2025 CCRSM Partners Connect

The semiconductor industry is currently witnessing unprecedented growth, driven by a national effort to bring manufacturing back home for national defense purposes and to gain greater control over the chip supply chain. This expansion is predicted to create nearly 115,000 jobs nationwide by 2030, with 39% of those positions requiring technicians equipped with a certificate or a two-year AAS degree. To address the anticipated technician workforce gap in North Texas, the North Texas Semiconductor Workforce Development Consortium (NTxS-WDC) was established by the Department of Education grant P116Z23026. This coalition of local semiconductor companies, community colleges, universities, and a non-profit organization is working to increase the pipeline of skilled workers. This presentation will highlight our mission, focusing on partnerships with the CCMR community and local ISDs to raise awareness of the industry and develop advanced manufacturing certifications at the high school level.

Our Theory of Change has identified three key strategies for growing the technician workforce. First, we aim to increase enrollment at community colleges for training for advanced manufacturing degrees. Within our community college partners, how this is accomplished varies based on their capacity and students served, with some needing to expand lab space and hire instructors and others increasing recruitment and scholarships. The second strategy is to promote advanced manufacturing related certifications at the high school level, which is essential for scaling the workforce, as community college capacity will ultimately be limited. The third strategy involves increasing awareness of the semiconductor industry and sparking interest in STEM careers. Despite semiconductor chips being the backbone of nearly all modern electronics, the industry remains largely unknown to today’s youth. Therefore, efforts to increase awareness of this critical sector must go hand in hand with expanding training programs.

The consortium has adopted a multi-faceted approach to generate interest in the semiconductor field. Some community colleges have hosted summer camps to introduce students to electronics and robotics, while one college has equipped a mobile mechatronics trailer to bring technology outreach directly to rural students. Additionally, the consortium sponsored projects such as gamifying the semiconductor industry through a Minecraft modification and creating digital media to highlight the industry’s impact, educational pathways, and career opportunities. At the request of our educator partners, the consortium also developed a four-hour field trip that offers more in-depth exposure than a typical career fair. We further established a week-long professional development program for teachers and a one-day event for counselors to familiarize them with the field. Many of these programs have thrived thanks to the valuable partnerships formed within the education ecosystem.

To equip students graduating from high school with certifications that would allow them to work directly as technicians, the semiconductor industry promoted a new regional program of study in electronics technology within the manufacturing career cluster. Currently approved in ESC Regions 6, 10, 11, 12, and 13, the program provides students with a fundamental understanding of electrical systems needed for this career path. This program has been successfully integrated by two of the consortium partners: Dallas College and Grayson College. The presentation will review the unique approach that each took, the challenges faced with implementation, and the importance of strong partnerships across the ecosystem.