Energy Utility Technology
program at ECC
Prof. Park
UTI-111
Essex County College
Participating Colleges
•
ssex County College
Professor Jinsoo Park, Ph.D
973-877-3483
Mercer County Community College
Professor Dominick Defino
609-586-4800 x 3456
•
Middlesex County College
Assistant Professor Thomas Sabol
732-586-6000 x3392
Passaic County Community College
Professor Tom Yip
973-684-5852
Salem Community College
Nancy Wheeler
856-351-2705
Thomas Edison State College
Dr. Tom Devine
609-984-1130, x3197
Overview
• The PSEG Energy Utility Technology Degree Program
combines regular classroom training with technical
apprentice level training at PSEG’s Edison Training &
Developmental Center.
• Students also receive training in safety, resume writing,
interviewing and employability skills.
• Upon completion of the program, students hold an
Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree, and
should possess the specialized training, hands-on work
experience, and the knowledge and skills required to
become a technician in the energy utility industry.
Overview
• This first-of-its-kind program has successfully prepared
students for careers with our electric and gas operations,
our fossil fuel plants, and our nuclear power plants.
• To enroll in the program, a student must have a high
school diploma or equivalent, possess a valid New
Jersey driver’s license, and pass a standard physical
exam and drug test.
• Students are required to take five utility courses and
complete two paid internships. Internship positions are
represented by one of the three unions participating in
the program; students will be required to join either the
OPEIU, Local 855 or I.B.E.W. (depending upon the
position), and pay weekly dues.
Fast Facts
• 98 students active in the program
• 89 students that have been hired by the
company since inception of the program five
years ago
• 30 students that have enrolled via partnerships
PSEG has established with four New Jersey
technical schools/ high schools. They include:
Essex Vocational and Technical School, Mercer
County Technical Schools, Trenton Central High
School and Passaic County Technical Institute.
Fast Facts
• 8 Internship positions available to students – two
are in gas, five in electric and one in generation
(see FAQ’s for more detailed information).
• 5 Utility courses that students are required to
take at the company’s technical training centers
• 5 Community colleges that have partnered with
PSEG. They include Mercer County Community
College (MCCC) in West Windsor, Essex County
College in Newark, Middlesex County College in
Edison, Passaic County Community College in
Paterson and Salem County College located in
Carney's Point
Fast Facts
• 4 Industry tests that students can take and pass to be
considered for various technical trade positions at
PSEG. The tests are offered to students several times a
year. (See FAQ’s for more details)
• 4 awards the EUT program has received.They include:
– U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract
Compliance Programs -- Exemplary Voluntary Effort (EVE)
Award.
– U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC)
Freedom to Compete Award.
– Finalist, SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management)
Human Capital Leadership Awards®.
– Finalist, Edison Electric Institute, Edison Award.
Fast Facts
• 3 Unions that participate and support the
program. The unions include the OPEIU,
Local 855 and the IBEW
• 3 Workshops students are required to
attend. The sessions focus on skills that
can help students be successful. These
include resume writing, interviewing,
communications, safety and availability
(getting to work on time).
Fast Facts
• 2 Paid internships that students participate
in from mid-May to the end of August.
Students can earn from $16.00 to $18.00
per hour. Student progress is monitored
during the internship. Participants are
required to complete an on-the-job
checklist to verify their knowledge and
ability to do the job. Students are also
required to join the union and pay weekly
dues.
Fast Facts
• 2 performance appraisals that a supervisor
must complete for each intern. Both
appraisals must be rated satisfactory for a
student be considered for permanent
employment by PSEG.
FAQ: Classes
1. What prerequisites classes am I required to
take in order to participate in an internship?
All students are required to take a basic skills
competency test with their respective school.
Based on the results of the test, the student may
be required to take developmental courses in
English or mathematics. If the developmental
courses are needed, the courses must be
satisfied before starting the Utility Degree
Program’s technical courses.
FAQ: Classes
2. If I fail one of my utility courses, can I stay in
the program?
Yes, but you will be required to retake and
pass the course you fail. You cannot
participate in an internship unless you have
passed the prerequisite utility courses – UTI
101, 102 and 103. You also must meet the
grade requirements of B for UTI 101 and C
for UTI 102 and UTI 103.
FAQ: Classes
3. What happens if I miss or am late for one of my utility classes?
Students are expected to arrive on time and be present at all
classes and meetings. Academic performance is contingent
upon students’ attendance at all classes. The utility classes,
UTI 101, 102 and 103, are concentrated 5 – week courses that
require attendance at every session. In the event that absence
or tardiness is unavoidable, the student must discuss the
absence or tardiness with the professor, prior to the class if
possible. If there are two or more absences, the student will be
required to repeat the course. If a student misses a class for
any reason, they will be responsible for all content that is
covered, including announcements made in their absence, and
acquiring any materials that may have been distributed in
class.
FAQ: Classes
4. Can I participate in the EUT program if I have
another job?
