GCPTA MEETING MINUTES
At Hilton Hotel - Clear Lake, Texas
Date: Friday, February 26, 1999
Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

The meeting was opened by Steve Ames and the participants introduced themselves.

New Members:
Voting Member:
Katherine Trahan of PPG

In-District Associate Member:
Jim Gardner of Training and Development Systems and College of the Mainland

Approval of last meeting minutes - Minutes approved 2-26-99

Subcommittee - Rules/By-Laws - Lou Caserta
GULF COAST PROCESS TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE MEETING POLICY
Approved 2-26-99 (see attached)

Subcommittee - Vendor Relations - Jim Gardner
Jim Gardner will get with Rosa Gonzales for more information on new software program.

Subcommittee - Public Relations - Jim Gardner for Karen Baird
5th Education & Information Career Expo - Friday, October 15, 1999
250 students attended Expo on February 12, 1999. San Jacinto – Central Campus had highest number of students with 69 attending. Twelve companies participated in the Expo.

Subcommittee - Education - Barry Hardy & Denise Navarro
New project Manager - Denise Navarro
New Process Technology courses do comply with WECM requirements. All Process Technology courses will have new prefix -- PTAC. Subcommittee needs Industry members to join this subcommittee to help with new courses. Texas has agreed to adopt Process Operations course. Process Equipment course in Texas and Louisiana match. McNeese State University is now piloting Instrumentation courses. Also have taken outline to area plants to develop need to know information for course. Harold Dishongh has volunteered membership to this subcommittee as an industry subject matter expert.

Distance Learning - Cathy Williams-Foster for Duncan Welder
Distance Learning Surveys for Industry and a separate one for Colleges was distributed at the meeting. If you did not receive a survey, please call Valerie at 281-834-0766. Also, please return all surveys to Valerie by fax 281-834-3056.

        For more information --
        Duncan Welder IV
        Marathon Ashland Petroleum
        P.O. Box 1191
        Texas City, Texas 77592
        (409)943-7295
        wdwelder@mapllc.com


Auditing or Course Curriculum - Steve Erickson & Cindy Erndt
The Education Subcommittee will do this task. Possibly, create a generic audit that gathers information where students are getting necessary information and sure that instruction is being delivered.

Financial Report - John Payne
Request for funds letters will be coming soon. Possible NSF Grant for three years at $900,000 project for core courses for Process Technology will be available September 1, 1999.

Advisory Committee Feedback

Brazosport College - Piloting Safety, Health & Environment course
Using Charles Thomas's book.

Victoria College - All Process Technology courses are in place
First graduates of 2 yr. Degree program will graduate end of this semester
Laboratory is doing well - show upon request
Co-op course this semester - very meaningful

Alvin College - 93 students in program
Second semester courses of second year are offered for first time
Piloting Safety, Health & Environment Course
Piloting Troubleshooting Course

McNeese State University - New Advisory board members
Instructor position opening for Process Technology and Instrumentation for 10 yr. Contract
Piloting Troubleshooting Course

Wharton County Jr. College - City of Bay City has donated $40,000 last year and this year up to $50,000

Lamar University Institute of Technology - Program started is 1993
Now have 580 students
Next month will have new building -- 22,000 sq. ft.
70 graduates last year
Over 100 graduates expected this year

Texas A&M University - BS Degree in Engineering Technology
50 students this semester
Program growing

College of the Mainland - 68% retention this semester
ACS - program (Cytext) aimed at high school but also as introduction in college not ready yet, waste water treatment
Pilot Safety, Health & Environment and Introduction to Process Technology course
State Audit…Technical Programs rated EXEMPLORY!

International Alliance - 7 states participated
Seven major subcommittees were formed
Chairs of each subcommittee are temporary
Guidelines and meeting policy have yet to be set

New Business

Alliance Web Site
Web Site under construction by Bob Kosar
Address to Alliance Web Site: www.processtech.org
College of the Mainland is hosting server

Alliance Video
Alliance Video by LarMar Video Productions Inc. - Call 225-869-8015 or by e-mail larmar@stargazer.net
Alliance will get 10 copies of video free
Volunteers to validate script are: Doug Hill, Lamar Garrett and Bill Raley

Del Mar College
Del Mar is producing a video for Process Technology. Their Advisory Committee would like to invite anyone in the Gulf Coast Process Technology Alliance to help with the cost of the production. A contribution by an industrial partner would insure their place in the video. Please contact Marvin Artman at (512-698-1731 for more information.

Piloting Troubleshooting Course
Alvin Community College and McNeese State University are piloting course.

FUTURE MEETINGS -

Friday, March 12, 1999
Education Subcommittee Meeting
10:00am - 2:00pm
College of the Mainland

Tuesday, March 23, 1999
Distance Education Subcommittee Meeting
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
The University Center

Friday, April 16, 1999
Bi-monthly Alliance Meeting
9:00am - 2:00pm
Nassau Bay Hilton

Forty-four people in attendance
Meeting Adjourned at 12:30 pm

Respectfully submitted,
Valerie M. Billiot, Administrative Assistant
Gulf Coast Process Technology Alliance