Laser and Fiber Optics Regional Center

该项目正在建立一个地区性激光和光纤(LFO)技术中心，为美国东南部的佛罗里达州、佐治亚州、阿拉巴马州、密西西比州、田纳西州、肯塔基州、南卡罗来纳州和北卡罗来纳州提供服务。它正在与10所大学和250多家公司组成的网络合作，这些公司参与了这个地区中心。目标是1.继续研究东南地区激光和光纤行业的具体技术人员需求，并制定满足这些需求的教育计划和战略、优先事项和时间表。2.更好地确定每个合作学院的具体重点领域，并与学院共同创建教育项目。3.扩大合作院校与LFO教育项目的联盟，以满足行业需求。4.争取教职员工和业界代表为中心的活动提供建议和指导。5.为初中和高中科学教师、辅导员和管理人员创建一个以LFO主题为重点的外展教育计划，以便提供进入大学LFO计划的途径。6.招募和协助回国的退伍军人和少数族裔参加美国东南部的LFO项目。该学院(IRSC)一直是美国国家科学基金会/ATE国家光学和光子学教育中心OP-TEC的合作伙伴，并有一个大型项目。在与OP-TEC的合作中，IRSC编写了光学成像和太阳能技术领域的教育模块。IRSC还与康宁光纤系统公司密切合作，就最新的光纤技术进行培训。雇主更喜欢雇佣本地人才，因为他们从外州雇佣的技术人员的流失率很高。该项目致力于在该地区靠近雇主的其他大学建立更多的LFO教育机会。智能优点：激光和光纤技术是先进技术，可用于生物医学领域、生命科学、遥感和信息技术领域的复杂、精密且非常昂贵的仪器。美国在这些技术方面处于全球领先地位，在美国创造了高薪工作岗位。迫切需要增加LFO技术人员的数量，以满足高需求，保持我们的世界领先地位，并创造更多高薪工作岗位。主要合作院校都有成功运营LFO项目的良好记录。PIs在建立项目、与企业和行业合作以及发展行业和大学联系人网络方面具有丰富的经验。更广泛的影响：该中心正在与国家中心(OP-TEC)合作，协调和促进LFO的区域和国家需求。LFO技术人员的起薪远高于全国平均水平，从而提高了毕业生的经济地位。教育工作者和雇主网络建立的伙伴关系不仅对当地，而且对整个国家都产生了有益和持久的影响。此外，作为性别平等合作社顾问委员会的成员，该协会正在组织旨在吸引更多妇女和少数群体参加这一方案的活动。参加退伍军人再培训援助计划，并招募退伍军人参加LFO和光子学计划，可以进一步帮助回归的退伍军人。这些持续不断的举措正在合作大学中得到复制。

This project is establishing a regional laser and fiber optic (LFO) technology center to serve states in the southeastern United States: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, and North Carolina. It is working with a network of 10 colleges and more than 250 companies that are participating in this regional center. Goals are 1. Continue study of the specific technician needs of the laser and fiber optic industry in the southeast region and establish education programs and strategies, priorities and timelines to satisfy these needs. 2. Better define the specific area of focus for each partner college and create education programs with the college. 3. Expand the coalition of partner colleges with LFO education programs to meet industry needs. 4. Enlist faculty and industry representatives to provide advice and direction for the Center's activities. 5. Create an outreach education program for middle and high school science teachers, counselors and administrators that focuses on LFO topics in order to provide a pathway into the college LFO programs. 6. Recruit and assist returning veterans and minorities to enter LFO programs in the southeast U.S. The college (IRSC) has been a partner of OP-TEC, the NSF/ATE National Center for Optics and Photonics Education and has a large program. During this collaboration with OP-TEC, IRSC authored educational modules in the areas of optical imaging and solar energy technology. IRSC is also closely collaborating with Corning Fiber Optical Systems for training on the latest fiber optic technologies. Employers prefer hiring local talent because of the high turnover rate they have experienced with technicians hired from out of state. This project is working to establish additional LFO education opportunities at other colleges in the region located close to employers. Intellectual Merit: Lasers and fiber optics technologies are advanced technologies enabling complex, sophisticated, and very expensive instrumentation used in the biomedical field, life sciences, remote sensing, and information technology. The United States commands global leadership in these technologies, producing high-wage jobs in the U.S. There is an urgent need to increase the number of LFO technicians to satisfy the high demand, maintain our world leadership, and create more high-paying jobs. The principal partner colleges have a proven record of operating successful LFO programs. The PIs are experienced in the field in establishing programs, working with business and industry, and developing networks of industry and college contacts. Broader Impact: The Center is collaborating with the National Center, OP-TEC, to coordinate and contribute to regional and national needs in LFO. LFO technicians' starting salaries are well above the national average, thereby elevating the graduates' economic status. The partnerships created by the educator and employer networks are having a beneficial and lasting effect not only to the local region but to the entire nation. In addition, the PI, as member of the advisory board of the Gender Equity Cooperative, is organizing events aimed at attracting more women and minorities into this program. Participating in the Veterans' Retraining Assistance Program and enrolling cohorts of veterans in LFO and Photonics program can further assist returning veterans. These continuing initiatives are being duplicated at partner colleges.