Brief Description of the Microcredential: The Forest Machine Management Microcredential combines simulator training, mentoring from industry specialists, and equipment operation and maintenance with traditional university education in mechanics, safety, and operations management. This program aims to equip students with the skills needed to manage mechanized forest harvesting systems safely and effectively.

Career and Professional Objectives: The microcredential prepares students for careers in forest management by providing hands-on experience with forest harvesting equipment and simulators. It enhances their understanding of safe and productive equipment operation, mechanical systems, and computer technology, making them well-trained managers capable of recognizing opportunities and foreseeing problems in complex environments.

Target Audience: The target audience includes OSU undergraduate students. This is an easy addition for students in the forest engineering and FE/CE program (one additional elective course via FE 410) but would be available to all OSU students and may be of particular interest to forestry majors, students in the college of agricultural sciences, engineering, and more.

Body of Work Constituting the Microcredential: The series of courses in the program combines theoretical knowledge with practical skills. Students engage in simulated work scenarios, design mechanized harvesting plans, analyze safety incidents, estimate machine limits, write procedures for machine operations, and interface with machine software. This integrated approach ensures that students gain a robust understanding of both the operational and managerial aspects of forest harvesting systems.

FE 371, Fall term, Corvallis, (prereqs: ENGR 211 and FE 102)

FE470, Winter term, Corvallis (prereqs: ENGR 211, ENGR 213 and FE 371)

FE 471, Spring term, Corvallis (recommended FE 371 and FE 470)

FE 410, Fall term, Corvallis, SAPR - have the capacity to offer in other terms, as needed

1. Every student graduates - Dimension 4: Applied learning experiences: Not all learning takes place in the classroom; students benefit from applied learning in real-world situations, opportunities to reflect and form connections, and access to professional experiences. High-impact experiential learning like collaborative research, study abroad, internships, meaningful student jobs, and other intentionally-designed activities can all help students build the skills they need to succeed at OSU and beyond.
The microcredential directly aligns with the goal to integrate strategic applied learning experiences. It provides access to real-world situations, with a focus on safety and scaffolded experiences by starting in the mechanized simulator lab and culminating in the field via the internship course. Industry partners will be involved throughout the course sequence in various ways, embedding mentorship and professional connections for students, and providing in demand practical skills for success in their field.

2. A university that fuels a thriving world - By combining exceptional research and teaching with an unparalleled capacity to partner with public and private stakeholders, Oregon State will serve as a powerful engine for widely shared, environmentally sustainable prosperity in our state, the nation and the world.
The program aligns with the university's strategic goal of fueling a thriving world by combining exceptional research and teaching with partnerships across industry, government, and education. The program leverages advanced simulator training and mentoring from industry specialists to prepare students for careers in forest management, showcasing how COF can adapt to changing needs in the forestry sector and provide responsive approaches to effectively prepare students for their careers. By integrating practical skills with academic knowledge, the microcredential translates research into real-world applications and supports the growth and impact of the forestry sector and it’s economic and environmental impact throughout and beyond Oregon.