UAS to Open Mine Training Center

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Tues, Aug 28.

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: August 21, 2007

The University of Alaska Southeast will offer Entry Level Mine Training beginning October 15. The Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development has provided funding to the University of Alaska Mining and Petroleum Training Services program, which is based at UA Anchorage’s Kenai Peninsula College. The MAPTS program is branching out through UAS to make the training available in the Southeast region.

A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the UAS - MAPTS Mine Training Center will take place on Tuesday, August 28 at 4 pm in the UAS Technical Education Center, which is across Egan Drive from Juneau Douglas High School.

This offering is the first of its kind in Alaska and is in direct response to the mining industry’s request for better trained entry-level employees. Completion of this MAPTS program will also benefit the entry level employees. The skills obtained in this training will help workers succeed on the job and make them better candidates to move up the career ladder. The program includes; Entry Level Mine Labor Training, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), and Entry Level Underground Miner (Nipper) class.

"At the University of Alaska Southeast we prepare Alaskans to work in every sector of the economy," said UAS Chancellor John Pugh. "Our partnership with the Department of Labor is important to our mission and is important to the workforce development of Southeast Alaska. It is very fulfilling to help young Alaskans, who want to stay in the region, find good high paying jobs."

Those who are interested in the training should contact the Department of Labor and Workforce Development at 465-5953 or UAS MAPTS Mine Training Center at 796-6160.