College to offer degree in mining

Somerset – The coal mining industry didn’t learn much from the large number of retirements that occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, because it’s happening again, Blair McGill said.

“We’ve lost a generation,” he said. “Over half the managers could retire today if they want. To develop supervisors who can move to the second and third levels takes time and education.”

McGill worked in the mining industry in West Virginia for more than 43 years before his retirement. He was a supervisor in his early 20s.

The Pennsylvania State University Fayette Campus is offering a two-year mining technology associate degree program at the Allegany College of Maryland Somerset County Campus beginning in June. An informational session about the program was held at the college on Friday.