Dr. Rick Vaughn, Rio’s faculty chair for STEM Initiatives, Rio Salado College president Kate Smith, Dr. Liesl Folks, vice president for Semiconductor Strategy at the University of Arizona, Janelle Elias, vice president for Academic Affairs, Strategy and Advancement at Rio Salado College
Rio Salado College and the University of Arizona Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Nov. 5 to formalize a partnership dedicated to building Arizona’s semiconductor workforce. This collaboration emphasizes development of educational pathways for high school and college students, providing them with practical skills needed for the rapidly growing semiconductor industry in Arizona.
The MOU signing featured leaders from both institutions: Dr. Kate Smith, president of Rio Salado College and Dr. Liesl Folks, vice president for Semiconductor Strategy at the University of Arizona. Janelle Elias, vice president for Academic Affairs, Strategy and Advancement at Rio Salado College and Dr. Rick Vaughn, Rio’s faculty chair for STEM Initiatives, were also present to mark the occasion.
This MOU "solidifies our partnership around building the semiconductor workforce, highlighting the shared commitment to creating flexible and accessible pathways in semiconductor manufacturing,” Smith said.
Importantly, both Rio and UA are working with Chandler Unified School District to develop a two-year Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in Semiconductor Manufacturing, which will be a stepping stone into careers in this expanding sector in Arizona.
“Defining and communicating clearly to students the pathways that can take them from high school to great careers in the microelectronics industry is at the heart of this MOU,” said Folks.
Rio Salado offers several career pathway opportunities in semiconductor manufacturing education including two certificates and an associate degree. The college also offers a customized program for adult education learners toward a high school equivalency degree while gaining career-ready skills in semiconductor manufacturing. The college’s Microelectronics and Nanomanufacturing Certificate program for veterans was featured this past spring on a PBS NewsHour piece titled, “How Arizona is building the workforce to manufacture semiconductors in the U.S.”
The University of Arizona Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing offers graduate and undergraduate certificates and degree programs. This summer, the University of Arizona launched a Chips and Wafers semiconductor camp in Chandler to introduce high school students to the semiconductor manufacturing field.
Together with industry and many other education partners, Rio Salado College and the University of Arizona will continue to collaborate to enhance the growing semiconductor industry in Arizona and across the country.