SOWELA In Need of Instructors With Industry Experience

by Kerri Cooke

As part of the U.S. energy corridor, Southwest Louisiana’s petrochemical and liquified natural gas operations continue to grow. With expansion comes the need for more highly trained and skilled workers. 

This need has spurred SOWELA Technical Community College to expand their industrial programs. However, Robert Null, dean of the School of Industrial Technology, says it’s the increasing demand for instructors, especially in rural areas, that SOWELA is now trying to tackle.  

A career in industry brings both a great career path with potential upward trajectory and a good wage for local families. Null says a worker just starting out as a process operator can expect to have an earning potential of $75,000 before overtime. Many workers who are hard workers and take extra hours can expect to bring home over $100,000 a year. And this is with an associate degree, typically requiring two years of education and training or less with SOWELA’s Fast Track option. 

There’s a shift in the nation from a primary push for four-year university degrees to learning a skilled trade at a community college or vocational school. Often, the latter can prove more lucrative than the former, especially for those who enjoy working with their hands and wouldn’t consider obtaining a bachelor’s degree at a traditional university. Positions are often open for welders, industrial electricians, chemical lab analysts and process operators. 

Null believes that the gap in instructors can be filled simply by getting the word out about the need. He says a position teaching the next generation about industry is perfect for both retirees and those who want to pivot away from the demanding work at industrial plants. SOWELA requires three years of experience in the field and an ability to share knowledge with students in a classroom. They offer a great benefits package with a retirement plan, health insurance and PTO. In addition, an instructor has a good work-life balance because they’re only on campus nine months a year with summers off. “They’re only here when the students are,” Null says. “The only thing fixed is the time of classes. Office hours and prep time are flexible.” 

SOWELA’s need can be the local workforce’s gain. “This is a great opportunity for those who want to stay in the workforce,” says Null. “Those who take early retirement are often great instructors because they can be tired but have a wealth of experience and still want to give back to the community.” 

SOWELA has industrial electrical instructor openings at both its Jennings and Leesville locations. The college has a harder time filling instructor roles in these rural areas due to the worker pool being smaller and the reluctance of others to commute, but he knows there are perfect people out there for the jobs available. “It’s almost like a ministry,” he says. “I’ve heard so many stories of students, of how they grew up in generational poverty, and SOWELA helped them see a way out. It’s what keeps me coming to work every day.” 

For more information or to apply, visit www.sowela.edu/careers.