09/22/2023—
Michigan Technological University has signed a Corporate Education Partnership Agreement with ITC Holdings Corp., the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company.
The fellowship program supports ITC employees in their pursuit of online graduate education through Michigan Tech’s Global Campus. Current employees will receive fellowships to enroll in one of Tech’s online graduate certificates or master’s degree programs. These fellowships are available for up to four years, provided the recipients continue to be employed by ITC and meet eligibility requirements. The program allows employees to acquire industry-needed skills, follow areas of professional interest and meet the evolving demands of next-generation energy infrastructure.
The fellowship program is part of Global Campus’ dual missions of building relationships between academia and industry, and making quality online education more accessible to diverse adult learners.
The timing was right for such a partnership, according to Linda H. Apsey, president and CEO of ITC. “We’re at this really pivotal moment in time, as we are on the cusp of an energy transformation. And innovation, new skills, new experiences, leadership: all of those things are so important, now more than ever,” said Apsey.
“What we observe and experience is that Michigan Tech grads come to ITC ready and prepared, day one,” Apsey added. “They also come with the right skills and technical knowledge. And I would say even more importantly, that they arrive with the demonstrated desire to continue and to learn and grow in an organization like ours.”
Michigan Tech President Rick Koubek stressed the importance of alignment between institutes of higher education and industry. “In my opinion, having a close relationship with industrial partners is going to be key for universities succeeding in the future,” said Koubek. “It’s important that what the students are learning in the classroom is relevant to what they’re going to do once they graduate. Having a tight feedback loop between industry and the academic institution makes that so.”
The partnership agreement was signed at ITC’s headquarters in Novi, Michigan, on Aug. 22. Koubek and Lawrence were present for Michigan Tech, and Apsey and Brian Slocum, senior vice president and chief operating officer, attended for ITC. Other leaders from both organizations were also present, along with MTU alumni and fellowship recipients.
About ITC Holdings Corp.
ITC owns and operates high-voltage transmission infrastructure in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. It has more than 700 employees and 1,000 contractors. The company provides transmission grid solutions to improve reliability, expand access to markets, allow new generating resources to interconnect to its systems, and lower the overall cost of delivered energy.
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.