Skip to content
SIClogobluehighres-white
  • Falcon Portal
  • Technical Support
  • Give to SIC
  • Request Information
  • Apply Now
  • About SIC
    • ABOUT SIC

      • About SIC
      • Academic Calendar
      • SIC Viewbook
      • Directory
      • Mission Statement
      • Institutional Effectiveness
      • President’s Welcome
      • Connect With SIC
    • BOARD OF TRUSTEES

      • Board of Trustees
      • Board Election Information
      • Board Minutes Archive
      • Board Policies
      • Contact the Board Chair
      • Public Notice
    • FACTS & HISTORY

      • Facts and History
      • Financial Information
      • History
      • Legends and Lore
      • Southeastern Fast Facts
    • Maps & Directions

      • Maps & Directions
      • Extension Sites
      • Parking
      • District Map
  • Admissions
    • Admissions

      • Admissions
      • Student ID Card
      • Parents Information
      • FERPA
      • Placement Testing
      • Recruiter Request
      • Future Students
      • High School Students
      • Why SIC?
  • Academics
    • Academics

      • Academic Calendar
      • Programs by Department
      • Program Curriculum Guides
      • Transfer Curriculum
      • University Partners
      • Adult Basic Education
      • Community Education
      • Online Learning
      • Online Student Complaint Procedures
    • Programs by Department

      • Applied Technology
      • Career and Technical Education
      • Humanities, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts
      • Math, Science, & Technology
      • Nursing and Allied Health
      • Workforce and Community Education
      • View All Programs by Department
      • Online Courses and Programs
  • Financial Aid
        • Financial Aid

          • Financial Aid
          • Cost of Attendance
          • Tuition & Payment
          • Student Loans
          • Student Worker Job Postings
        • Scholarships & Grants

          • Scholarships and Grants
          • Grants
          • SIC Scholarships
          • Fresh Start Scholarship
          • Foundation Scholarships
          • Outside Scholarships
        • Veteran Services

          • Veteran Services
          • Veteran Admissions
          • Federal Veteran Benefits
          • Illinois Veterans Benefits
          • Scholarships & Financial Aid
          • Resources
          • Tuition Assistance
        • Resources

          • Forms
          • Policies
          • Net Price Calculator
          • FAQ
          • Myths About Financial Aid
          • Don’t Get Scammed
  • Student Services
    • Student Services

      • Student Services
      • Academic Advising
      • Bookstore
      • Career Services
      • Disability Services
        • ADA Compliance
      • Fitness Center
      • Food Services
      • Illinois Worknet Center
      • Promotions and Discounts
      • Public Transportation
      • Records and Transcripts
      • Graduation
      • Recruiter Request
      • Voter Registration
      • Technology Services
      • Title III
    • Student Success Center

      • Student Success Center
      • Perkins Services
      • Testing
      • Tutoring
    • TRiO Student Support Services

      • TRIO Student Support Services
      • What Is TRIO?
      • Program Eligibility
      • Program Services
      • Staff
      • Trio Events and Calendar
      • Student Resources
      • TRIO Director’s Page
    • Technology Services

      • Technology Services
      • Student Account Setup
      • Student Name Changes
      • Email Sync
      • Technology Policies
      • Office 365
      • O365 Account Transfer
      • Online Learning
      • Open Access Labs
      • Printing Services
      • Wireless Access
  • Campus Life
    • Athletics

      • Baseball
      • Men’s Basketball
      • Bowling Team
      • Golf
      • Women’s Softball
      • Volleyball
    • Competitive Teams

      • Archery Team
      • Clay Breakers
      • Faction of Gamers
      • Forensic Falcons
      • Model Illinois Government (MIG)
      • Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society)
    • Activities, Clubs & Organizations

      • Brothers and Sisters in Christ
      • Circle K (Kiwanis) Club
      • SIC Community Chorus
      • Computer Organization
      • SIC Concert Choir
      • Diesel Technology Club
      • Math and Science Club
      • Nursing Club
      • Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society)
      • StrategIC
      • Student Government
      • Theta Sigma Phi
      • Welding Organization
  • Community & Alumni
    • Community & Alumni

      • Community & Alumni
      • Alumni & Friends Association
      • Distinguished Alumni
      • Child Care at SIC
      • Community Education
      • Children’s Activities
      • Ella Elizabeth Hise Museum of Regional Art
      • Small Business Development Center
      • Visual and Performance Art
    • SIC Foundation

      • SIC Foundation
      • Giving Levels
      • Giving Opportunities
      • Foundation Board
      • Donor Bill of Rights
      • Strategic Plan 2017-2022
      • Privacy Policy
      • FAQ
      • Alumni & Friends Association
      • Distinguished Alumni
      • Contact Us
      • Community & Alumni
    • Give to SIC

