The National Center for Pulp and Paper Technology has announced that DSLCC in Clifton Forge, VA, has joined The National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training 2. The Network is a national partnership of community colleges and industry representatives that aims to arm students with the training and experience necessary to meet the increasing demand for advanced technology workers in the pulp and paper industry.

"We are very excited to add DSLCC to our network of community colleges offereing Pulp and Paper Technology training scross the country. They represent an important community to the program and to the industry" says T. J. Murphy, Executive Director of the National Center for Pulp and Paper Technology. DSLCC will be able to utilize scholarships-internships-jobs model to provide a technologically advanced workforce for the region, including MeadWestvaco's 1500 employee operations located in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia. The new partnership will allow DSLCC to provide improved training for new hires and incumbent workers.

"A broader curriculum will benefit and strengthen the long-standing partnership that MWV has with DSLCC. This training wil assist MWV in preparing workforce for the future which is improtatnt to the sustainability of the mill," says Pam Stocks, Human Resource Manager - MWV Covington. DSLCC currently offers students education and training in the skill sets fundamental to all manufacturing throught the Advanced Manufacturing and Packaging Technology curriculum (AMPT). The partnetship will allow DSLCC to broaden the current offering by making additional pulp and paper educational classes available.

"DSLCC is proud to join such a distinguished network of colleges in bringing the National Center's program to our local community to employers and students," said Dr. Richard Teaff, DSLCC President.

DSLCC is a two-year public institution of higher education, one of 23 community colleges in Virginia. The college is supported by the Commonwealth of Virginia; the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt (northern portion) and Rockbridge; the cities of Buena Vista, Covington and Lexington; and the town of Clifton Forge. DSLCC provides opportunities for the extension of knowledge, skills and personal enrichment in an envirnment that maintains high academic standards and respect for each individual. The college strives to keep programs and services financially and geographically accessible for all students.

The National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training was created to provide the pulp and paper sector of the US forest products industry with a technologically advanced workforce (TAW) by offering exciting and effective education and training. The National Network is an alliance of community colleges, universities, industry partners and the National Science Foundation offering a proven program for recruiting, training, placing, and retaining future pulp and paper workers by providing technical curriculum, continuing education, scholarships and internships. The National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training's scholarships-internships-jobs model succeeds because its partnerships address the complete cycle of worker training and development, from recruitment of new students to retention of existing workers.

The National Network is a part of the TAW platform supported as an improtant technology platform by the American Forest and Paper Association's special project group, Agenda 2020, and the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry.

For more information on the partnership, contact T. J. Murphy, tjmurphy@ascc.edu or (334) 637-3193 or Gary Keener, DSLCC Vice President of Continuing Education and Workforce Services at gkeener@dslcc.edu or (540) 863-2900.

Additional information can be found at: www.npt2.net or www.npt2.org