State Centers of Excellence Grant In October 2005, Bismarck State College (BSC) received a $3 million grant from the State of North Dakota in the first round of the Centers of Excellence Grants for Economic Development to colleges and universities. A Center of Excellence (COE) is a hub of research and economic development designed to expand business opportunities and create jobs. Each COE has an area of focus, and for BSC the focus is energy. The $3 million COE award will support part of the cost of the construction of the National Energy Center of Excellence being built on the BSC campus. The world-class facility will combine energy workforce training, education and research.

Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota is recognized internationally as an expert in scientifically advanced energy systems and the prevention and cleanup of air, water, and soil pollution. BSC received a $50,000 award from the Department of Energy through the cooperation of the EERC to further the online power program.

U.S. Department of Energy provided a $50,000 award through the EERC to assist with development of the online power technology courses.

National Science Foundation (NSF) provided a 3-year $611,689 grant to convert traditional power and process classroom courses to an online format for delivery through interactive distance education through the Energy Technology Education Project. In addition, they provided a 3-year $899,911 grant do develop an online degree program in Electrical Transmission Systems Technology.

U.S. Department of Labor provided BSC with several Earmark grant awards (FY03 $397,000, FY04 $297,000 and FY05 $500,00) appropriated under the annual Fiscal Year appropriations bill with funds specifically provided for under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to enhance and upgrade the energy technology credit and customized training programs.

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic nonprofit institution providing education and careers in science and technology. Sloan provided a grant of $150,000 to BSC to develop and promote the Electric Power Technology program. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation also chose BSC as a pilot college for Project SAIL.

League for Innovation in the Community College with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation launched project SAIL (Specialty Asynchronous Industry Learning) of which BSC is a member. Through a network of college an industry partners, Project SAIL aims to create a national marketplace providing access, exchange and dissemination of specialized industry driven programs anywhere and anytime for community college students. BSC ’s on-line energy programs are full partners in this effort.