Oregon State University’s College of Forestry is advancing hands-on education with its Forest Machine Management microcredential, a four-course, on-campus program available exclusively to current undergraduate students in Corvallis. The first cohort, which began in 2024, will complete the program in spring 2026. Focused on modern timber harvesting systems, the microcredential blends applied engineering, field-based learning and operational analysis to prepare students for increasingly mechanized forestry careers.

“This microcredential gives students real-world exposure to the machines, systems and decision-making they’ll encounter right after graduation,” said Kevin Lyons, the Wes Lematta Professor of Forest Engineering and director of the Mechanized Harvesting Laboratory. “It’s about building confidence and competence before they step into leadership roles in the field.”

The microcredential was developed with support from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to help address workforce needs in Oregon’s forest sector. By aligning academic training with industry demand for technically skilled managers, the program aims to strengthen the talent pipeline while ensuring students are prepared to work safely, efficiently and sustainably in an evolving, technology-driven field.