance of $40,000, this is an ambitious budget.  However, the GCPTA has a Public Affairs’ plan that will help with finances.  Mike said, “The GCPTA is moving forward, we are positive thinking and we are looking for growth”.

 

Best Practice – Clint Hardage with Eastman Chemical Company gave a presentation on Eastman’s Fast Track Apprenticeship Program. 

 

Highlights of the presentation:

Eastman Chemical Company in Longview, Texas is a non-union company.  Eastman’s Apprenticeship Training Programs are registered with the US Department of Labor and Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (BAT).  Their apprenticeship training programs are as follows:  Operator, General Maintenance Mechanic, electrical & Instrument Mechanic, Laboratory Analyst, Materials Handling Operator, Stores & Receiving Attendant, and Environmental Operations Specialist. 

 

Apprenticeship is a condition of employment in a registered craft.  Progression is measured at 16-week intervals and the following applies:  (1) Pay increases are tied to successful completion of OJT & RI each review period, (2) Failure to complete required work is considered an Occurrence of Unsatisfactory Progression, (3) Disciplinary measures up to and including termination for a third occurrence, and (4) Double pay increases awarded for double progression rates.

 

This presentation was very well received with Clint fielding many questions from the membership.

 

If you would like a copy of this presentation, send Ann Treigle an email at gcpta@msn.com and she will send you an electronic copy. Click here to view the presentation online.

 

Subcommittee on Public Relations – Stacey Chiasson and Mike Kukuk – Stacey gave a report on the Marketing Plan that has been developed for the GCPTA.

 

The first goal of the plan is to significantly increase GCPTA membership by positioning the organization as the expert on workforce development issues facing the chemical industry.  The second goal is to significantly increase PTEC enrollment and graduation rates.

 

These goals will be reached by meeting the following objectives:

§         Develop a message that positions the GCPTA as the expert

§         Raise awareness of the mission to members and non-members

§         Market the problem and solution to members and non-members

§         Develop a “Solution Kit”

§         Market the “Solution Kit”

§         Sustain gain in membership by proving “solution kit” works

 

Still up for discussion:

§         Do we spend the majority and money on middle/high school students or mid-career adults?

A discussion followed on this question.  Some of the comments were:  (1) Both are equally important, (2) Louisiana scholarships target both groups, (3) Parents and not the student should be targeted, (4) Industry prefers someone who has already worked, (5) High school students are not aware of the associates degree in technology, (6) Perhaps the focus should be on qualified rather than about age, (7) Target engineering students in 4-year institutions who drop out of school, and (8) Gather data from industry and colleges for story to tell.

 

Subcommittee on Funding – John Payne – reported that the budget for 2004 is such that the GCPTA will need much more financial support.  The GCPTA has taken a new direction, which will require much more spending than in the past.  The funding committee will be looking at options to fund this budget.  John asked that members get their subscription to the proper person to be approved and to follow through with making sure it is paid.  The marketing plan should bring in more revenue also.  The budget will be reviewed mid-year.

 

John announced he will be attending and presenting at a meeting at Houston Community College with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to review technical programs offered at community colleges. This meeting is to take a look at providing increased funding to community colleges offering technology programs such as process technology and instrumentation technology. 

 

Subcommittee on Education –Gary Hicks and Martha McKinley  reported they met on December 12, 2003.  Martha stressed that more industry participation is needed on the Education Subcommittee.  The ratio now is 3 to 1 education.  There is a real need for industry input.  John Payne told Martha that he would circulate this need through BP.

 

Martha reported the subcommittee is developing strategies and action items to support the mission, vision and goals of the GCPTA, which they have adopted as their own.

 

The subcommittee will be working with CAPT on textbooks and therefore will be meeting much more.  Bridget Goodman with CAPT sent out an email looking for volunteers to review and contribute to each chapter of the textbook being developed.  A larger group from the ESC will review clusters of chapters, and recommendations will be provided to CAPT.

 

The subcommittee still plans to do a crosswalk on vendor materials who request a review and recommendation of their textbooks. 

 

Tim Brown will give a review of the Hazwoper materials at the next Education Subcommittee meeting.  Martha thanked Tim for giving this to the GCPTA.

 

The subcommittee is discussing using video conferencing for their meetings.  They will have information to present at their meeting on February 13th.

 

CAPT Update – Joanna Kile

Joanna explained that twice a year CAPT sends a check to the GCPTA for their share of the profits from all of the initial books.  CAPT has received an international order, which will increase profits for not only CAPT, but also the GCPTA.   

