Engineering Technician Training

Engineering Technician Training Program

A 10-week training institute, Building a Trained Workforce for the State of Illinois Infrastructure Industry and IDOT through Engineering Technician Training (ET2) Program, will provide basic understanding of design, construction, and maintenance aspects of Civil Engineering projects; careers in the transportation and construction industry at technician level; and knowledge and skills needed to be an effective member of design and construction teams as entry-level technician.

Program Background

A recent report card released by American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) shows that roads, bridges and other transportation related infrastructures of the United States received grades between D and C, i.e., poor to mediocre. The most recent Illinois Report Card is no better; the overall score of Illinois infrastructure is C-. Infrastructure is the backbone of our economy and our daily lives. The demand for new and improved infrastructure and the maintenance of the existing one has reached an all-time high. It is crucial for us to prepare trained and skilled construction workforce to meet this demand. The skilled workforce in the construction industry is not limited to engineers and managers only. The profession recognizes the need of intermediate technical personnel who can understand the language of civil engineering and implement them accordingly in the field.

Program Design:

Funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (IDCEO), the goals and objectives of the proposed training institute will be accomplished by implementing a series of activities which will build upon the current knowledge of the participants. Designed to fulfill the need of the construction industry by training the underutilized but motivated adults to become entry-level technicians. Training includes; classroom instruction, hands-on training in laboratory and field, and on-the-job training in the field. A partial list of the training that will be implemented are presented below.A partial list of that will be implemented are presented below.

Interactive and hands-on classroom activities by faculty and staff
Guest lectures by professionals from IDOT and other agencies working in the infrastructure and construction industry
Guest lectures by contractors who perform construction in the transportation industry
Hands-on laboratory training
Field training on real projects

About Our Program

Who is Eligible?
Eligible to work in the US

Be 21 years of age or older

Have a high school diploma or GED (The General Educational Development Test) equivalent

Preference will be given to residents of underserved/disadvantaged counties in Southern Illinois

Valid Illinois driver’s license

Illinois resident not currently employed in the infrastructure industry

Have not completed similar training before.
Training Outline

The 10-week training starts May 19 and will be every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am-4:30pm. The primary location of the training will be in East St. Louis, IL, however, a few weeks of the training will be Carbondale, IL. A tentative schedule including locations will be provided to attendees on the first day of training. Transportation and shared hotel accommodation will be provided at no extra cost when trainees are in Carbondale, IL.

The selected participants must commit to complete all parts of the training. As an incentive to complete the training, the participants will receive a stipend/per-diem of $300 per week (for approximately 20 hours per week). The first payment of $1,200 will be made only after successfully completing the first 4 weeks of the training; the second payment of $1,200 will made after successfully completing 8 weeks of the training, and the final payment of $600 will be made after successfully completing all 10 weeks of the training. All the participants who successfully complete the training and pass the final exam will also receive a graduation bonus of $500.

Primary Training Location:

SIUE, East St. Louis
Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus
601 J.R. Thompson Blvd
East St. Louis, IL, 62201
Application Requirements
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Application

Statement of Commitment
A pledge to complete the training and how you will apply yourself to the training program.

Impact Statement
A written statement of how the training program will impact your life ie; supporting your family, building a lifelong career, preventing you from being homeless, sustainable income, etc.

Two letters of recommendation

Application deadline was March 15, 2023.

All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee. Selected candidates will be notified by March 31, 2023 and will be asked to confirm their participation. If for some reason a selected candidate drops out, another candidate from a waiting list pool will be selected. Participants will be asked to sign an agreement for participation in all activities of the institute and an understanding of program expectations related to behavior, attendance, transportation to and from the institute site, and other program requirements.

Disclaimer:

Please note that the participants will receive sufficient training to work as entry-level technicians. However, some agencies may require additional education or training. Completion of this training does not guarantee employment. The participants will have to seek employment themselves and apply for available jobs.
Contact Us
Please contact Tarnisha Green at green@siu.edu for questions about the program

Please contact Rebecca Dycus at rdycus@siu.edu for assistance with applications