The Lignite Education Seminar is typically held the second or third full week of June. This year, the dates are Monday, June 10 through Thursday, June 13, 2024.

Most of the Seminar will take place in the Bavendick Room on the 4th floor of the National Energy Center of Excellence on the campus of Bismarck State College. 

Some travel may be required to other locations within a short distance. For the tour day, participants will be split into groups and taken by bus to various facility locations in Coal Country. 

Travel that is required for seminar completion is provided. Travel for optional events is not included.

All teachers and faculty are encouraged to apply. Should applications out-number the spots available, preference will be given based on the following criteria:

  • 4th grade through 12th grade teachers
  • Science, math or social studies as a primary subject matter
  • Career counselors
  • College professors are typically not accepted, but exceptions may be considered. Please contact Retha Mattern (education@lignite.com or 701-355-2192) for inquiries.

Repeat attendees are allowed, provided there is at least two years time elapsed since the last attendance. Preference will be given for new attendees.

  • Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we will be concluding the program around 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, I will try to conclude no later than 3 p.m., often we are done by 2 p.m.
  • Your attendance is required at all sessions during the day. 
  • Supper and after supper activities are NOT required – they are merely provided to enhance your experience. 
  • Attendance WILL be taken during each session. Absences will impact receiving credit for the course. 
  • Child care is not provided during the Seminar. Please plan accordingly for childcare to accommodate sessions that do not end until 5:00 p.m.
  • If you are traveling, please plan accordingly to accommodate the Seminar schedule and take into account traffic, construction or travel mishap delays. 

Applications will be accepted until the Seminar is full, this typically occurs by mid-April. Applications are not considered complete until the $60 deposit is received.

You will be notified of your acceptance no later than April 30. A completed application does NOT ensure that you will be selected. You will be notified by email of your status. 

The Lignite Education Seminar is a no-cost seminar for K-12 teachers in the upper Midwest, including North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa to attend. Teachers may incur transportation costs to and from the Seminar. A travel stipend may be available for those teachers traveling from out-of-state.

The Lignite Energy Council provides housing in BSC Residence Halls and most meals during the Seminar. Graduate credits are paid for on behalf of the Lignite Energy Council. 

A $60 deposit is required to reserve your spot in the seminar. The deposit will be returned to you upon attendance at the seminar, or for cancellations prior to May 1. If you should have to cancel after May 1, your deposit will be forfeited.

Sponsorships may be available for transportation reimbursement to and from the seminar for eligible teachers in Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. Those sponsorships will be arranged by the utilities and cooperatives serving those states. 

Sponsorship Eligibility

If your school’s electricity is produced by an electric cooperative served by Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Great River Energy, Minnkota Power Cooperative or the school receives its electricity from one of these investor-owned utilities: Montana-Dakota Utilities, Otter Tail Power Company or Minnesota Power, you may be eligible for a sponsorship.

Sponsorships, or reimbursement, are ONLY available for mileage and per-diem expenses. Hotel rooms or other incidentals are NOT reimbursable. 

Yes. We accept applications on a case-by-case and/or first-come, first-serve basis. If your application is approved you may still attend the seminar as long as you can arrange and pay for your own travel arrangements. 

If you are chosen to attend, the Lignite Energy Council will provide lodging and some meals during the seminar as well as pay for your graduate credits. 

Only if your spouse, significant other or child(ren) have applied to and have been accepted to attend the Seminar. Due to limited space and funding, we do not allow non-teaching or non-faculty/staff to attend the Seminar. Only attendees registered to attend the Seminar are allowed to stay in the on-campus housing provided by the Lignite Energy Council through Bismarck State College. 

Teachers who complete all requirements are eligible to earn two professional development graduate credits. 

  • North Dakota State University – Teaching and Learning – S/U or letter grade
  • University of North Dakota – Education – S/U or letter grade
  • Minot State University – Science – S/U only

Letter grades require a lesson plan to be completed. S/U requires a summary of session throughout the Seminar. 

All credits are paid for by the Lignite Energy Council.

If you are accepted to attend the Seminar you will receive an email with instructions on how to register for credit. Registering with one of the colleges prior to official acceptance will NOT ensure that you will be accepted. 

Instructions for registering for credit are updated each May. Please use this link to download instructions on how to register for credit: Credit Instructions

You must be registered for credit with your intuition of choice prior to the start of the Seminar.

Once the deadline to submit assignments is over, the LEC will submit grades to the institutions, and submit payment for the credits. At that point, the colleges will begin posting credits to individual transcripts. If you have questions about accessing your transcript, you must work with the individual college. The Lignite Energy Council does not post the credits or provide transcripts.

If you are seeking a letter verifying attendance at the seminar and CE hours only, those letters will be provided by the LEC after the seminar is complete.

If you are traveling from out of town and plan to stay in the housing provided by the Lignite Energy Council, you will be staying in a residence hall room on the Bismarck State College campus. Residence hall room availability is limited. 

Residence hall rooms are four person suites. This means two bedrooms (two to a room) that share a bathroom. Sheets, blankets, pillow, and pillowcase are provided in the rooms. You will want to bring towels, soap and an alarm clock. If you would like to request a roommate (ie: friend, spouse) that is also attending the Seminar, include that name on your application. Requests are not guaranteed. 

Gate City Hall will be the primary residence hall. Residence hall rooms are air-conditioned. 

TV jacks are available in the residence hall rooms (TVs NOT provided) if you wish to bring a TV (be sure to bring your own cable cords along). The cable TV hookups are free. The lounge in your residence hall also has cable TV. 

Phones are not provided in the rooms but there are phones in the lounge area where local calls can be made. 

SUBJECT TO CHANGE

  • Monday: Continental breakfast items such as rolls and fruit, 2 snacks throughout the day, lunch and supper. 
  • Tuesday: Breakfast, 2 snacks throughout the day, lunch and supper. 
  • Wednesday: Breakfast, 2 snacks, lunch and supper. 
  • Thursday: Breakfast, 1 snack and lunch. 

Dietary limitations and medical considerations will be accommodated for the seminar. The tour segment of the seminar does include walking and climbing steps. If you have specific needs, please provide information during the registration process or contact the organizer at education@lignite.com.