  

Joanna gave the following update:

Skills Standards

§         The chemical/refining national validation is complete.

Seven states have completed validation.

§         Next step:  Occupational knowledge and skills identified.

 

Instrumentation Textbook

§         Phase 1:  Addition of content to each chapter by one educational institutional and one industry company (per chapter)

§         Phase 2:  Review of groups of chapters by institution and industry partners

 

Professional Development

§         Power Generation Institute – Summer 2004 – (July 19-23—Bismarck State College, ND)

§         Paid faculty internships – Summer 2004

§         GCPTA has several workshops available this summer for its partners through subaward

 

Scholarships

§         Sponsored by BP, Dow and PAC

§         14 available

§         Deadline is April 1

 

BP Internships

§         14 available (9 offshore and 5 onshore in WY, OK, CO, NM, TX and LA)

§         Deadline is March 15

§         Student newsletter with this information will be mailed to individual institutions next Monday, Feb. 2

 

§         Free copies of Pathways to Technology program videos developed under an NSF grant to WGBH in Boston to highlight pathways to careers in high technology jobs are available through CAPT

§         Education program survey wrap-up—this short student survey was sent to all CAPT institution partners.  It is very important that this information be provided to CAPT in order that it might be disseminated to all partners to inform them of the number of students in the pipeline in their geographic area.

§         Begun work on the online job database

 

USDOL Grant Proposal

Industry Partners

§         BP

§         Chevron Texaco

§         Halliburton

§         Marathon Oil Corporation

§         Producers Assistance Corporation

§         Shell Energy Resources

§         Wood Group Production Services

 

USDOL Grant Proposal

Education Partners

§         Alvin Community College

§         Baton Rouge Community College

§         College of the Mainland

§         Copiah-Lincoln Community College

§         Lamar Institute of Technology

§         Lamar State College—Port Arthur

§         Lee College

§         Louisiana Technical College—River Parishes

§         Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

§         Nunez Community College

§         San Jacinto College

§         Sowela Technical Community College

§         Texas State Technical College—Marshall

§         Victoria College

 

For further information…

Joanna Kile

CAPT at College of the Mainland

1200 Amburn Road

Texas City, Texas 77591

(409) 938-1211, x101

jkile@com.edu

www.captech.org

 

§         Subcommittee on Standards & Quality – Ed Stiles and Kathy Trahan gave the following report:

They both stated the Standards & Quality Committee was a driving force for the need to change the GCPTA Bylaws.  A formal document stating the requirements to maintain an institution’s program endorsement by the GCPTA will be provided on the GCPTA Website.

 

Ed reminded everyone that September 1, 2004 is the deadline for institutions to meet the requirements required of them to maintain GCPTA endorsement of their program.

 

Kathy offered that Louisiana was looking at revamping their program audit tool.

 

College Advisory Reports

1.       Montana State University Billings College of Technology – Bob Robertus reported the following:

§         17 students enrolled

§         0 expected graduates

§         2? students on scholarship

§         Comments:

We normally get 2-4 scholarships/year of $1,000 each.  None are here for 2004, but we do expect at least 2 will arrive.

No internships are planned in 2004.  We are in a transition to move graduation from May to December.  Thus all we have now are Freshmen.

§         High School PTech Programs:

Comments:

Current employment picture doesn’t support doing anything in this area now??

§         New Equipment: 

1.       Plastic scale model of Exxon’s Platforming unit was donated by ExxonMobil of Billings.

§         Advisory Committee Meetings

Met September, 2003

Scheduled to meet Mid January 2004

Hot Topics:

1.       Internships

2.       Jobs

3.       Lousy employment statistics

4.       Equipment needs

§         New Best Practice:

? Conoco Phillips is sponsoring up to 2 scholarships for Billings Senior High School students who enroll in COT PTech program.  They will pay full tuition and books for up to 5 semesters.  Covered costs run about $2,000 per semester.

 

2.       Louisiana Technical College-Ascension Campus – Cleve Marchand reported the following:

§         25 students enrolled

§         2 expected graduates

§         2 students in Intern/Coop program

§         2 students on scholarship

§         High School PTech Programs:

3 students participating

1 high school participating

Comments: 

Working to start Intro to PTech in the parish high schools next year.  Training Director from one of the plants will supply the instructor.

§         New Equipment: 

Waiting on additional “Glass Labs”.  Funding approved.

