[USCC] Professional Credentials Committee seeks input and help

[Cary Oshins]

Craig et al,
As first and former chair of this committee, I am glad to see it moving
forward again, and (correctly) taking a step backward to do so.  I think it
is critical to seek input and support from throughout the industry.  I
wholeheartedly believe that the USCC has a critical role to play in
education.  I am less certain on the credentialing piece.  It is not clear
to me that there is sufficient demand for a new credentialing organization.
By that I mean enough demand to financially support the infrastructure
required to do the job of developing, implementing and sustaining a
legitimate program.  There are three drivers to get credentialed:
regulations, industry norms, and personal motivation/satisfaction.
Regulations are on a state-by-state basis, and while most states that have a
credentialing requirement also provide that training, that would certainly
be a potential role for USCC.  Industrially, we have to acknowledge that
like it or not composting is part of the waste management industry and SWANA
is our 800 pound gorilla--it cannot be ignored.  That is why we partnered
with them in the first place, and we could push to improve that partnership.
Finally there are those that will desire USCC credentials for a variety of
personal motivations. I think the first task of the committee (or a
contractor directed by the committee) should be to do some sort of survey or
study of the demand.  

As to your questions:

*         Do we have separate certifications for compost operators & compost
facility managers, and if so, how should they differ?
Yes, they require significantly different skills, knowledge and behavior.

*         How do we, as the USCC, recognize and credit existing State &
university training programs towards USCC certification (i.e. Carolinas
Composting Council, WORC, LSU, Maine Cooperative Extension, UMD Better
Composting School)?
Develop an "approved core curriculum" that any training program would be
required to offer if a participant wanted to use that education as part of a
credentialing program.  Most credentialing programs have three components,
eduation, experience and testing.  Education can replace some, but not all,
experience (and vice versa).  

*         How can we encourage private industry to recognize that
USCC-certified professionals are a worthwhile employment investment?  
The pitch would be that having a credentialed employee reduces risk through
improved operations.  Of course we'd have to be careful that some of that
risk does not then move to the USCC!

*         Can we get States to require certified professionals at composting
facilities (like landfill and WWTP operators)?  Should we push this issue?
I do think this is an issue that can be pushed, for similar reasons as the
industry, though here the risk that is being reduced is environmental
instead of economic.

*         What should be included in a 5-day "Foundations" training course
as a minimum training for eligibility to take a certification exam? 
How did you decide that it needed to be 5 days?  
Decide on a core curriculum and let the programs decide how the want to
cover it.  Eg, Pennsylvania's program offer a number of 1 and 2-day classes
over a 2 year cycle that allows the participants to accumulate the hours and
knowledge without disrupting employment.

*         What topics should be taught in shorter, more advanced courses for
CEUs?
	There are many, I think this is a great potential role for the USCC.


*         What is/are the most effective mechanisms for conducting training
programs?
	One of the mechanisms to explore is greater collaboration among the
training programs.  Leslie Cooperband and I wrote a grant proposal to
convene a compost educators' symposium.  The idea is to cover the time and
travel of representatives of all the training programs in the country to
facilitate developing consensus on the core curriculum and also to enable
exchange of lesson plans that individual instructors have developed to teach
specific concepts.  While turf and ego and clearly obstacles in this arena,
I think most of the teachers in this field would be eager participants.


I'd be interested in participating in the committee, though travel to
conferences in unlikely at this point.
Best of luck.  

Cary Oshins
GARDENIQUE Landscaping, Inc.
610-972-9018
www.filtrexx.com
Filtrexx-Our Soxx don't fall down!









Colleagues:

 

I have agreed to serve as the new chairman of the Professional Credentials
Committee (attempting to fill big shoes left behind by Oley Sheremeta) and I
invite your input and assistance as we move this important initiative
forward.  As you may know, I have been (and am) involved in compost operator
training with the Carolinas Composting Council since 2001.  PCC is charged
with the mission of developing a national training and certification program
for the USCC as a benefit to our industry.  This program is intended to
raise professional competence and quality, to provide assurance to
regulators, elected officials and citizens that our facilities are operated
properly, safely, and with minimal impact to the environment; and to move
the USCC in the direction of becoming a training organization.

 

The PCC is seeking volunteers to help with planning this program (with the
assistance of a contractor/consultant yet to be hired).  Help will involve:
brainstorming (via conference calls); developing the contractor Request For
Proposal (one draft currently exists); developing a work plan for USCC staff
to work with State governments to encourage/require one USCC-certified
professional at each permitted composting facility; and developing a series
of continuing education training programs for ongoing professional
development.  Current PCC members are: myself, Dr. Monica Ozores-Hampton
(Univ. of FL), and Holly Westcott (Washington Dept. of Ecology).  Committee
meetings will be held in association with other conferences (i.e. Biocycle
West Coast in April, USCC Annual Conference in Oakland, etc.).

 

Even if you don't have time to help, I'd sure appreciate your thoughts and
advice on several key issues:

 

*         Do we have separate certifications for compost operators & compost
facility managers, and if so, how should they differ?

*         How do we, as the USCC, recognize and credit existing State &
university training programs towards USCC certification (i.e. Carolinas
Composting Council, WORC, LSU, Maine Cooperative Extension, UMD Better
Composting School)?

*         How can we encourage private industry to recognize that
USCC-certified professionals are a worthwhile employment investment?

*         Can we get States to require certified professionals at composting
facilities (like landfill and WWTP operators)?  Should we push this issue?

*         What should be included in a 5-day "Foundations" training course
as a minimum training for eligibility to take a certification exam? 

*         What topics should be taught in shorter, more advanced courses for
CEUs?

*         What is/are the most effective mechanisms for conducting training
programs? 

 

Thank you for your time and for your input.

 

Regards,

Craig

 

 

 

Craig Coker

Coker Composting & Consulting

3331 Glade Creek Blvd.  Ste. 7

Roanoke, VA  24012

(540) 904-2698  Fax: (540) 904-6732

Cell: (540) 874-5168

 <mailto:craigcoker at cox.net> craigcoker at cox.net

 <http://www.cokercompost.com> www.cokercompost.com

 

Join us at the US Composting Council's 16th Annual Conference & Trade Show,
February 8 - 12th, 2008 at the Oakland Marriott City Center, Oakland,
California. Check it out at www.compostingcouncil.org

Cary Oshins

GARDENIQUE Landscaping, Inc.

610-972-9018

www.filtrexx.com

Filtrexx-Our Soxx don't fall down!

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at composter.com [mailto:compost-bounces at composter.com]
On Behalf Of Craig Coker
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 2:47 PM
To: US Composting Council Compost Discussion List
Subject: [USCC] Professional Credentials Committee seeks input and help

Participate in the Annual Compost Awareness Week May 6, 2007 to May 12, 2007

This year's theme is "The Possibilities are Endless ... Compost!"

For more info, go to: http://compostingcouncil.org/section.cfm?id=25

Or Call the USCC at 631-737-4931