• Alabama Southern Community College

Thomaville, AL

• Recruits and retains students in pulp and paper technology degree programs.
• Places pulp and paper technology students in internships that often lead to employment upon graduation.
• Informs high school students about pulp and paper career opportunities.
• Increases faculty knowledge with professional development opportunities for elementary, secondary, and college educators and advisors.
• Develops instructional materials including laboratory exercises, online modules, and textbooks.
• Establishes national skills standards.

Recruitment Essential for Creating Globally Competitive Workforce

The National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training, an alliance of 10 community colleges, 4 universities, and TAPPI, provides critical education services for individuals who want to work in forest product industries. TAPPI is the worldwide association for the pulp, paper, packaging, and converting industries. Through its education and industry partnerships, (npt)2 is developing a globally competitive, technology-savvy workforce. This workforce development begins with recruiting new, well-qualified candidates to (npt)2 associate degree programs.

To attract more teenagers, the center offers summer programs throughout the nation for high school students. The programs blend hands-on experiences in workplaces with classroom instruction of theoretical concepts.
To inform more adults about the changing needs of paper and allied industries and the career opportunities that industry provides for technicians, (npt)2 tailors its outreach efforts for parents, students, K-12 school faculty and advisors, and community career service centers.

(npt)² Measures Its ROI

To determine the financial return on investment (ROI) of its programs, the center commissioned an analysis of its impact on the measures employers value. By converting these measures to monetary terms, analysts concluded that for every dollar a company invests in (npt)2 scholarships and related support, $5.65 is returned to the company—after recovering for the cost of tuition, books and fees—from savings on internal employee education and increased productivity. Program graduates entering the workforce possess the theoretical and technical skills equal to 4.5 years of job experience, achieving technician-level certification in 9 months, on average, compared to 27 months for non-degreed new hires. They also sustain fewer work-related injuries because of the program’s world-class safety instruction, hands-on training, and internships. All of these impact measures were key determinants of the outstanding ROI of (npt)2.

Retirements Create Huge Need for Skilled Technicians

Over the next 4 years more than 25,000 skilled pulp and paper employees are expected to retire. To address the urgent need for technicians, (npt)2 has engaged industry in the education process. Industry has responded by making the National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training part of the technologically advanced workforce (TAW) platform supported by the industry’s association, TAPPI, and the American Forest and Paper Association’s special project group, Agenda 2020. These education-industry partnerships are committed to attracting and retaining high-quality students who will enter the workforce ready to use their skills and education. By working together, the center and industry are creating a new workforce capable of competing in the global pulp and paper market.