Ramsey County Public Works leverages MnLTAP's Roads Scholar Program for professional development and retention of their staff in both the Highway Maintenance and Program Delivery areas of their department. MnLTAP is grateful to Construction Program Manager Cory Richter (Program Delivery) and General Supervisor Maximilian Hanson (Highway Maintenance) for sharing these in-depth responses to a summer 2025 questionnaire.
Q: Why did your agency decide to formally implement the Roads Scholar Program into your training structure? When did this occur?
Highway Maintenance—Over the past two years, our Highway Maintenance team has been utilizing select classes from the Roads Scholar Program as part of the professional development for our crew leaders and supervisors. We've always encouraged staff to attend courses during the Fall Expo, and the valuable information they’ve brought back has sparked further interest. That exposure became a starting point for some employees to begin earning credits through the program. As interest has grown, we've continued to explore its offerings and have found it beneficial to introduce more staff to the program, even though it hasn’t been formally adopted into our training structure yet.
Program Delivery—The Program Delivery team initially implemented the Civil Engineering Technician Level 1 Certificate informally in 2024 and formally adopted it in 2025. Integrating the Roads Scholar Program into our training plan for newer and incoming technicians was a natural decision. There is a limited number of people entering the civil engineering technician programs offered in Minnesota, as well as a shortage of experienced technicians in the market. This program ensures that all technicians, regardless of their previous training or experience, start with a consistent base level of knowledge that we can build upon during hands-on fieldwork. Additionally, it provides a valuable alternative when our traditional training partners face limitations on class sizes or availability. The flexibility of Roads Scholar, with many courses available on-demand, allows our team to progress at their own pace, particularly during the construction off-season, while also fulfilling necessary certification requirements.
Q: What did the initial implementation look like? What does it currently look like?
Highway Maintenance—Initially, we began using select courses from the Roads Scholar Program to supplement our training days. For example, we combined modules from the Temporary Traffic Control Field Manual for Highway Workers Webinar Series with our in-person training sessions. Courses like Communicating with the Public have been especially helpful for new staff who haven’t had much experience interacting with residents. Others, like Culvert Installation and Maintenance, have served as useful refreshers for operators ahead of our ditching and culvert cleaning season.
Program Delivery—The initial implementation focused on staff with one year or less of service. We held short one-on-one meetings with each of them to discuss the Roads Scholar Program, learning goals, and expectations for completion. For brand-new staff, we introduce the Roads Scholar Program right away during orientation week. All other existing staff have been provided with the same information packet, and we held a team meeting to discuss the value of the classes offered. Participation and completion are optional for them.
Q: How does the agency support employee training and completion of required courses to earn the Roads Scholar certificates?
Highway Maintenance—We actively support and encourage staff to use available downtime to work through Roads Scholar courses, and we’re always available to help them navigate the options and enrollment process. Computers are accessible for employees to take online classes, and we send staff to in-person trainings whenever possible. We've also taken advantage of opportunities to host in-person courses at our facility through MnLTAP, where instructors come on-site—a format that has received very positive feedback from our team.
Program Delivery—Program Delivery supports employees by offering them time during the workday and allowing work-from-home days to take classes and study. With a full cohort of technicians enrolled, we encourage them to connect with each other for questions and support when they find the material challenging. We’ve seen a great deal of collaboration among staff, with newer employees asking seasoned staff detailed questions about topics they are currently studying. Our more experienced staff have contributed by sharing real-life examples to help answer questions and illustrate the concepts in the class material.
Q: How has the Roads Scholar Program benefited employees?
Highway Maintenance—The Roads Scholar Program has helped ensure that all employees receive consistent training content, whether they attend courses together or individually. It has also been especially valuable for newer employees, exposing them to important information they might not encounter in their regular day-to-day tasks.
Program Delivery—In Program Delivery, we have been informally polling technicians about their thoughts on the coursework. A major theme we've heard is that the coursework has helped them better understand things as they begin working in the field on projects. As we continue introducing best practices and guidelines for road construction project inspections, technicians are able to connect the concepts they've learned to real-world situations.
Q: What advice do you have for a local Minnesota agency that may be interested in similarly adopting the Roads Scholar certificate programs?
Highway Maintenance—Start by taking a few of the courses yourself to see how they might fit into your training program—they’re packed with useful information that benefits both new employees and experienced staff. Enrollment and online access are straightforward, and the courses are well-organized and easy to follow. The in-person classes also offer a great opportunity to connect with others in the field, share experiences, and build relationships across agencies. We plan to continue using the program and are excited to see what new content will be offered in the future.
Program Delivery—Program Delivery strongly encourages other agencies to consider incorporating Roads Scholar as a foundational component of a larger training plan for their staff. It is low-cost and easy to implement, especially if phased in by groups with similar work areas. Start by introducing it to new employees during onboarding and orientation. Include senior staff and provide them the opportunity to earn a Roads Scholar certificate. Offer time during the workday for Roads Scholar courses, just as we do for traditional certification and training classes. We also encourage supervisory staff to enroll and experience the Roads Scholar Program firsthand.
The Roads Scholar Program will continue to grow and become stronger if individuals step up to help teach and share their expertise. Our agency is committed to staying involved in as many ways as possible because we believe in the value of the program and are already seeing positive results.
Q: What challenges did you face and/or overcome throughout the process?
Highway Maintenance—Due to the nature of Highway Maintenance work, staff have limited access to computer time. One of the main challenges has been ensuring consistent opportunities for staff to complete coursework, as well as supporting varying levels of comfort and experience with digital tools. Fortunately, the program is user-friendly and requires minimal oversight, which has helped us address these challenges effectively.
Program Delivery—Incorporating the Roads Scholar courses into our training plan has been relatively easy. The MnLTAP team has been very helpful and responsive, always available to answer questions and assist students with any issues. The main challenge we've encountered is the limited availability of some classes. However, we’re hopeful that as more agencies participate in the program, additional course options will become available.
Q: How has the Roads Scholar Program benefited the agency?
Highway Maintenance—The Roads Scholar Program has been incredibly valuable, especially for staff who may not have previously felt confident pursuing a certificate like this. It gives them a real sense of accomplishment and encourages them to take advantage of learning opportunities they may have once overlooked. It shows that their efforts to grow professionally are meaningful and worthwhile.
When someone earns the Roads Scholar certificate, the MnLTAP team does an excellent job celebrating that achievement and notifying their supervisor. We make a point to share these accomplishments with the entire group, which helps others see the certificate as both attainable and a meaningful way to demonstrate their commitment to ongoing education within Public Works.
Program Delivery—One of the biggest benefits we've seen in Program Delivery is the consistency it brings to our training efforts. New staff members are all receiving the same foundational information, which helps ensure a shared understanding across the team. It’s also sparked more interaction—newer employees are bonding, asking more questions, and engaging with senior staff in a natural, organic way. They now have common topics to discuss, which has led to more sharing of work experiences and best practices.
In addition to the technical benefits, the Roads Scholar Program has played a key role in reinforcing the collaborative culture we’re fostering within our team. By creating opportunities for staff to learn together, we’ve seen more open communication, a stronger sense of teamwork, and increased peer-to-peer support.
From a broader perspective, the program has helped us move toward a long-term, repeatable training plan. While we continue to value the unique strengths each team member brings, the Roads Scholar Program is helping us build a consistent baseline of knowledge across the division.