{"id":52537,"date":"2025-11-06T15:52:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-06T20:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=52537"},"modified":"2025-11-06T15:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T20:52:11","slug":"acc-and-merit-america-celebrate-first-cohort-to-earn-semiconductor-certification-through-national-model-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/11\/06\/acc-and-merit-america-celebrate-first-cohort-to-earn-semiconductor-certification-through-national-model-program\/","title":{"rendered":"ACC and Merit America celebrate first cohort to earn semiconductor certification through national model program"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Austin Community College District (ACC) and national workforce training nonprofit Merit America are celebrating a major milestone in their new partnership. The first cohort of working adults completed the Semiconductor and Advanced Manufacturing program.<\/p>\n

At a ceremony held at ACC\u2019s Highland Campus on Wednesday, November 5, 28 learners were recognized for completing the 14-week hybrid program and earning industry-recognized semiconductor credentials.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe built this program with a powerful belief that talent is everywhere, opportunity is not,\u201d said ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. \u201cWhat’s happening here is the future of workforce education. By combining ACC\u2019s high-quality training with Merit America\u2019s proven coaching model, we\u2019re removing barriers that prevent working adults from accessing meaningful careers. When students have pathways that are flexible, affordable, and designed around their lives, they don\u2019t just finish programs \u2014 they transform their futures. And that strengthens the economic and talent pipeline for our entire region.\u201d<\/p>\n

Launched in 2024 in collaboration with the America\u2019s Frontier Fund (AFF) Foundation, the partnership is helping reshape how communities train and support the nation\u2019s future chipmaking workforce. The innovative partnership provides a flexible, hybrid learning model to prepare more Central Texans for high-demand careers in advanced manufacturing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking adults shouldn\u2019t have to choose between earning a paycheck and gaining new skills,\u201d said Connor Diemand-Yauman and Rebecca Taber Staehelin, co-founders and co-CEOs of Merit America. \u201cBy combining ACC\u2019s hands-on training with Merit America\u2019s coaching and career support, this partnership makes high-quality training more practical and accessible. Together, we\u2019re helping people move into strong careers and building a model that other communities can learn from.\u201d<\/p>\n

ACC has long been a leader in preparing Central Texans for high-demand roles in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing. This partnership expands access to those opportunities by combining ACC\u2019s hands-on technical training with Merit America\u2019s flexible online learning and personalized career coaching. The result is a program that allows working adults to earn credentials without pausing their careers or taking on student debt \u2014 helping them build pathways into sustainable, high-paying jobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis partnership exemplifies how philanthropy, higher education, and industry can come together to reimagine the talent pipeline\u2014offering working adults the opportunity to gain skills in one of the nation\u2019s most critical sectors,\u201d said AFF Executive Director Sabrina Roshan. \u201cBy supporting scalable, hybrid learning models like this, we\u2019re helping ensure that America\u2019s innovation economy is inclusive, resilient, and ready for the challenges ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 14-week program includes online coursework, career coaching, and three intensive lab sessions at ACC\u2019s state-of-the-art training facilities. Learners gain hands-on experience in semiconductor fabrication, testing, and safety \u2014 preparing them to enter a growing field expected to need more than 100,000 technicians by 2030.<\/p>\n

Following the success of this first cohort, ACC, Merit America, and AFF plan to expand the model, opening new doors for working adults across the country to connect education, opportunity, and economic mobility.<\/p>\n

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\nAMP Merit America Completion<\/a>