LANSING, MI — Michigan State University (MSU) has launched a new, 11th edition of its online supervisory training program in water/wastewater management, according to a recent announcement by Keith Niblett, director of MSU’s Water Industry Learning program.

The program offers three online courses for water managers: Maintenance Management, Supervisory Management, and Effective Communication. All are part of MSU’s Executive Development Programs at its Eli Broad Graduate School of Management.

MSU says the program, launched in 1977 with a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency, fills a critical need: Supervisors may be appointed due to their engineering, technical and water chemistry skills, but they receive little help in developing their leadership, management and supervisory skills.

Many managers have met pre-qualification requirements for state certifications by successfully completing these courses, and many utilities have relied on the program when promoting people to management and supervisory jobs, according to Niblett.

Each course has a fee of $325, which includes texts and study guides. After enrolling in the program, students have one year from that date to complete online training and take exams. The university says most students complete a course in about six months, but one can be completed in as little as seven weeks.

Prospective students can register for the courses online or by contacting: Self-Study Course Coordinator, Executive Development Programs, Michigan State University, 3535 Forest Road, Lansing, MI 48910, phone (800) 356-5705. 

For more information about the courses, click here.

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