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ENERGY MANAGEMENT/LANDMAN
"Western Colorado has some of the largest energy resources in the
world," said Steve Soychak. "We have a lab in our backyard."
Soychak's "we" is the energy management/landman concentration
within CMU's Bachelor of Business Administration degree program.
The concentration emphasizes energy fundamentals, development,
marketing, transportation, real property law, oil and gas mineral law and
petroleum engineering. In the decade it has been offered, approximately
80 graduates have completed the concentration. Soychak serves as the
program's director.
The program's biggest draw is the proximity to multiple energy
sources, Soychak said. Within two hours travel are natural gas and oil
shale deposits, coal mines, uranium deposits as well as solar and wind
power facilities.
In addition to providing opportunities for field visits, energy companies
support the CMU program by offering internships and, of course,
employment to graduates.
In October 2017, the program received accreditation from the
American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL). CMU is one of
only 13 AAPL-accredited energy management/landman undergraduate
programs in the U.S. and Canada, and is only the second Colorado
program to be accredited.
"We are very pleased to have the AAPL confirm that we are teaching
our students what they need to know to succeed in this industry,"
said Soychak. He also feels the respect and support from area energy
companies played a role in receiving accreditation. Fifteen entities
submitted letters of support for CMU's accreditation application, the
majority being from energy companies.
Accreditation has also increased students' access to industry conferences
and financial assistance. Scholarships are available thanks to endowments
from the Unconventional Energy Center, the West Slope Colorado Oil &
Gas Association and the Shear family, with a new scholarship, Women in
Energy, available this year.
