Graham — North Central Texas College (NCTC) has announced that a full-time program in oil and gas technology has been established on the Graham campus beginning this fall.

This past year, only limited classes in this high-demand discipline were offered in Graham — and to go through the full program, students had to travel to NCTC’s Bowie campus. But beginning in fall 2012, students will be able to take all of the classes necessary to complete the certificate program on the Graham campus.

“This will open up a whole new area for the program and NCTC,” said Steve Burnett, NCTC Oil and Gas Technology department program coordinator. “At the Bowie campus, most of the students are commuters from the Dallas/Fort Worth, Wichita Falls and Southern Oklahoma areas. At the Graham campus, the oil industry in Abilene is less than two hours away. So students from Graham, along with Aspermont, Albany, Haskell, Shackelford, Seymour and Breckenridge will all be close enough to utilize this program. Most commuters can drive to the campus two days a week, take five classes, and in two semesters be able to complete the certificate program.”

In Fall 2011, only two oil and gas technology classes were offered in Graham, and both were at night. That first semester, 11 students completed the classes.

In spring 2012, enrollment in the program doubled, as did the number of night classes offered.

“Expanding the program to full time on the Graham campus is the right thing to do,” Burnett said. “That means we now will be moving to both day and night classes and offer all 12 of the program’s classes.”

Helping NCTC officials make the decision to expand the program was the dedication and support from the Graham community. Many petroleum engineers who own and operate businesses in Graham have stepped up to instruct the classes as adjuncts.

Burnett said he hopes that support continues.

“We will be needing lots of support in the way of adjuncts, as well as tools and equipment for the labs,” he said. “One way we are moving to improve the program and improve the industry’s base of new hires is to include in the curriculum more hands-on labs that will build skills that are essential to any employee’s success in the industry.

“We recently received a grant that will help us add a lot of hands-on lab equipment,” he added. “While the grant will help, we still need tools and other equipment. I am confident that the community of Graham and the petroleum industry will continue to step up to the plate and take care of the program with adjunct instructors and materials.”

The expansion of the program in Graham should aid students who are looking to advance their careers in this high-demand area.

“The students are enthused and dedicated to have the opportunity to start new careers and some are in the industry starting new positions with existing companies,” Burnett said. “The student population for oil and gas technology classes are the most diversified and motivated of any I have ever worked with.”

Burnett also explained that his range of students spans from the young and inexperienced to older students with 15 years of experience in different industries.

“The all have one thing in common,” he said. “They are highly motivated and willing to work hard to get the opportunity to start a new career in the petroleum industry.”

For more information about the oil and gas technology program at NCTC, contact Burnett at (940) 872-4002, ext. 5219.