THIBODAUX — A new initiative at Nicholls State University will help to meet the safety and health needs of the growing south Louisiana oil and gas industry. On Wednesday, April 30, the university signed an agreement with the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) to be designated as a TEEX Cooperative Learning Center (CLC), authorizing them to teach TEEX safety and health classes as a OSHA Training Institute Education Center host site in Houma, the first such facility in Louisiana.
The training center will be housed in the Duhe Center for Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Nicholls’ continuing education and conference facility located at 235 Civic Center Boulevard in Houma.
The agreement means that Nicholls is approved to offer or host the entire environmental, health and safety catalog of courses and begin offering them this summer at the facility.
“This program will enhance safety training in the region while providing a new revenue stream for the Nicholls Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management (PETSM) department so that we can continue to expand and serve our region in the face of diminishing state funds,” said PETSM Executive Director Michael Gautreaux. “We are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with TEEX.”
The partnership will help TEEX to reach a broad new student base in south Louisiana, ideally located to serve the expanding deepwater oil and gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico. TEEX trained over 5,100 students in health and safety courses last year, and is set to train over 6,000 students in 2014.
“This area is the hub for the oil and gas industry in Louisiana and will help us to serve the region better,” said Ron Peddy, division director for the TEEX OSHA Training Institute Education Center. “The partnership will help meet a growing demand for this essential training that keeps our workforce safe and healthy on the job.”
The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is an internationally recognized nonprofit leader in the delivery of emergency response, homeland security and workforce training, technical assistance and economic development.
Nicholls State University’s Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management is the only program of its kind that caters to industry employees working 7-and-7 or 14-and-14 rotational shifts. For more about the program visit www.nicholls.edu/petsm. For more about programs and services available at Nicholls’ Duhe Center, visit www.nicholls.edu/duhe-center.
CUTLINE: Nicholls State University and Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) sign an agreement to be designated as a TEEX Cooperative Learning Center (CLC), authorizing them to teach TEEX safety and health classes as a OSHA Training Institute Education Center host site in Houma. (left-to-right, top-to-bottom) Michael Gautreaux, Nicholls Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management Department Director; Al Davis, Dean of University College; Bill Stansbury, Program Director at the TEEX OSHA Training Institute Education Center; Ron Petty, Division Director at the TEEX OSHA Training Institute Eduction Center; and Laynie Barrilleaux, Vice President for Academic Affairs.