      • Give to SIC
      • Giving Opportunities
        • Amazon Smile
        • A Gift of Life Insurance
        • A Bequest
        • Charitable Gift Annuity
        • Charitable Remainder Trust
        • Establish an Endowment
        • Estate & Planned Giving
        • Gift Acceptance Policy
        • Gift in Kind
        • Matching Gift
        • Memorial & Tribute Gift
        • Real Estate
        • Retirement Assets
      • FAQ
      • Give Now – Online Donation
      • Community & Alumni
  • Falcon Portal
  • Give to SIC
  • Technical Support
Apply Now
Request Info

SITE SEARCH

SIC>News>Events>Simulated Mine Training Facility at SIC is Ready for Action

All News

Alumni
Archery
Athletics
Basketball
Bowling Team
Clubs & Competitive Teams
Community Education
Esports - Falcons FoG
Events
Forensic Falcons
General
Hise Museum
Honors and Awards
MIG
MJOC-Child Study Center
Programs
SIC Foundation
Softball
Visual & Performing Arts
WISBDC

Simulated Mine Training Facility at SIC is Ready for Action

Events//General//Programs
May 16, 2017

–Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is May 31 at 11:30 a.m.–

Coal country has a new mine training facility in Harrisburg.  The long-awaiting Simulated Mine Training Facility at Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) is completed and ready for training.

SIC and coal mine training partner, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC), will hold a ribbon cutting for the grand opening of the facility on Wednesday, May 31 at 11:30a.m. The community is invited to attend and tour the new facility. Light refreshments will be served.

“This new building is set up to meet the needs of area mines for underground safety training.  It is set up like a continuous miner section with giant columns, simulated smoke and a ventilation system that simulates the tunnels of the coal mines,” said Mike Thomas, Dean of Workforce Education at IECC.

The facility includes a separate control room with monitors and infrared and thermal imaging cameras to monitor what goes on inside the facility during the training operations, ensuring the safety of all involved.

The colleges broke ground for the facility in July 2014, expecting a completed facility by that fall.  However, when state funding hit a standstill during the early days of the IL budget stand-off, the facility was placed on hold, despite the fact that the funds had already been sent and work had begun.  With help from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and local lawmakers, the college got word in late 2016 that work could continue.

 

The funding initially came from a state investment program meant to help make the coal industry more competitive — a $220,000 Coal Competitiveness Grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development (DCEO), along with an additional $15,000 from each of the colleges.

“This is something that is vitally needed to this area.  The Illinois basin is truly growing and there is a huge need for this, especially here in coal country,” said Rep. Brandon Phelps during the groundbreaking ceremony in 2014.

More than 1,000 miners go through mine training programs at SIC each year, between 300 and 500 of them being new to coal mining.

Lori Cox, Associate Dean of Workforce & Community Education at SIC, noted that the new facility will put Southeastern Illinois College in standing to be an eligible location for the national mine safety and rescue competition in upcoming years.

“We look forward to using the facility as part of our yearly Mine Rescue and Skills competition that brings in competitors from all over the region and as far away as West Virginia,” said Cox.  “We are excited to offer this type of training to our region with the latest technology to present safe scenarios for mine rescue operations to coal mines.”

The facility is housed on the north side of campus adjacent to the burn tunnel and the fire science outdoor classroom, also used for coal mine training.

Dozens of coal miners will be in Harrisburg June 13 and 14 for the annual mine safety and rescue training event.  Instead of doing many of these drills outside per usual, these miners will now be able to use the indoor coal mine simulator, providing more realistic training conditions.  This type of training can be critical to keeping themselves and coworkers safe during an underground emergency.

For information on coal mining technology classes or the upcoming mine safety and rescue training event, visit www.sic.edu/coal or call 618-252-5400 x2360.

###

Posts navigation

PREVIOUS
NEXT

START YOUR COLLEGE JOURNEY AT SIC

Apply Now
Play Video

Tour Southeastern Illinois College

Check out our 2021 SIC Virtual Tour to get an inside look at all that Southeastern Illinois College has to offer. Want to see it all in person? Contact us today to visit our campus.

Visit SIC
SIClogobluehighres-white
  • 3575 College Rd.
    Harrisburg, IL  62946

  • info@sic.edu

  • 618.252.5400 / 866.338.2742

  • Maps & Directions

  • Accountability
  • Catalog
  • Consumer Information
  • Emergency/Security
  • Mission Statement
  • Library Resources
  • Accreditation
  • Academic Calendar
  • Course Schedule
  • Bookstore
  • Employment
  • Directory
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Supporting Our Veterans
Property Sale Graphic

Succeed. Inspire. Connect.

Apply Now
Request Information
Jun 11, 2023 | 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Falcon Volleyball Camp Begins
Jun 14, 2023 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
College for Kids - Helpful First Aid
Jun 15, 2023 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
College for Kids - Fun Crafts with Lorelei! #1
View All Events

© 2023 Southeastern Illinois College  |  Privacy Statement  |  Accreditation