§         Advisory Committee Meetings: 

Met December 4, 2003

Scheduled to meet January 15, 2004

Hot Topics:

Working on Internship pamphlet.

§         Upcoming Events: 

Breakfast meeting for area leaders and plant personnel.

 

3.       Sowela Technical Community College – Linton Lecompte reported the following:

§         Approximately 140 students enrolled

§         Approximately 20 graduates

§         27 students in Intern/Coop program

§         Comments:

We have two Internship Classes, one during the day and one during evening hours.

Our program is working very well.

§         Student Organization Activities:

Our Organization is in the development stages.

§         High School PTech Programs:

25 students participating

2 high schools participating

§         New Equipment:

We have about six or eight new Cutaways, an assortment of valves, a Centrifugal Pump, and a Reciprocating Compressor.

§         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Met November 19, 2003

Scheduled to meet January 28, 2004

Hot Topics: 

The PTech Exit Exam has been one of our favorite subjects.

§         New Best Practice:

It’s not new by any means, however, we are certain that Safety is always in the forefront.

§         Upcoming Events:

Louisiana State PTEC Audit is scheduled for first quarter of 2004.

Our fall 2003 graduation ceremonies are scheduled for January 16, 2004.

 

4.       Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College – Tommie Broome reported the following:

§         9 students enrolled

§         7 expected graduates in 2005

§         Comments: 

We have proposed Summer Internships to three of our Advisory Team Companies, Chevron Texaco, DuPont and Southern Company.  All three are very receptive to the idea and see very strong benefits to the program but corporate wheels turn slowly.  Because this is a new program and this is a new policy it has to have corporate-level approval before the internships can be offered.  We believe that it will happen in the near future.

·         Student Organization Activities:

Students are encouraged to join Skills USA and actively participate in campus activities.

·         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Met October 16, 2003

Scheduled to Meet Late February

·         Hot Topics

1.       Summer Internships

2.       Approval of Curriculum

3.       Establish lines of communication

 

5.       Louisiana Technical College/River Parishes – George Foret reported the following:

§         70 students enrolled

§         8 expected graduates

§         5 students in Interns/Coops

§         4 students on scholarships

§         Comments:

1.       Internships:  Entergy, Shell Geismar, BP, Chevron Phillips

2.       Scholarships:  Dow, Shell, St. Charles, NALCO, Ascension

3.       Special Program:  PEL, WIA, TANF

§         Student Organization Activities: 

SGA, Skills USA

§         High School PTech Programs:

16 students participating

2 high schools participating

Comments: 

St. James High, Destrahan/Hahnville

§         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Met November 19, 2003

Scheduled to meet January 28, 2004

Hot Topics: 

Dow St. Charles Works donated $43,000 to finish construction of our tower.

§         Upcoming Events:

Dow St. Charles Works new hires’ training

 

6.       College of the Mainland – Mike Cobb and Jerry Duncan reported the following:

§         250 students enrolled

§         40 expected graduates

§         8 students in Interns/Coops

§         Student Organization Activities:

Plant trip to Marathon/Ashland, Elected officers for 2003/2004

§         High School PTech Programs:

2 students enrolled

2 high schools participating

§         New Equipment:

Nash Liquid Seal Vacuum Pump being installed on the GSU.

New tertiary 4-inch glass distillation column being commissioned this semester.

§         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Met November 4, 2004

Scheduled to meet February 17, 2004

Hot Topics: 

1.       Coping with PTEC growth

2.       Classroom and Lab space

3.       Structured and hands-on labs verses retention

§         New Best Practice:

Combining Systems and Operations classes for the Desert Survival Scenario for Team building.

§         Upcoming Events: 

COM will be hosting the Science and Technology Preview (SteP) Female Summer Institute the week of June 21st.

 

7.       Keyano College – John Cook reported the following:

§         40 students enrolled

§         38 expected graduates

§         40 students in Interns/Coops

§         6 students on scholarship

§         Comments: 

·         Student Internships are six months in duration each year of the two-year programs for Power Engineering and Process Operator so that a student has one year of work experience at the time of graduation.  The internships are sponsored by the Program Steering Committee composed of industry representatives from Syncrude, Suncor, Petro-Canada, Devon Energy, Japan Canada, Conoco-Phillips, Albian Sands, Nexen and Encana.

·         There are a variety of awards, bursaries and scholarships available for students enrolled in the two programs.  Some of the sponsors are companies like ATCO Gas/Power, Flint Engineering, Keyano College and the Government of Alberta Northern Bursary.  One of the requirements for receiving the latter bursary is to commit to working in Alberta north of Edmonton for two years after graduation.