The program requires that students complete
two, 16-week internships. As part of the
internship, students work 40 hours a week
from mid-May to the end of August. If you
have another job that interferes with the EUT
work schedule and/or your ability to get to
work on time and successfully perform your
job, you should reconsider your enrollment
in this program
FAQ: Classes
5. How will I find out which classes I need
to take and where they will be held?
Your community college advisor will
speak with you about what courses
you’ll need to take and when you
should take them. Once your schedule
is set, they will let you know the start
dates and locations of your classes.
FAQ: Classes
6. What happens if a class is cancelled?
In the event that a class is cancelled, the
professor or representative will make every
attempt to contact the students in the class,
via: telephone and/or email. The professor or
representative will inform the students as to
when and where the cancelled class will be
rescheduled. It is the responsibility of the
student to attend the rescheduled class. This
class will be viewed as a regular class and
the attendance policy will apply (see
question 3).
FAQ: Classes
7. Do I have to register for the summer
internship?
Yes. Students are expected to register for the
summer internship (Cooperative Work
Experience) and cannot participate in the
summer internship unless they are
registered. If you are unsure of what classes
to register for, please consult your advisor at
your respective college.
FAQ: Classes
8. What happens if I miss a mandatory
meeting?
Utility degree program students are required
to participate in three mandatory
meetings/workshops: Working at PSEG and
Employability Skills, which are held from 8
a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second and third
Fridays of January, and an orientation at the
end of April where students meet with their
internship supervisor.
FAQ: Classes
9. Who do I contact if I don’t get a grade
for one of the UTI classes I’ve
completed?
If a student does not receive a grade for
one of the UTI classes they have
completed, they must contact their
Energy Utility Technology Degree
advisor at their respective college.
FAQ: Summer Internships
1. How do I qualify for an EUT summer internship with PSEG?
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Must be a high school graduate
Must complete all prerequisite Math and English classes
Attain a grade of B or better in UTI 101
Attain a grade of C or better in UTI 102 and UTI103
Not miss more than one-day of UTI 101, 102 & 103
Attain a grade of C or better in the required non-utility courses
Attend the required *workshop(s) in January
Attend Student/Supervisor Orientation in April
Submit an up-to-date resume into Brass Ring
Complete and submit an application for employment
Successfully pass the company’s medical drug screen
Possess a valid driver’s license where driving is required for the position
Successfully pass the company’s background check, which includes among
other things a motor vehicles records search and a criminal background check. A
poor driving record and/or certain criminal convictions may disqualify a student
from participating in an internship. This determination will be based on the nature
of the motor vehicle offense(s) and/or the conviction(s) viewed in connection with
the internship position applied for.
FAQ: Summer Internships
2. What types of internships do you offer?
Eight internships are offered to utility degree program students.
Two in gas:
1. Utility Mechanic Assistant: involves the installation
maintenance and repair of gas distribution systems,
2. Service Apprentice: performs work associated with the repair of
the gas distributions systems and home appliance
maintenance and repair.
FAQ: Summer Internships
Five electric internships:
3. Apprentice Relay Technician – installs, maintains and repairs
substation relay systems,
4. Apprentice Substation Mechanic – installs, maintains and
repairs substation equipment
5. Apprentice Engineering Technician – performs work connected
to the contraction, operation and maintenance of electric
systems,
6. Apprentice Meter Technician – install, maintain and repair
customer meters
7. Division Mechanic Assistant – performs work associated with
the performance, operation and maintenance of underground
electrical distribution systems.
One position is available in PSEG Power – Fossil Generation:
8. Plant Operator – who performs work associated with
maintenance and operation of plant equipment.
FAQ: Summer Internships
3. Where can I find a description of the
internships?
You will receive detailed job descriptions during
your January workshop. At that time you’ll also
hear about what it’s like to do the work from
gas, electric and fossil supervisors who
participate in the session.
FAQ: Summer Internships
4. How and when do I select my internships?
Students are required to attend two mandatory
workshops in January. It is during the workshop
that you are asked to select your first and
second choice for the summer internship. This
document is submitted at the end of the
workshop and is taken into consideration when
slating students for their summer internship.
FAQ: Summer Internships
5. Do you offer internships other than in the
summer?
We have offered a limited number of winter
internships to students who have completed
almost all the degree’s requirements and who
just need the second internship to complete the
program.
Winter internships start sometime in January
and run through May. Whether winter
internships are offered usually depends upon
the current business needs and conditions.
FAQ: Summer Internships
6. Do I qualify for an internship if I am on a student
visa?
Yes, non-resident students can qualify for an internship
as long as they have a valid student visa and proper
work authorization. The student must follow the
guidelines set forth from their respective college.
7. How long are the internships?
Internships begin sometime in mid-May and run until
the end of August – approximately 16 weeks.
FAQ: Summer Internships
8. Can I do the same internships twice?
The program requires students to take five utility courses and
complete two paid internships. In order to meet this requirement,
students cannot do the same internship twice.
