Pivots: Chicagoland Partnership for Semiconductor and Microelectronics Experiential Learning

该项目回应了两个国家当务之急-因依赖国外制造的计算部件而产生的国家安全关切，以及需要让不发达和未得到充分利用的人才库加入STEM劳动力队伍。 该项目是一所大学、非营利社区组织、一个国家实验室和工业界之间的伙伴关系，目的是通过一系列有补偿的经验学习活动，使来自代表性不足的少数群体的个人具备在芝加哥半导体和微电子工业开始新职业所需的技能。该项目的成果包括在伊利诺伊州新兴和不断增长的半导体和微电子行业中创建多样化和有竞争力的高科技劳动力-该地区历史上非常适合工业生产，但长期受到全球化去工业化影响的挑战。半导体产业对经济竞争力和国家安全至关重要。该项目通过在伊利诺伊州提供受过教育和准备就绪的劳动力，通过国内生产半导体和微电子产品，并通过在伊利诺伊州和中西部的制造地点多样化，帮助改善国家安全。提高了对来自代表性不足的少数群体的个人在当地半导体和微电子行业的职业机会的认识，增加来自美国半导体和微电子行业代表性不足的少数群体的个人参与，为在职成年人提供体验式学习机会和文化响应支持，以过渡到半导体和微电子制造业的新职业，增加芝加哥地区在高科技领域的经济发展，并通过发展多样化的国内市场来支持美国的国家安全利益。准备在半导体和微电子制造业工作的劳动力。这些目标是通过四阶段模式的教育经验沿着一起辅导和支持计划。 第一阶段通过在教室/小型实验室环境中提供的实践活动提供半导体和微电子的基础知识;第二阶段是在国家实验室完成实验或项目;第三阶段是在半导体和微电子行业的雇主处进行小型实习;第四阶段是参加招聘会并制定专业发展计划。 该项目将促进劳动力发展方面的知识，方法是产生有希望的做法，使代表性不足的少数群体的个人重新掌握技能，并进入微电子和半导体行业的职业生涯。该项目与由NSF TIP和EDU董事会资助的NSF ExLENT计划保持一致，因为它旨在为来自不同专业和教育背景的个人提供体验式学习机会，以增加他们对以下内容的兴趣和访问：该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值进行评估，被认为值得支持和更广泛的影响审查标准。

The project responds to two national imperatives -- the national security concerns arising from the reliance on computing components manufactured abroad and the need for engagement of underdeveloped and underutilized pools of talent in the STEM workforce. The project is a partnership between a university, non-profit community organizations, a national laboratory and industry to prepare individuals from underrepresented minority groups with the skills necessary to start new careers in the semiconductor and microelectronics industry in Chicagoland by reskilling workers through a series of compensated experiential learning activities. The results of the project include the creation of a diverse and competitive high technology workforce in the emergent and growing semiconductor and microelectronics industry in Illinois -- a region historically well-suited for industrial production but long challenged by the effects of deindustrialization from globalization. The semiconductor industry is critical to economic competitiveness and national security. By supplying an educated and ready workforce in Illinois, the project helps to improve national security through the domestic production of semiconductors and microelectronics and through the diversification of the location of their manufacturing in Illinois and the Midwest.There are five goals of the project: increased awareness of career opportunities in the local semiconductor and microelectronics industry for individuals from underrepresented minority groups, increased participation of individuals from underrepresented minority groups in the U.S. semiconductor and microelectronics industry, provision of experiential learning opportunities and culturally responsive support for working adults to transition into new careers in semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing , increased economic development of the Chicagoland region in the area of high technology and support of national security interests of the U.S. by developing a diverse domestic workforce prepared to work in semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing. These goals are accomplished through a four-phase model of educational experiences along with a mentorship and support program. Phase 1 provides foundational knowledge of semiconductors and microelectronics through hands-on activities provided in classroom/small laboratory settings; Phase 2 is the completion of an experiment or project at a national laboratory; Phase 3 is a mini-internship at an employer in the semiconductor and microelectronics industry; and Phase 4 is participation in a job fair and developing a professional development plan. The project will advance the knowledge in workforce development by generating promising practices about reskilling individuals from underrepresented minority groups and their entry into careers in the microelectronics and semiconductor industry. This project aligns with the NSF ExLENT Program, funded by the NSF TIP and EDU Directorates, as it seeks to support experiential learning opportunities for individuals from diverse professional and educational backgrounds to increase their interest in, and their access to, career pathways in emerging technology fields.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.