-  Programs 
          -  Technical Innovation and Professional Services 
          Training
Services

# TIPS Training Program

The TIPS Training Program is a collaborative effort between OSMRE, the States, and Tribes. All agencies funder under SMCRA are eligible to participate in this training program. 

The TIPS Training Program educates hundreds of students annually in the use of state-of-the-art scientific and engineering tools. The training provided can be found nowhere else and is considered a “one of a kind” opportunity. SMCRA application of those tools represents the most requested and widely supported component of the TIPS program.

Please email questions or comments to the TIPS Training Administrator. All training or technical issues should be emailed to the TIPS at OSM-TIPSweb@osmre.gov.

##         Initiatives and Partnerships      

The Technical Innovation and Professional Services (TIPS) Training Program has a vision to create a continuous learning environment by providing innovative learning methods and expanding course offerings intended to develop individuals to their highest potential, both professionally and personally, with emphasis on outcomes vs. outputs. This will be achieved through the following initiatives:

### Partnership Activities

Two technical training programs reside within the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE): TIPS and the National Technical Training Program. Together we collaborate on common training issues and incentives; share representatives on each other’s respective Steering Committees; coordinate course pre-requisites to best serve one another’s classes; and, share resources to address such issues as instructor succession planning. We use the Department of the Interior Learning Management System (DOI Talent) at https://www.doi.gov/doitalent, educating OSMRE employees, and state and tribal training contacts on how to register students for NTTP and TIPS classes.

Partnerships with Colleges and Universities are currently underway to gain knowledge of programs and processes within their institutions, and consider efficiencies that might be gained if implemented by the TIPS Training Program. Partnering with other government agencies is also in process to learn where we can share resources and streamline processes.

##         Training Locations      

TIPS training classes are commonly delivered in small classrooms to allow students personal attention from the instructor while being able to immediately apply the software to actual mining cases. The classes occur in specialized training centers.

### OSMRE Training Center Locations

Appalachian Region Office (AR)3 Parkway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15220Phone: (412) 937-2910 or (412) 937-2864

Mid-Continent Region (MCR)501 Belle StreetAlton, IL 62002-6169Voice: (618) 463-6460Fax: (618) 463-6470

Western Region OfficeP.O. Box 25065Lakewood, CO 80225-0065Voice: 303-236-2925

### Non-OSMRE Training Center Locations

                            - Albuquerque, NM: Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
                            - Anchorage, AK: State of Alaska Office (550 W. 7th Ave.)
                            - Columbus, OH: Ohio Department of Natural Resources Central Office
                            - Frankfort, KY: GIS computer lab at Kentucky State University
                            - Huntington, WV: GIS computer lab of Marshall University 
                            - New Philadelphia, OH: Ohio Department of Transportation

##         Upcoming Training Opportunities      

**Thank you for your interest in the TIPS Training Program. If your office has a need for special training sessions, please contact the TIPS Training Administrator at (303) 236-3412**** or OSM-tipsweb@osmre.gov.**

FY2024 Training Schedule. 

To get scheduled for one of the training classes please contact your state, tribal, or OSMRE training representative or reach out to the TIPS training Administrator at the above contact information.

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##         Student Enrollment Process      

Instructions below referring to "training contacts" submitting course registration forms for TIPS training classes are for **State and Tribal employees only**.OSMRE employees are responsible for applying for training courses through DOI Talent. OSMRE employees wanting to take ESRI on-line courses should email jhalloran@osmre.gov stating the course they are interested in taking, after they seek supervisory approval to take the course.

### Instructor-led Class Procedure

NOTE: TIPS no longer assigns slots for classes. Enrollment occurs on a first-come, first served basis, with waitlists created when a class becomes full. The TIPS schedule will be posted in the fall and training contacts will be advised to register employees who've identified a need, and are available to attend a class session based on dates published. NTTP will continue to assign slots for their classes.
                            - Employees indicate their interest in attending a TIPS class via the annual Training Needs Survey ( May ).
                            - The designated survey contact compiles training needs information and inputs data electronically into the survey ( May/June ).
                            - TIPS representatives decide the TIPS classes/location that will be offered for the next fiscal year ( July/August ) and coordinate with course managers and instructors.
                            - TIPS training contacts are notified one week in advance of when the TIPS class schedule will be released ( October ).
                            - TIPS training schedule is posted to the web and training contacts begin registering employees for upcoming TIPS courses. ( October/November )
                            - If you are a state/tribal employee, your training contact will register you for TIPS classes via DOI Learn. Only training contacts should have a  DOI Talent  login and password. Employee will receive an email from DOI Learn indicating their registration in a class is being process.
                            - If you are an OSMRE employee, you will need to login to  DOI Talent  and apply for the class. Employee will receive an email from DOI Learn indicating your supervisor needs to approve your registration for the class.

Approximately 10 weeks prior to the TIPS class, students will receive an email from the National Training Coordinator advising them they are scheduled to attend the training course, the location, the dates/times the class will take place, and requesting information from the student regarding travel arrangements. The Class Coordinator (National or Local) will begin corresponding with the student and handle all travel paperwork for state/tribal students; OSMRE employees prepare their own travel paperwork.

##         Training Contact Hours Information