·         Special programs involve Power Engineering where students can work on Certification from 5th Class up to 2nd Class through a computer managed learning program with availability to tutors for 3 hours a day, five days a week.  This enables students to gain certification without leaving their job.

·         Syncrude also sponsors a 4-week crash course in 4th Class Power Engineering twice a year for their employees utilizing Keyano College’s resources, classroom space and instructors.

§         High School PTech Programs:

3 high schools participating

Comments:

We do not have any specific Process Technology Programs in the High Schools at present but we are in the process of initiating in cooperation with the schools that will allow the students to learn about Power Engineering and Process Operations and the advantages they offer as a career option.

§         New Equipment:

1.       We have a hands on Process Operations Plant that encompasses water and oil storage tanks with auxiliary equipment (pumps, instrumentation, etc.), Three phase separator with auxiliary equipment (BPCV, 2 LCV’s, Flow Totalizers, etc.), Glycol Absorption System including Reboiler, Condenser, Reflux Drum

2.       Eight Process Simulators installed on 8 computer stations and based on the Honeywell Reactor, Gas/Oil Separation, Atmospheric/Vacuum Distillation

3.       Hands on Chemistry Lab with instruments to perform all Boiler Feed water and Potable Water tests normally required in a large Process Plant

4.       Chemistry Lab Simulator which allows students to perform experiments using more hazardous materials such as those required for doing hydrocarbon distillation

5.       Show and Tell Lab with “see through” glass models of operating processes such as distillation of methanol from water, shell tube heat exchanger, cooling tower, absorption column with packing and trays, centrifugal pump.  In addition, this lab has cutaways of pumps, steam turbines, valves and compressors, etc.

§         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Met August 27, 2003

Scheduled to meet February 4, 2004

Hot Topics:

New player’s developing the Oil Sand:

1.       Canadian National Resources Ltd. multi-billion dollar development north of Ft. McMurray—open pit mine, extraction and upgrading, live in camp

2.       Nexen/Opti—South East of Ft. McMurray—Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage with Upgrader

3.       Encana—SAGD south east of Ft. McMurray

4.       Esso—Kearl Lake north of Ft. Murray currently in the application/approval process

§         New Best Practices:

Emphasis in class on the importance of instrumentation to the efficiency of Process Operation Productivity

§         Upcoming Events:

New Initiatives:

1.       One year Petroleum Process Operator Program for those who have 4th Power Engineering Certification or for those desiring to work in the Petroleum Industry in smaller operations that do not require Power Engineering Certification

2.       Proposed evening 4th Class Power Engineering Program which would run three evenings a week for six months to aid those who cannot afford to leave their jobs or for those already working in the industry but want to transfer to Process Operations on their job site

 

8.       San Jacinto College – Mike Speegle reported the following:

§         194 students enrolled

§         20 expected graduates

§         0 students in Interns/Coops

§         13 students on Scholarships

§         Comments:

Students receive scholarships from Lubrizol, BP, Dow, Willie Glaze Endowment, and Shell

§         New Equipment:

Pilot plant has received funding for upgrade to a Delta-V control system.  Upgrade will be accomplished this spring.

Upgrade of Simtronics software and user license increased to 18; new Simtronic’s module (Oil and Gas Separator) to be used for Oil and Gas Production II) purchased also.

§         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Met November 13, 2003

Scheduled to meet mid February

Hot Topics: 

Internships, externships, equipment donations, curriculum audit

 

9.       Del Mar College—Denise Rector reported the following:

Spring semester classes began on January 20, with ten new students in the program.  Most of the new students are beginning with the certificate curriculum and plan to go on for an associates degree.  Currently, we have seventy students in the program.

 

In December, five students completed certificates and one student completed an associates degree.  This semester, we have five signed up for the internship, and in May, five students should complete their coursework for certificates.  At this time, it appears that a larger number will graduate in August – possibly as many as ten.

 

Our program, using Perkins grant funds, will have a process trainer delivered during the first or second week in February.  The trainer was ordered from Bayport Training and Technical Center and final preparations are being completed in the Process Technology lab for the delivery.

 

Various departments at Del Mar College, including Process Technology, have been invited to attend career days at several local high schools in the Corpus Christi area during this semester.  We will also be participating in the South Texas Career Expo in Kingsville, Texas, in early April.  Hundreds of students from all over South Texas are bussed in by their school districts to gather information about possible careers.  It is always a busy but enjoyable event.

