Community College Network

Welcome to the National Network for Pulp and Paper Technology Training

What is the (npt)² Network
(npt)² is an alliance of community college - university partnerships with extensive industry involvement. The charter partnerships consist of Alabama Southern Community College (the grant's fiscal agent and home to the National Center for Pulp and Paper Technology Training) & Auburn University, Mid-State Technical College & University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point/University of Minnesota, Kennebec Valley Community College & University of Maine, and Lower Columbia College & University of Washington. Each of these partnerships will oversee implementation of a regional technical training program while recruiting other colleges to join the partnership. Alabama Southern Community College's unique "scholarships - internships - jobs" approach will serve as a template to grow the network through the existing infrastructure of community colleges.

What are the deliverables from (npt)² ?
Paper industry leaders recognize that education and training are a must for industry manufacturers to create and sustain a competitive advantage. As such, the foundation of (npt)2 is improved education and training for today's workforce as well as tomorrow's. Key deliverables over the four-year grant period include:

• An industry-sanctioned, national pulp and paper technician and operator certification program
• New and improved community college curricula aligned with regional industry needs
• Creation of a career information toolkit for educators and high school students, including industry awareness programs through summer internships
• A new TAPPI Recognized Education Provider (REP) program to recognize high quality providers of education and training
• An annual book series aligned with the technician and operator certification program
• A monthly e-publication for front-line pulp and paper manufacturing workers

The Center Prepares Faculty
The Center prepares faculty to become fully engaged in the American Forest and Paper Association's Agenda 2020 initiative to develop a technologically advanced workforce. The (npt)² utilizes a scholarships-internships-job model for students and professional development programs for high school and college faculty.

Contact Us!
If you are an industry stakeholder in pulp and paper workforce development, contact your regional (npt)² representative for more information.