Assistant Professor of Business Bill Alderman discussed Southern West Virginia Community Technical College's newest program - mine management- with members of the Rotary Club of Logan on Wednesday. Alderman discussed his own background as well as what the college has to offer the students and the workforce.

Alderman has worked at many different jobs over the years and finished his own education in increments when he could. In 2000, he became interested in a change of pace and took a position with the college, seeking new opportunities and new vistas.

Alderman said there were many challenges and topical issues revolving around mining today in West Virginia and said SWVCTC is in a position to help create mid level managers and leaders needed to deal with them.

"Our program was put together over the summer with web based courses," he said. "Demand for these courses has been overwhelming. The number of students we enrolled was a pleasant surprise. We had 100 in our first semester."

Alderman recently visited the community college system of Detroit and noted many opportunities community colleges face today. He said SWVCTC is committed to growing and creating leaders from students as well as being a leader in the field of education.

Mine management classes that are web based are difficult to develop and Alderman has been looking at more traditional classes to help people develop management skills that are needed in the industry. He said other states like Kentucky and Wyoming have become interested in the mine management course. He pointed out that the workforce in mining and the area has changed over the years and gave his own life story as an example.

Alderman began working at a department store in town when he was in the 11th grade. He then went to work in the mining industry at a mine machine shop. He later worked at Pontiki Coal in Kentucky and at Hobet Mining, then Ashland Coal which was bought by Arch in 1995. However, Alderman was a local boy and wanted to stay in Appalachia, which he calls home. When the new owners asked him to relocate to Wyoming he turned them down.

"This is home to me," he explained. "Even though they made the offer financially tempting."

Alderman said he is very proud of his program and students. He pointed out that mine management is a field that is ripe with opportunities for women as well as men and discussed the need for people trained in dealing with safety regulations, pay roll and other business concerns.

"The mining community needs the leaders this program can produce," he said. "Southern is certainly on the rise when it comes to meeting the needs of our community and our students and the business world."

Alderman also spoke about myths and facts of community colleges, noting that you can get an excellent education and start in life from two year institutions. He said many people mistakenly think the credits they have will not transfer, but noted that SWVCTC Joanne Tomblin has signed binding agreements with four year institutions to assure that their course credits will transfer.

"Pete Rosell, H. Ross Perot, Walt Disney, Calvin Klein, Clint Eastwood and John Walsh all went to community colleges and they were all successful," he added.

He said SWVCTC teaches, prepares and mentors students for success and gave examples from the mining and allied health programs. Currently SWVCTC has 5000 students enrolled and enrollment on the Logan Campus is up. The Mine Management program is an associates degree program currently and is looking into a two plus two agreement with Midway College in Kentucky.