West Virginia University is responding to the booming Marcellus Shale growth in West Virginia and the corresponding increasing demand for energy professionals by offering a new degree program focused specifically on preparing students for careers in energy land management.
The energy land management major achieved a crucial milestone Friday (Sept. 19) when WVU’s Board of Governors officially approved a Bachelor of Science degree in Energy Land Management. The milestone follows WVU Faculty Senate’s approval in June and is the result of a year of hard work from the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design that made the program a reality.
“The ELM Program was formed to give students interested in the focused area of land management the knowledge necessary to succeed in the energy sector,” said Shawn Grushecky, coordinator of the ELM program.
Click below to hear the WVUToday radio spot about the Energy Land Management degree.
It is one of only 10 programs in North America accredited by the American Association of Professional Landmen.
Professionals in this discipline determine the ownership of surface and subsurface rights, negotiate contracts and leases, coordinate field exploration activities, serve as a liaison between lease owners and exploration and production companies and ensure community and environmental quality during energy development.
Energy companies with large footprints in West Virginia and the Marcellus Shale have supported the ELM program through its development and are pleased to see it has achieved BOG approval.
Mark Acree, senior land manager in the Marcellus Business Unit at Noble Energy Inc. said the this academic initiative that will prepare students for careers in energy land management.
“Noble Energy is proud to financially support West Virginia University’s Energy Land Management program and serve on the ELM Advisory Board,” Acree said.
“We look forward to watching the program grow and are actively involved in contributing to the success of the program through our advisory board membership and by providing guest lecturers for classes. We anticipate this program will generate very qualified students that will be prime candidates for internships and ultimately, recruited to work with top energy companies around the country, Noble Energy included.”
The advisory board also includes representatives from firms like Cabot Oil and Gas, Dominion, EnerVest, Ally Land & Energy, Range Resources, Antero Resources and Steptoe & Johnson. Board members are active in organizations like the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia, the WV Oil and Natural Gas Association, the Michael Late Benedum Chapter of the AAPL and the Northern Appalachian Landman’s Association.
“The energy companies on the advisory board formed a partnership to support the program, providing $500,000 to support the curriculum development and faculty,” said Grushecky. “This is the first time the Davis College has worked with industry to develop a new major from the ground up and had this kind of private support for creating a program.”
Support for the energy land management major was provided in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The $1 billion comprehensive campaign being conducted by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University runs through December 2017.
Students may begin registering for ELM coursework for the spring 2015 semester.
-WVU-
hr/dw/7/16/14
CONTACT: Shawn Grushecky; ELM Coordinator
304.293.9417; shawn.grushecky@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.