Legislature(2015 - 2016)BUTROVICH 205
03/05/2015 11:15 AM Senate SPECIAL CMTE ON THE ARCTIC
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Workforce Development Plans as It Relates to the Arctic | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE ARCTIC
March 5, 2015
11:16 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Cathy Giessel, Co-Chair
Senator Donald Olson
Senator Click Bishop
Senator John Coghill
Senator Berta Gardner
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Lesil McGuire, Co-Chair
Senator Lyman Hoffman
Senator Gary Stevens
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AS IT RELATES TO THE
ARCTIC
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
GREG CASHEN, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information related to Developing
Alaska's Arctic Workforce.
MIKE ANDREWS, Director
Division of Business Partnerships
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented information related to Developing
Alaska's Arctic Workforce.
ACTION NARRATIVE
11:16:12 AM
CO-CHAIR CATHY GIESSEL called the Senate Special Committee on
the Arctic meeting to order at 11:16 a.m. Present at the call to
order were Senators Coghill, Bishop, and Co-Chair Giessel.
Senator Olson arrived shortly thereafter. She noted Co-Chair
McGuire, Senator Hoffman, and Senator Stevens have excused
absences.
^PRESENTATION: Workforce Development Plans as it Relates to the
Arctic
PRESENTATION: Workforce Development Plan as it Relates to the
Arctic
11:16:59 AM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL announced that today's presentation would be by
the Department of Labor & Workforce Development on Developing
Alaska's Arctic Workforce.
SENATOR BISHOP voiced appreciation to able to have the
discussion today. He said the conversation regarding the Arctic
workforce began months ago. This presentation is the first
attempt to bring the Arctic workforce together. He noted that
members will be surprised to learn how many resources are
already in place.
11:18:31 AM
GREG CASHEN, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Labor and
Workforce Development (DOL), presented information related to
Developing Alaska's Arctic Workforce. He introduced Mr. Andrews
who oversees grant training programs. He said the Arctic is a
new frontier and the department is comfortable taking on the
task of developing a workforce plan. He pointed out that the
Workforce Investment Board has a vast amount of experience
developing workforce plans for specific industries, such as oil
and gas, health care, construction, mining, and maritime. He
stated that there are training resources throughout the state,
however, the Arctic area is new except for pipeline construction
and mining.
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL noted the arrival of Senator Olson.
11:21:16 AM
MIKE ANDREWS, Director, Division of Business Partnership,
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL), presented
information related to Developing Alaska's Arctic Workforce. He
said the division was directed to begin work on an Arctic
workforce by the Arctic Policy Council Commission. The
presentation will deal with many aspects of workforce
development.
SENATOR BISHOP commented on the appropriateness of an off-shore
oil platform on the cover slide.
MR. ANDREWS listed the declaration of state Arctic policy
priorities: promoting economic and resource development,
addressing the response capacity gap in the Arctic region,
supporting healthy communities, and strengthening a state-based
agenda for science and research in the Arctic.
11:23:43 AM
MR. ANDREWS discussed the workforce development key to
addressing Arctic council priorities. Alaska has decades of
experience educating and training an Arctic workforce. Alaska
has collaborative "workforce" partnerships in place to meet the
challenges of increasing activity in the Arctic region. Alaska
has substantial education and training infrastructure to support
Arctic workforce development. He noted that fundamental training
infrastructure is in place.
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL welcomed Senator Gardner to the meeting.
MR. ANDREWS continued with Alaska's public postsecondary
education - college, and university systems are engaged in
Arctic workforce development. He listed the various systems:
University of Alaska and rural college campuses in Nome,
Kotzebue, Bethel, Dillingham, Interior, and the Aleutians;
Alaska Technical Center in Kotzebue; Ilisagvik College in
Barrow; Alaska Vocational and Technical Education Center (AVTEC)
in Seward.
MR. ANDREWS addressed the Arctic Region training capacity:
"Arctic Region" education and training infrastructure has grown
significantly over the past 15 years and Regional Training
Centers (RTC) have established workforce partnerships with
regional employers, health care providers, schools, college
campuses, Alaska Native Corporations, and mobile industry
training providers. He said partnerships are in place for a
strong workforce.
11:26:36 AM
MR. ANDREWS listed the Arctic Regional Training Centers:
Kotzebue - the Alaska Technical Education Center and Nome's
Northwest Arctic Career and Technical Education Center. He noted
RTC programs are funded, in part, through the Alaska Technical
and Vocation Education Program (TVEP).
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL highlighted the training center in Kotzebue and
the excellent tele-education studio there.
MR. ANDREWS agreed and said it is not easy there - that type of
training is the key to the future.
SENATOR OLSON inquired how the budget crisis would affect
workforce development programs.
MR. ANDREWS responded that it is a big concern. He suggested
that industry needs to become more involved in creative ways to
partner and fund training. It will have a big impact on the
department's ability to deliver services. He added that there
are also some federal resources available.
SENATOR OLSON did not think industry is inclined to become
involved financially, due to current low oil prices. He asked if
the state has alternatives in mind to sustain the training
programs.
MR. ANDREWS said that is the question the department is
struggling with. He stated that the department has not concluded
that industry does not want to be involved.
