ML20133F918
| ML20133F918 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/05/1985 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20133F913 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-85-434, TASK-IR, TASK-SE SECY-85-078, SECY-85-78, NUDOCS 8508080485 | |
| Download: ML20133F918 (4) | |
Text
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Ih! FORMATION REPORT March 5,1985 SECY-85-78 For:
The Comissioners From:
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations
Subject:
REPORT ON ASSESSMENT OF JOB-RELATED QUALIFICATIONS FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT OPERATORS
Purpose:
To forward a copy of a draft report which assesses the extent to which college engineering curriculum covers job-related academic knowledge for operators.
Discussion:
Under contract to NRC, Pacific Northwest Laboratories (Battelle Human Affairs Research Centers) has prepared a report which identifies job-related educational qualifications for the nuclear power plant positions of reactor operator (RO), senior reactor operator (SRO), and engineering curricufu)m covers job-related academic know-ledge shift supervisor (SS.
The extent to which college was assessed. The approach used was to have subject matter experts in the field of general and nuclear engineering curriculum systematically compare college engineering program content to specific " academic" knowledges identified by the INP0 job and task analysis.
The job and task analysis also identified comprehensive " component" and
" system" knowledge lists that were not used in this study because of the limited relevance to formal engineering i
education due to the plant-specific nature of these knowledge lists. These knowledges would be covered through training programs.
In addition, the subject matter experts made judgments concerning levels of formal engineering education necessary for application of knowledge on the job based on job samples from a job analysis of activities under selected normal and emergency operating sequences.
Contact:
C. Goodman, NRR x24894 8508080485 850625 PDR FOIA BARKUS85-434 PDR r
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The Commissioners The major conclusions of the PNL report are:
A considerable amount of job-related academic knowledge is covered in college engineering curriculum.
Approximately 10% of the academic knowledge needed by licensed operators is covered in high school prerequisites for entrance into college engineering degree programs.
This knowledge is primarily in the subject area of mathematics.
Approximately 50% of the academic knowledge identified as necessary for licensed operators is covered in the core curriculum taken in the first two years and in nuclear engineering upper division courses.
College engineering curriculum provides considerable material beyond that identified as necessary for licensed operators.
Overall, no more than half of the nuclear engineering curriculum overlaps with academic knowledge needed by licen::cd cperators.
Higher level operator positions (SS relative to SRO, SRO relative to RO) were judged as needing higher levels of education to perfonn the job.
Evaluations of job samples describing RO, SRO, and SS actions in response to normal and emergency conditions
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show a consistent pattern of higher educational levels being rated by subject matter experts as necessary for higher level job positions.
College engineering programs can provide one route, but not necessarily the only route, for acquiring job-related academic knowledge.
This work does not directly assess specific alternative routes such as utility training programs.
The enclosed diagram illustrates several of these conclusions.
When interpreting the diagram, one should keep in mind that it is rot possible to quantify what percer'sg!
of an operator's job involves the " academic" knowledges (versus the " component" or " system" knowledges).
The Commissioners INPO had previously conducted an academic review of the
" academic" and " component" knowledges identified by their job and task analysis.
We are sending INPO a copy of the PNL report to obtain their comments.
The staff does not intend to use this report as the basis for any new regulations.
/
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
1.
Diagram:
Relationship Between College Engineering Curriculum and Academic Knowledge Content Needed by Nuclear Power Plant Operators 2.
Assessment of Job-Related Educational Qualifications for Nuclear Power Plant Operators (Commissioners, SECY, OGC & OPE only) e O
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Relationship Between College Engineering Curriculum and Academic Knowledge Content NeMed by Nuclear Power Plant Operators
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Note: The academic knowledge content of the. job does not cover the total knowledge content. Component and system knowledge lists were not included because they were not sufficiently relevant to formal educational qualifications.
The 3/5 of academic job knowledge obtained by nuclear eng'ineering graduates includes 9% from high school prerequisites and 53% from required courses for nuclear engineering majors. The 2/5 includes 22% of the academic knowledges that are not covered at all (e.g., must be taught in plarnt training),11% that are covered in college engineering courses required for other engineering majors, and 5% of the knowledges that could not be assigned due to insuffic.ient agreement among the subject matter experts.
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