9. Do I get graded on the internship?
Yes. Utility degree program interns are required to complete a
Summer Cooperative Work Experience Checklist that provides
participants with practical, job specific experience in electrical, gas
or generation energy industry operations.
Students must perform and or observe each task on the checklist
and upon completion have a manager or supervisor sign it.
Students receive a pass/fail grade upon its completion.
FAQ: Summer Internships
10. What happens if I fail my internship due to poor attendance
and performance?
Utility degree interns are held to the same standards and levels of
performance as PSEG employees. If you have poor attendance or
performance, you will be terminated from your internship and no
longer able to participate in the program. All EUT students are
required to sign a letter of agreement outlining expectations
related to job performance and availability (which includes getting
to work on time) when they enroll in the program at the community
college.
11. What happens if I fail the training for the internship?
If you fail the apprentice training class associated with the job you
have been hired to perform, you cannot participate in your
assigned internship. You will have to enroll, retake and pass the
course at a later date.
FAQ: Summer Internships
12. If I am terminated from the internship or receive a
bad performance rating, can I still participate in the
EUT program?
If a student is terminated from the internship or
receives an unsatisfactory performance rating, that
student cannot continue with the EUT program. The
student is encouraged to meet with their Energy Utility
Technology Advisor for guidance.
13. Can I extend my internship?
Not usually. If your work location has a business need
(added work, etc.) the decision to extend your
internship will be made on the local level by your
supervisor/manager.
FAQ: Summer Internships
14. What happens if I do not get my first or second
choice for the internship?
The internship assignments are influenced by three
factors; business need, student’s year in program and
the number of training slots available. Second year
students most often will be awarded their first or
second internship choice.
15. Can I request a different internship?
No, the student cannot request a different internship.
16. When do I find out what internship I’ve received?
Energy Utility Degree Program students will find out
about their summer internship when they are called and
are offered the position in the spring.
FAQ: Summer Internships
17. What happens if I am late for my internship
training?
Students in the program are paid to be trained and are
expected to get to work and training on time. This is
clearly stated in the letter of agreement that students all
sign. A student who has experienced more than two
incidents that prevents them from meeting this
requirement will be terminated from their internship.
FAQ: Testing and Employment
1. What tests do I need to pass in order to
qualify for employment at PSEG?
For most positions, in electric distribution
(except relay and engineering), you will be
required to pass the CAST test. For a relay
position, you must pass the relay test and
engineering tech test for an apprentice
engineering position. For positions in Gas,
you will be required to pass the Gas Battery
test. Fossil generation positions require
successful passage of the POSS MASS test.
FAQ: Testing and Employment
2. Is there a way to prepare for the test?
Yes. Information on the tests and
practice questions appear on the
www.PSEG.com website in the
Interview and Test Preparation
section. This section will provide you
with test information, practice
questions and other resources that
will help you prepare for the tests.
FAQ: Testing and Employment
3. When and where are these tests offered?
The tests are offered, as positions are available, at
PSE&G’s Corporate Conference Center in Edison.
4. How do I find out if I passed the tests?
Two to three weeks following your test, you will
receive a letter by e-mail with your test results.
5. What happens if I do not pass the tests the first
time?
If you do not pass, you can retake the test (s) again
three months later.
FAQ: Testing and Employment
6. When can I apply for employment at PSEG?
Students whom have completed all degree
requirements and are performing well can
apply for employment during their second
internship.
If a student applies for a position before
they have completed the Energy Utility
Technology Degree program requirements,
and are chosen for that position, the
student must withdraw from the Energy
Utility Technology Degree Program or
decline the offer.
FAQ: Testing and Employment
7. I graduated from the EUT Degree Program, now
what?
A graduate interested in employment should check the
PSEG website weekly and apply to job openings for
which they qualified. The graduate should send an email with the job information (what jobs they have
applied for) to the program manager. The program
manager will follow-up with the appropriate recruiter to
insure he/she is considered for the position if they have
met the minimum job qualifications. To obtain
employment at PSEG, the graduate must be the
successful applicant for the position and must satisfy
requirements applicable to all new hires.
Statistics
Academic
year
Enrolled
In the
program
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Total
16
9
13
9
10
6
13
7
10
10
62
41
Left the
program
Retention
rate
7
4
4
6
0
21
56%
69%
60%
54%
100%
66%
Statistics
Number Percentage
in the program
graduated and are hired
graduated but are not hired
hired but have not graduated
41
10
3
14
100%
24%
7%
34%
took all major courses but have not
graduated
taking courses within the last one year
7
17%
7
17%
Statistics
Number Percentage
left the program
terminated by PSEG
changed his/her major
stuck due to the mathematical
requirement
left unknown reason
21
2
1
13
100%
10%
5%
62%
5
24%
Selection Process
• Pre-requisites
–
–
–
–
ELC-115
MTH-113
ENG-101
ENR-100
• Background Check
– Driving record
– Criminal record
– Drug screening
• Industrial Tests
–
–
–
–
Gas battery
CAST
POSS/MASS
Engineering Tech/Relay