 

10.   McNeese State University – Carol Schulte reported the following:

§         70 students enrolled

§         10 expected graduates

§         3 students in Interns/Coops

§         Comments:

Two more students graduated from the B.S. program in Process Plant Technology in December, making a total of three who have completed this program so far.  All three B.S. graduates have gotten jobs in the field within a month of graduation.

§         New Equipment:

23 ITC and 12 Primedia training CD’s were received when the Continuing Education Workforce Grant to train incumbent workers at PPG expired.

§         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Met January 14, 2004

Scheduled to meet March 17, 2004

Hot Topics:

Forklift and JLG lift training for students—industry will supply instructors, colleges will supply equipment.

§         Upcoming Events:

Mock interviewing sessions scheduled for March 15 & 16th—industry will supply volunteers to interview students at Sowela and McNeese.

 

11.   Wharton County Jr. College – Wayne Stephens reported the following:

§         32 students enrolled

§         9 expected graduates

Comments:

Am getting BP Scholarship Applications to ALL first year students by end of week.

§         New Equipment:

Simtronics Distillation Simulator (funded through local PTAC with Celanese, Nalco and Equa Star funding)

§         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Scheduled to meet February 5, 2004

Hot Topics:

All are hot to me right now.  Trying to get our one small skid unit running with Wonderware software and will be loading new simulator with Instructor and 10 student workstations.  Need any input about the Wonderware.  Also would like to look at the interactive or Web Quality Program.  I would like to add that I feel privileged to be in the GCPTA and hope I can make solid contributions along the way.

 

12.   Brazosport College – Gary Hicks reported the following:

·         Advisory Committee will be meeting January 29, 2004.  The advisory committee will begin doing a review of our total curriculum.

·         Just completed a student workshop called “Project Interview” in which our advisory members discussed preparing resumes and interviews with our process students, and then followed up with a mock interview with each of the students.

·         Completed building a process control trainer for Sweeny High School.  ConocoPhillips moved the trainer to the Sweeny High School Campus January 21.  This unit was built by one of our classes with equipment being supplied by BASF, ConocoPhillips, Dow Chemical and several local vendors.  We plan to have an open house for Sweeny and Columbia-Brazoria High Schools on February 18 & 19 all day.  We expect to have about 300 – 400 high school students (Help!).  There will be a Dedication for the lab on March 18.  We would like to extend an open invitation to anyone who would like to attend the dedication.  It will be held at Sweeny High School at 2:00 pm.  Call Kathy Cannon for details (979-230-3427).

 

13.   Alvin Community College – Mark Demark reported the following:

§         115 students enrolled

§         20 expected graduates

§         4 students on scholarships

§         New Equipment:

All 15 Simtronics simulators have been updated and are being incorporated into lesson plans.

Four new Envision Tutorials have been purchased and will be incorporated into lesson plans.

§         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Met December 10, 2003

Scheduled to Meet March 20, 2004

Hot Topics:

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board audit completed—

Process Technology retained Exemplary Program status.

§         New Best Practice:

Advisory Committee meeting minutes and handouts posted on Website.

§         Upcoming Events:

Advisory Committee meeting 3/10/2004 at ACC:

Discuss ACC Process Tech 2004-2005 Budget

Presentation on GCPTA by Steve Erickson

Considering addition of a Maintenance Program

 

14.   Baton Rouge Community College – Kathy Trahan reported the following:

§         292 students enrolled (spring 2004)

§         25-30 expected graduates (spring 2004)

§         11 (4 tentative) students in Interns/Coops

§         22 students on scholarships

Comments:

Shell 3, Georgia Gulf 1, Rhodia 2 in process, Dow 2 in process, Placid 1 requested.

Hosted Instructional Analysis in Physics and Physical Science in December 2003 sponsored by CAPT.

§         Student Organization Activities:

Preparing to start a Skills USA chapter to encourage continuity from semester to semester.

§         High School PTech Programs:

Number of Students (Spring 2004)—Within the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board district, BRCC is supporting the joint efforts of ExxonMobil and Career Builders by assisting with instruction and PTEC activities in Scotlandville Magnet School.  This is considered a HS credit course.  Students from several High Schools travel to Scotlandville twice a week to take PTEC 101.

 

In Port Allen, the West Baton Rouge Parish School Board is also offering PTEC 101 at Port Allen High School.  Placid Refining is providing the instructor.