11:30:19 AM
SENATOR BISHOP recalled his time "in the shop." He pointed out
that the maritime part of AVTEC has had tremendous industry
support and in-kind donations, such as donating charts.
MR. CASHEN added that the oil industry is continuing to provide
funds for AVTEC and in-kind contributions, such as software.
SENATOR COGHILL thought both training centers, in Nome and in
Kotzebue, were significant players in the Red Dog Mine, in
shipping, and in the safety industry.
MR. CASHEN said he is familiar with Kotzebue training center's
mining program for Red Dog.
SENATOR COGHILL thought Kotzebue offered certificated training
and Nome provided longer-term training.
MR. CASHEN clarified that the difference is NACTEC is more for
secondary training and AVTEC was for both high school students
and adults.
MR. ANDREWS spoke of support by native corporations for training
centers.
11:34:46 AM
MR. ANDREWS highlighted the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center
which is: specializing in teaching Arctic construction skills,
building large diameter pipelines for oil and gas, and providing
training in heavy equipment operation and maintenance, as well
as in industrial welding and pipefitting. It offers a Process
Technology Associates degree for facility operations from the
University of Alaska and certificates in Occupational and
Environmental Safety and Health, as well as a safety OSH
Associates degree. It has a campus with housing for Arctic
trainees.
11:36:36 AM
SENATOR BISHOP noted that the campus housing was built with
elders in mind to come in and be the bridge between culture and
job training.
MR. ANDREWS related that Alaska has several relevant industry
sector workforce plans in place. Skills are transportable and
transferable. All aligned with Alaska's career and technical
education plan.
He noted that the workforce plans are tied to a quote by the
Alaska Arctic Policy Commission to "Create workforce development
programs to prepare Arctic residents to participate in all
aspects and phases of Arctic development." Currently there are
plans for construction, health care, mining, oil and gas, and
maritime industry. All industry workforce plans are linked to
Alaska's Career and Technical Education Plan.
He pointed out that the workforce plans were created through
collaborative partnerships with industry, employers, educators,
and trainers to meet the challenge of supplying a ready
workforce today and developing tomorrow's talent. The industry
sector workforce plans help guide policy makers, educators,
counselor, and industry trainers. The plans created education
and training pathways for students and adults to jobs, careers,
and advanced learning - for Arctic Region industry occupations
and careers.
11:39:35 AM
SENATOR BISHOP commented on how the workforce plans were
developed. He said research was used to identify the occupations
and to devise the plans. He credited the Department of Labor for
their excellent research and analysis work.
MR. ANDREWS said several workforce planning areas have been
identified by the Alaska Arctic Council for consideration:
emergency and environmental response, search and rescue,
telecommunications, maritime, transportation, ports, roads, and
civil construction, and oil and gas development and facility
operations.
He turned to the key Arctic workforce planning principles:
ensure career and technical education planning for Alaska's
Arctic economy with local communities, involve industry,
regional employers, educators, and community representatives in
planning, and design training programs that are sustainable.
11:42:08 AM
MR. ANDREWS concluded that planning must be researched based.
The Alaska Workforce Investment Board and the Department of
Labor and Workforce Development will perform an Arctic workforce
education and training gap analysis. The department will provide
labor market research to help policy makers better understand
emerging and expanding Arctic occupations. The Alaska Workforce
Investment Board and the department will recommend action steps
to address Alaska Arctic workforce system gaps.
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL asked who serves on the board.
MR. ANDREWS replied that it has 26 members; some from
departments, four from education, an Alaska Native Employment
Training representative, the majority from business and
industry, and the Lieutenant Governor.
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL noted the Alaska Resource Education Group, from
the private sector, has provided modules for teachers in order
to make students aware of their job opportunities. She agreed
with Mr. Andrews that "Alaska policy is Arctic policy and Arctic
policy is Alaska policy." She gave examples of related
industries throughout Alaska.
MR. ANDREWS reiterated that the whole state is in the Arctic.
SENATOR BISHOP concluded that as Alaska works to diversify its
economy, a goal of his is to be the Arctic pipeline training
center of circumpolar countries and to be recognized as a world
leader in that discipline. He suggested that other disciplines
could also be showcased due to their training assets.
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL agreed it was a great goal. She said the
commission previously talked about UAF being the reference point
on Arctic research. She concluded it was a worthy goal for
Arctic workforce development.
SENATOR COGHILL said Alaska is an international partner in the
Arctic. Alaska needs to show its successes but also look to
successes in Norway, Sweden, and Canada. He said Alaska is a
steward in the Arctic. He predicted that engineering will become
the unique challenge of the Arctic. Also, that Alaska is the
repository of migration. He concluded that the Arctic plays a
role in so many other parts of the world.
11:49:10 AM
CO-CHAIR GIESSEL said Senator Coghill's comments reminded her of
another active private sector group, Alaska Process Industry
Careers Association, which targets careers in environmental
engineering, as well as safety occupations.
She thanked the presenters.
11:50:18 AM
There being nothing further to come before the committee, Co-
Chair Giessel adjourned the Senate Special Committee on the
Arctic at 11:50 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| DevelopingAlaska'sArcticWorkforce.pdf |
SARC 3/5/2015 11:15:00 AM |
Presentation-DOWLD-Workforce Preparation-3/05/15 |