BOARD00077 ‎(4)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 11/13/2006
• Description: Water Supply Planning & finance - Referred Non-reimbursable Investments - Colorado Mountain College - Rocky Mtn. Fen Research Project
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Introduction

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The Natural Resource Management Student Internship Program (NRM-SI) is a
non-profit, student oriented program operating within the Colorado Mountain
College (CMC), Natural Resources Management (NRM) Program in Leadville,
Colorado. The college offers an associate of applied science degree in Natural
Resource Management that includes the cooperative work experience program
that is offered to students enrolled in the program. All subjects taught and
discussed in the classroom setting are implemented as either part of the
educational training or the "hands-on" experience in the field. Conversely, all
NRM work related experiences are also integrated into the classrooms. The
Student Internship program provides a unique educational opportunity in that
students are applying skills and concepts learned in the classroom in real life
work situations. NRM has an experienced professional staff including Project
Manager, Contract Administrator, NRM Faculty, and assistant project managers.
Student interns provide the labor force for all NRM projects.

Current and past students of the NRM Student Internship program have proven
themselves to be exceptional students at CMC and, after graduation from CMC,
four-year institutions. Graduates of the CMC/NRM Student Internship program
have excelled in their respective academic departments at four-your institutions.
The ability to develop and apply classroom knowledge on hands-on work in the
field has shown to provide students and graduates of the CMC/NRM Student .
Internship program with an advantage; moreover, the students can then choose
to either join the work force or continue their education at a four-year institution.

The CMC curriculum is developed with cooperation with the Colorado State
Higher Education System to ensure courses transfer to similar departments in
the four-year schools. In addition to the transferable courses, the CMC/NRM
department also provides coursework that is designed to enhance the skill base
of the CMC/NRM students. Examples of these courses include Surveying, Field
Monitoring Techniques, Environmental Site Assessment, Hydrology, and Soils
Science Uust to name a few).

The NRM Student Internship program'has been involved with projects through
the U.S. EPA, U.S. BLM, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Colorado Division of Wildlife,
Colorado Dept. of Public health and Environment, Colorado Geological Survey,
government subcontractors, private consulting firms, private individuals, and
others since 1999. These projects have provided extensive opportunities for
students with water sampling and quality analysis, soil sampling, snow pack
surveys, ASTM Phase I environmental site assessments, timber stand
assessment and thinning, environmental risk assessment, document production,
grant administration, reclamation, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem
characterization, flora and fauna inventory, wetlands delineation and inventory,
threatened and endangered species inventory, and other types of work. Along .
with the course curriculum, projects through the NRM Student Internship program .