§         New Equipment:

ExxonMobil through a LA Dept. of Labor Incumbent Worker Training Grant program, will provide BRCC’s PTEC program with Simtronics computer based simulators, additional Honeywell Shadow Plant computer based simulators and Bayport Cut-a-ways and dynamic acrylic equipment models.

§         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Met January 29, 2004

Scheduled to meet February 27, 2004

Hot Topics:

Acrylic Model Instructor development, Increase in Hiring, Instructional Analysis for Physics, Chemistry and Math

§         New Best Practice:

PTEC Pocket Toolbox and Instructor packet that constantly reinforces calculations, word problems and spatial relations.

§         Upcoming Events:

Instructional Analysis February 12 and 13th at BRCC – Frazier Campus to be co-sponsored by CAPT.

Bayport Training Model Review – February 6th, 8 am to 12 pm

Micolab Training Session February 6th, 12 pm to 4 pm

 

15.   Lamar Institute of Technology – Jim Hebert and Harry Wood reported the following:

§         271 students enrolled

§         40 expected graduates

§         2 students in Interns/Coops

§         33 students on scholarships

Comments:

Interns – 1-Invista; 1-Bayer; 1-Praxair

Job Shadowing—10 at BASF; 35 at DuPont Sabine River Works

ExxonMobil has donated $20,000 to the process technology scholarship fund and has contributed $18,500; DuPont is sponsoring three $500 scholarships; BASF has donated $5,000 for two scholarships; ChevronPhillips is sponsoring two; BridgestoneFirestone is sponsoring six; and ATOFINA is renewing its minority scholarship program for two persons.

§         High School PTech Programs:

3 students participating

1 high school participating

§         New Equipment:

ExxonMobil has contributed $15,000 to a maintenance fund for LIT’s distillation unit.

§         Advisory Committee Meetings:

Met October 7, 2003

Scheduled to meet February 12, 2004

Hot Topics:

40 hour run on our outside Glycol unit.

§         Upcoming Events:

Annual Audit

 

New Business – Steve Ames

Steve Ames reminded everyone of the major changes in the By-Laws and that a copy would be emailed to the membership for their comments.  These changes will help to clarify efforts. 

 

Steve Erickson stated that an email would be sent out to the colleges who have not identified their industry voting members asking them to furnish their names to Ann Treigle.

 

If any member is interested in becoming actively involved by serving on a subcommittee, please contact the chairman of that subcommittee which is listed on the Website or Steve Erickson at sderickson@sbcglobal.net. 

 

In conjunction with the Critical Issues and Best Practices Conference, there will be a one-day trainers conference.  The API has been asked to endorse this event.  Dennis Link will help chair a subcommittee along with Jeff McSorley to put the agenda together.  Please get word out to industry trainers now through Advisory Committees and other connections to industry members.

 

John Payne noted that the IICTA would be holding a meeting on March 5th in Sorrento, Louisiana on Instrumentation.  You are invited to participate.

 

The April 23, 2004 GCPTA meeting will be held at the Sheraton Hotel in Baton Rouge, LA.  Stacey Chiasson and Kathy Trahan are handling the events.  Stacey Chiasson announced that one of the events for the April 23, 2004 meeting will be a Crawfish Boil on Thursday evening, April 22, 2004 hosted by the Louisiana Chemical Association.  This event will be held on a part of the Mississippi River levee (rented by LCA).  It is also by the USS Kidd, a World War II destroyer that may be toured.  Please make plans to attend this along with the meeting on Friday.  Stacey provided a bag of Louisiana goodies to those in attendance to help promote the upcoming meeting in Baton Rouge.  

 

Alliance Website

§         Website www.processtech.org is fully active and maintained by Bob Kosar of Grand Isle Group Information Delivery Specialists.  If your school or company has a Website and it is not accessible by just a click, contact the Webmaster by e-mail bobkosar@hal-pc.org. 

 

§         Center for the Advancement of Process Technology (CAPT) Website www.captech.org.

 

§         Contact the GCPTA at gcpta@msn.com.

 

Future GCPTA Meetings

Baton Rouge, Louisiana                                      Friday, April 23, 2004

Houston, TX                                                      Friday, July 30, 2004

Lake Charles, Louisiana                                     Friday, November 12, 2004

 

***Other Events***

(CAPT) Critical Issues & Best Practices Conference

South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center

September 29, 30 & October 1, 2004 (tentative dates)                 

                                                                                               

Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Lisa Arnold, Secretary

Gulf Coast Process Technology Alliance

 

LA/at