HomeMy Public PortalAbout2022 ERTC Scholarship Info06/02/2021
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Environmental Resource Training Center
(ERTC) Water Quality Control Operations Program is a certification program that emphasizes
practical training over weekly coursework covering the theoretical aspects of drinking water
and wastewater treatment presented in lecture sessions and supplemented by hands-on
experience in labs and treatment shops then followed by a work-study internship at a treatment
plant and water facility.
For additional information about the ERTC program, go to www.siue.edu/ertc/.
GOAL
To encourage minorities and females to consider a career in and to promote the Water Quality
Control program at SIUE to provide training towards potential full-time employment with MSD;
offer a limited number of academic scholarships to minority and female candidates; assist the
individuals in acquiring the education and experience required to attain a Missouri Wastewater
License; as well as providing a possible opportunity in a 5-week paid summer internship while
attending the ERTC Water Quality Control Operations Program.
DETAILS TO CONSIDER
1. Cost:
• Tuition and fees to attend the ERTC Water Quality Control Operations Program for school
year 2022-2023 is approximately $10,000. Program time frame is August – July (11
months).
• Scholarship will provide $10,000 toward tuition for the student in good standing while
attending the program. The Scholarship is paid in two distributions: $5,000 first semester
+ $5,000 second semester = $10,000. In addition, a $1,000.00 stipend.
• Scholarship will be awarded to two (2) students.
• Scholarship funds will only be paid for coursework that is in the curriculum of the ERTC’s
Water Quality Control Operations Program.
• Funds can be set up and held for distribution. The SIUE Bursar’s Office will invoice MSD
for one-half of the scholarship amount after the start of the Fall and Spring Semesters.
• Possibility of a 5-week internship, 40 hour work week, as an intern at an MSD treatment
plant. Summer 2023 pay rate is $15.00/hr.
2. Legality:
According to MSD’s General Counsel Office, as a public entity, MSD is able to provide a
scholarship program with a race-based preference as long as it is based upon evidence of
past discrimination. This program is a by-product of the Disparity Study.
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3. Partnership:
• MSD will partner with some of its workforce suppliers such as SLIP and SLATE.
• MSD will coordinate with the career counselors at disadvantaged high schools within its
service area, as well as SIUE, to make students aware of our program for possible future
candidates.
4. Scholarship Criteria, Management, and Processing:
Criteria:
• Student must be accepted and enrolled in the SIUE ERTC Water Quality Control
Operations Program with wastewater treatment operations as desired field of study;
• Student must be a member of an ethnic minority or female;
• Student must demonstrate financial need;
• Student must have a high school diploma or GED;
• Academically the student must remain in good academic standing by maintaining a
cumulative 2.00 GPA (on a 4.00 scale);
• Student cannot be an immediate family member or reside in the same household of a MSD
employee.
Management:
SIUE ERTC has a template and scholarship development advisor that will assist MSD in
setting up the scholarship program under MSD’s terms, as well as managing it with MSD
representatives sitting on the candidate review board. There is no fee associated with the
services provided by SIUE ERTC.
Processing:
MSD will accept applications and review them. After the committee makes their selection,
MSD will award and monitor the scholarship. The University Bursar’s Office will process the
financial matters.
5. Positions:
• MSD will assist scholarship recipients and ERTC students in good standing to possible
summer intern positions.
• Efforts will be made, if vacancies occur, to possibly place ERTC scholarship graduates in
a full time position.