University of Central Missouri Celebrates Its Largest HAZMAT Removal Technician Certificate Program Graduation

Program graduates, loved ones and UCM Lee's Summit faculty and staff gather for UCM's largest HAZMAT Removal
certificate class graduation ceremony at the Buck O’Neil Center on March 3.

 

Thirty students graduated March 3 from the University of Central Missouri’s (UCM) Hazardous Materials Removal Technician Certificate Program, marking the largest class in its history and highlighting how short-term workforce training can open doors to new careers.

 

The ceremony was held at the Buck O’Neil Center in Kansas City.

 

The program, offered through UCM’s Center for Workforce and Professional Education in partnership with the Full Employment Council, prepares students for careers in environmental safety and regulatory compliance. Graduates earn industry-recognized certifications, including OSHA 30, HAZWOPER 40, DOT Health Hazard Awareness and EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP).

 

UCM’s workforce certificate programs are designed for adult learners seeking practical credentials without committing to a four-year degree. Courses are offered in flexible formats, including online, hybrid and in-person instruction, to accommodate students balancing work, family and other responsibilities.

 

“Our team is privileged to work with community partners like the Full Employment Council,” said Dr. Laurel Hogue, vice provost for Online and Extended Studies. “Our combined strength positively changes the lives of individuals in countless ways, including economically.”

The Center for Workforce and Professional Education works closely with regional employers, workforce agencies and community partners to align training with real job opportunities. Through its long-standing collaboration with the Full Employment Council, the program connects students to scholarships, case management and employment pathways that support success from enrollment through job placement.

 

“The University of Central Missouri Lee's Summit campus is a strong workforce innovation partner of the Full Employment Council,” said Clyde McQueen, Full Employment Council President and CEO. “UCM's flexibility is crucial in meeting students ‘where they are’ by convening classes at FEC facilities accessible by public transportation. UCM's 21st Century training curriculum designed for today's competitive employer marketplace is invaluable to students, employers and our economy.”

Opportunity and growth are major features of the program for students seeking a change in their employment prospects.

UCM students participate in a HAZMAT simulation.

 

“There’s a lot of opportunity in safety work. Once students start learning the skills and understanding the field, it opens up a whole range of career paths they may not have considered,” said Nina Campbell, instructor for UCM’s HAZMAT and Warehouse Jumpstart certificate programs. She has taught more than 500 students at UCM since 2012. She provides a hands-on, intensive class experience that prepares students for a critically important role in the workplace. 

“I don’t just lecture,” Campbell added. “Students need to see it, read it and do it. When they work through real scenarios and drills, that’s when the lessons really stick.” 

 

Students say the coursework provides both technical training and confidence to pursue new opportunities.

 

“The program was very self-fulfilling. It explained everything in detail, and the instructor did an amazing job connecting the lessons to real-world experiences,” said graduate Sekou Finley of Kansas City, pictured left. “It helped me see how I can grow not only in the field but in my own life.”

Danielle Carter of Kansas City said the training expanded her understanding of workplace safety and hazardous materials.

 

“I gained more than what I was originally looking for,” Carter said. “There’s a lot of crucial information in this class, and it opens the door to opportunities you might not even realize are out there.” 

 

She added, “I’d tell anyone who’s thinking about it to give it a chance. There’s so much you don’t realize you can learn until you’re in the program. Once you start gaining that knowledge, you see how it can take you further.”

 

Another graduate, Arash Arabi, said the course helped students view themselves as professionals ready to enter a safety-focused field.

 

“By the conclusion of the course, we felt prepared to meet industry expectations and to see ourselves as capable professionals,” Arabi said.

 

Officials say the growing demand for workforce certificates reflects the need for faster pathways into stable, well-paying careers.

 

Certificates offered through the Center for Workforce and Professional Education span healthcare, business administration, technical trades and environmental safety, and are designed to respond quickly to regional workforce needs. Many students complete training in weeks or months rather than years.

 

For more information about workforce certificate programs at UCM, visit ucmo.edu/workforce.