Expanding Regional Capacity for Training in Engineering Technology and Data Center Operations

常见的软件系统，如基于人工智能的软件系统，通常需要基于云的计算基础设施。随着基于云计算的扩展，对支持它所需的数据中心基础设施的需求也在增加。数据中心需要大量的资本投资以及持续的运营维护。由于州立法机构颁布的税收优惠政策，弗吉尼亚州的数据中心正在迅速扩张。随着数据中心容量的扩大，需要训练有素的工程技术人员来运营这些数据中心。为了满足这一迫切需求，该项目将通过改善合格技术人员的招聘和教育，扩大北弗吉尼亚社区学院的工程技术课程。通过促进行业、中学教育工作者和大学教职员工之间的实践社区，该项目团队计划改善弗吉尼亚州北部地区工程技术的劳动力管道，并确保学生拥有在数据中心行业成功就业所需的技能。该项目旨在增进对桥梁计划的有效性的理解，以促进招收代表不足的少数族裔进入高等教育。它还将检验过渡性计划和实习准备对改善学生职业态度和准备情况的有效性。它预计将通过以下活动增加工程技术技术人员的地区供应：(1)为期两周的暑期过渡计划，重点是职业探索和实践学习；(2)实习准备计划，旨在支持学生为职业发展做好准备；(3)为高中教育工作者和行业专业人员提供外部奖学金，以发展对工程技术地区职业道路的第一手知识；以及(5)退伍军人外联计划，向与军队有联系的学生介绍学院的工程技术计划。该项目由高级技术教育计划资助，该计划专注于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Common software systems, such as those based on artificial intelligence, often require a cloud-based computing infrastructure. As cloud-based computing has expanded, so has the need for the data center infrastructure needed to support it. Data centers require significant capital investment, as well as ongoing operational maintenance. Because of tax incentives enacted by the state legislature, data centers are expanding rapidly in Virginia. As data center capacity expands, a trained engineering technology workforce is required to run these data centers. To address this urgent need, this project will expand the engineering technology program at Northern Virginia Community College by improving the recruitment and education of qualified technicians. By fostering a community of practice between industry, secondary educators, and college faculty, the project team plans to improve the workforce pipeline for engineering technology in the northern Virginia region and ensure that students have the skills required to be successfully employed in the data center industry.This project intends to advance understanding about the efficacy of bridge programs to promote recruitment of underrepresented minorities into higher education. It will also examine the efficacy of bridge programs and internship preparation for improving student career attitudes and readiness. It expects to increase the regional supply of engineering technology technicians through the following activities: (1) a two-week summer bridge program focused on career exploration and hands-on learning; (2) an internship preparatory program designed to support students in developing career readiness; (3) an externship for high school educators and industry professionals to develop first-hand knowledge of regional career pathways for engineering technology; and, (5) a veterans outreach program to inform military-connected students about the College’s engineering technology programs. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.