Michigan Photonics and Lasers Technician Education and Training

该项目的重点是在弗林特贝克学院创建和实施光子学和激光技术应用科学副学士（AAS）学位课程。这个在密歇根州独一无二的新项目回应了该州、中西部地区和整个美国对光子学技术人员的书面需求。该项目包括多种活动，包括：开发新课程，创建设备齐全的光学和光子学实验室，培训教师在该项目中教学，向地区高中开展推广活动，并培养第一批学生成为光子学技术人员。该项目还为在职技术人员和失业工人提供灵活培训的机会。该项目利用了弗林特贝克学院、新成立的Mi-Light密歇根光子学集群产业集团、OP-TEC国家光学和光子学教育中心以及印度山社区学院之间的广泛合作。它创建了一个副学士级光子学课程，涵盖了该学科的基本知识和技能，以及最近在不同行业中广泛使用的光子学应用。新的AAS学位项目创造了一个模式，可以被全国对光子学感兴趣的大学采用。该项目的成果将分发给教育、工业和专业组织，以接触广泛的受众。该项目包括招募代表性不足的少数民族和退伍军人参加先进的技术教育和培训项目。该项目支持经济萧条的当地地区的发展和密歇根州整体经济的多样化。

This project focuses on creating and implementing a Photonics and Lasers Technology Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program at Baker College of Flint. The new program, unique in Michigan, responds to a documented need for photonics technicians in the state, the Midwest region, and across the United States. The project consists of multiple activities including: developing new curricula, creating a well-equipped optics and photonics laboratory, training faculty to teach in the program, performing outreach activities to area high schools, and educating a first group of students to become photonics technicians. The project also offers opportunities for flexible training of employed technicians and displaced workers. The project leverages broad collaborative work between Baker College of Flint, the newly formed Mi-Light Michigan Photonics Cluster industry group, OP-TEC National Center for Optics and Photonics Education, and Indian Hills Community College. It creates an Associate level Photonics program that encompasses fundamental knowledge and skills in the discipline as well as recent photonics applications that are becoming widely used in diverse industries. The new AAS degree program creates a model that can be adopted by colleges interested in photonics nationwide. Results of the project will be disseminated to educational, industry and professional organizations to reach a wide audience. The project includes efforts to recruit underrepresented minorities and veterans to advanced technological education and training programs. The project supports the advancement of an economically depressed local area and the diversification of the Michigan economy as a whole.