Five North Dakota state and tribal colleges are sharing in a federal grant to create the “Trend” consortium.
“Trend” stands for “Training for Regional Energy in North Dakota.” It’s funded by a $14.6 million grant from the US Department of Labor. The colleges – including Bismarck State College, Williston State College, Fort Berthold Community College, Sitting Bull College and the Turtle Mountain Community College, are participating in the “Trend” consortium.
"Each institution offers something different," said Bismarck State College president Dr. Larry Skogen. "BSC's niche experience with energy education and training in both on-line and hands-on labs will be a benefit to this consortium."
BSC is the lead institution in the "Trend" consortium.
"We're right in the middle of the Bakken oil activity," said Fort Berthold Community College president Dr. Russell Mason. "We have many tribal members, and non-members, who are still untrained."
The colleges say they expect increased enrollment because of the specific energy-related programs. Those programs include such things as welding and commercial drivers' license training.