The need for water and occupational safety and health professionals is high for municipalities across the Valley, due to impending retirements. The City of Surprise recognizes the demand and is planning ahead for the shortfall, creating a training facility in partnership with GateWay Community College in Phoenix.
The future site of the Surprise-GateWay Training Facility will provide new, mission critical labs, assembly facilities and classrooms for individuals interested in water resources technologies and occupational safety careers.
The 13,100-square-foot training facility is being constructed on the grounds of one of Surprise’s Water Reclamation Facilities, which currently processes over 8 million gallons of water per day.
“The new site in Surprise will help the city secure needed technicians,” says Craig Urbanski, Water Resources Technologies program director.
GateWay water students will benefit because they will have the opportunity to train adjacent to professional staff in the field and experience the complete water reclamation and treatment process for both groundwater and drinking water, according to Mario Castaneda, water faculty at GateWay.
“We want students in the West Valley to have the opportunity to earn a certificate or associate degree in the water fields as well as gain the hands-on experience, so we will be partnering with our sister colleges at the Communiversity also located in Surprise to offer the general education requirements,” says Castaneda.
In addition, students will be able to attend select Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) courses at the new facility as part of the program. By completing these courses and taking additional online courses, students will be able to complete a certificate or degree in this program as well. OSH professionals assist in anticipating, identifying and controlling unsafe working conditions.
“The complexities that safety professionals face today and in the future require knowledge beyond the high school diploma,” says Michael Bryant, program director for OSH. “GateWay students attending the Surprise-GateWay Training Facility will graduate with the credentials and related hands-on training that will put them one step in front of their competition.”
The city of Surprise broke ground in February 2016 on the new site and is expecting to open its doors prior to the start of fall classes in August.
Surprise residents and Luke Air Force Base active duty members are eligible for scholarships.
For information, contact Craig Urbanski at 602-286-8616 or craig.urbanski@gatewaycc.edu; Michael Bryant at 602-286-8646 or michael.bryant@gatewaycc.edu.