Educational Pathways to Careers in Mining

SUMMARY
The program partners the University of New Mexico in Taos with Molycorp’s Questa Mine to provide local high school and college students with the resources and support necessary to successfully prepare for a career in the mining field. There are two educational pathways available.

• Career Technical Pathway for entry level mine employees
• Professional Pathway for degreed position

Participant High School
Questa – 2006/2007

PROGRAMS
Career Technical Pathway for High School Students
Requirements
All students must successfully complete coursework in the following areas:

• Four Years of English
• Three Years of Mathematics
• Three Years of Social Studies
• Three Years of Sciences
• One Year of Physical Ed

Students are also encouraged to take Electives in the following areas: Construction, Woodworking, Welding, Automotive, Ag Shop, Auto CAD, GIS, Microsoft or Apple computer applications.

In addition to the academic coursework, students must participate in an Internship Course offered through the University of New Mexico-Taos and held at Molycorp’s Questa Mine during their senior academic year or the summer after graduation. If taken during the school year, students may receive academic credit. Once the student has successfully completed the program, he or she will be able to apply for full-time employment at Molycorp.

Professional Pathway for Degreed Position
All students must successfully complete coursework in the following areas:

• Four Years of English
• Four Years of Mathematics
• Three Years of Social Studies
• Four Years of Sciences
• One Year of Physical Ed

Students are encouraged to take the most demanding academic curricula the high school offers: AP courses, Honor’s courses as well as Chemistry, Physics and Calculus.

In addition, students will also take an Internship Course through the University of New Mexico-Taos at Molycorp’s Questa Mine during their senior year or the summer after graduation. If taken during the school year, students may receive academic credit.

Students that have successfully completed the Professional High School Pathway and Internship will be eligible to apply for an academic scholarship (criteria and quantity to be determined) to continue with post-secondary education in a field that prepares them for employment in the mining industry.

Regional colleges to consider for Bachelor’s programs are: University of New Mexico (unm.edu), New Mexico State University (nmsu.edu), New Mexico Tech (nmt.edu), and Colorado School of Mines (mines.edu).

After completion of the professional degree and internship program, students may apply for employment at Molycorp’s Questa Mine.

Students must remain substance-free throughout the entire program and remain substance-free in order to be eligible for employment.