For over a century, the Mining Extension program in the Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources at West Virginia University has stood as a cornerstone of progress and education, shaping countless students’ careers and transforming the landscape of both the mining industry and the Mountain State.
Story by Kaley LaQuea, Communications Specialist
Photos by Kaley LaQuea and WVU Libraries
Josh Brady, current director of WVU Mining Extension, talks with Jim Dean, former director. (WVU Photo/Kaley LaQuea)
We’re commemorating 111 years of this esteemed program by reflecting on its profound impact, challenges, service to our state and vision for the future with former director Jim Dean and current director Joshua Brady.
Through Struggle Comes Triumph
After a number of tragic mining accidents in the late 1800s, the state of West Virginia created its Department of Mines in 1905. In response to a growing call for more regulation and industry oversight, Congress followed suit, forming the United States Bureau of Mines in 1910. The Mining Extension program, which opened in 1913, was established in response to the growing demand for skilled professionals in the mining industry. West Virginia’s abundant natural resources drove an economic boom for skilled workers and engineers.
A demonstration shows early mine communications in an underground setting. (WVU
Photo)
From its early days, the program mission was clear: to equip students with both technical
expertise and a commitment to improving safety. The industry saw its highest employment
in 1940 with more than 130,000 workers, and even though mining thrived here in
West Virginia, it remained a taxing profession. As the industry evolved so did
the curriculum, incorporating cutting-edge technologies, emergency preparedness
and safety practices that now define modern mining.
In 1995, a year after Dean took the helm as director of WVU Mining Extension, West Virginia coal production hit its peak at more than 181 million tons.
“When I took over, the program had strong industry ties because it had been serving the people working in the industry for many, many years,” Dean said.
In the beginning, the Mining Academy in Beckley housed much of the program. Some of the mainstays were apprentice miner training, electrical training and mine foreman training to help those working in the mining industry advance their careers. There were big dreams to expand the program, but as Dean soon learned, the impetus and resources to make them a reality were hard to come by.
Construction for the Academy for Mine Training and Energy Technologies at WVU, more commonly known as Dolls Run, started in 2008. The live fire area and half of the mine were built during the first year of funding, but the program didn’t have the resources to complete it.
“We didn’t know whether we were going to get the money to build the rest of it,” Dean added.
Two years earlier, a mine disaster trapped 13 miners for more than two days. A number of other accidents in 2006 renewed the focus for better training and safety protocols, and Dean faced a challenging road ahead.
Legacy of excellence
“It was a very challenging time for mining and everyone associated with it. It was one of the worst years for the collective industry in many years, especially for the state of West Virginia,” Dean recalls. “During that time when I lectured students in the mine management and safety class, I said ‘At some point in your career you'll have the opportunity to impact mine safety and health. You'll know when it happens, and you need to stand up. Though it may be difficult, you need to follow through.”
Mining Extension Employees receiving training program award from MSHA Mine Academy.
(WVU Photo)
And that’s exactly what Dean did. On his birthday in 2006, he received a call from
the governor asking him to lead the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety
and Training. Dean stepped in that year to serve as the office’s director, working
with industry, labor and vendors to make recommended regulatory changes. They needed
experts in the field to help them ensure compliance with updated safety laws and
the program delivered.
After working closely with industry partners and legislators, the funding finally came through to complete the state-of-the-art training center. The new simulated mine facility at Dolls Run, built on land donated to WVU by Consol Energy, opened its doors in 2009.
“I’m very proud to say that what’s sitting out there, there’s not a federal dime in any of it,” Dean boasts. “It came from industry, from vendors and proudly from the state of West Virginia. On behalf of the entire department, we are grateful to everyone who supported these efforts.”
Over the last 15 years, that dedication has led agents at Dolls Run to conduct countless hours of training for miners from 15 states and multiple companies from around the globe, ensuring access to the latest technologies and best practices to keep miners safe.
The WVU Mine Rescue Team works together during the Post 5 Mine Rescue Contest. (WVU
Photo)
In the past year alone, the Mining Extension staff has worked with more than 21 different mining companies, instructing and certifying over 3,376 miners. They have integrated their expertise into the mining engineering curriculum and trained 25 mine rescue teams, as well as two WVU collegiate teams.
Today, Brady and the WVU mine rescue teams have 13 wins under their belt, beating out teams from all over the world in 18 mine rescue competitions over the last eight years.
Graduates of the program have gone on to become leaders in the field, influencing mining practices not just in our state, but globally. Their contributions range from pioneering safer extraction methods to championing emergency preparedness, showcasing the program’s commitment to developing responsible industry leaders.