Roane State Launching Nuclear Tech Program Next Year Thanks To $100K From ORNL Contractor

Roan State Community College announced the launch of its nuclear technology program with a $100,000 donation from UT-Battelle LLC, which manages and operates Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

“There is no better place in the country to develop nuclear energy and technology than East Tennessee,” Rowan State President Chris Whaley said in a press release. “This generous contribution will allow us to launch a program that will meet the need for qualified professionals in various fields and industries.

UT-Battelle funds will be used to purchase tools, resources and equipment for the college's nuclear test laboratory. The first promotion, which will begin in the fall of 2024, should have between 10 and 20 students.

Students earn a diploma or associate's degree in nuclear technology and are prepared for a wide range of careers, including medical isotopes, fissile material handling, waste handling and disposal, nuclear reactors, support of fuel companies and storage facilities.

"When companies talk about their location in Tennessee, 'workforce' is at the top of the list," Jeff Smith, interim president and CEO of UT-Battelle and Acting Director of ORNL. "They want to know that if they come here they can find the workers they need."

Smith announced UT-Battelle's contributions alongside Whaley at the East Tennessee Economic Council's Nuclear Opportunities Symposium at Hilton Airport last week, where he encouraged more than 200 people to explore ways to help. to strengthen assistance to Tennessee's nuclear workforce.

The Roane State program provides work experience not typically available until a graduate has joined the company and begun training in a specific occupation. The nuclear engineering curriculum includes the use of various types of radiation instruments, the response of detectors to different types of radiation, the collection and processing of data generated by these instruments to obtain appropriate results, and the practical use of these instruments in related works.

“This investment in resources makes sense for us not only in terms of the resources themselves, but also in terms of the experience that ORNL will provide, ensuring that the equipment is exactly what the students need. need and what they'll see when they leave the workplace," says Wally. .

This article first appeared in Oakridger: Roane State to launch nuclear technology program next year with donation

Augmented reality learning is shaping 2023 at the Oak Ridge Center of Excellence and Learning