Austin Community College District (ACC) and national workforce training nonprofit Merit America are celebrating a major milestone in their new partnership. The first cohort of working adults completed the Semiconductor and Advanced Manufacturing program.
At a ceremony held at ACC’s Highland Campus on Wednesday, November 5, 28 learners were recognized for completing the 14-week hybrid program and earning industry-recognized semiconductor credentials.
“We built this program with a powerful belief that talent is everywhere, opportunity is not,” said ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart. “What’s happening here is the future of workforce education. By combining ACC’s high-quality training with Merit America’s proven coaching model, we’re removing barriers that prevent working adults from accessing meaningful careers. When students have pathways that are flexible, affordable, and designed around their lives, they don’t just finish programs — they transform their futures. And that strengthens the economic and talent pipeline for our entire region.”
Launched in 2024 in collaboration with the America’s Frontier Fund (AFF) Foundation, the partnership is helping reshape how communities train and support the nation’s future chipmaking workforce. The innovative partnership provides a flexible, hybrid learning model to prepare more Central Texans for high-demand careers in advanced manufacturing.
“Working adults shouldn’t have to choose between earning a paycheck and gaining new skills,” said Connor Diemand-Yauman and Rebecca Taber Staehelin, co-founders and co-CEOs of Merit America. “By combining ACC’s hands-on training with Merit America’s coaching and career support, this partnership makes high-quality training more practical and accessible. Together, we’re helping people move into strong careers and building a model that other communities can learn from.”
ACC has long been a leader in preparing Central Texans for high-demand roles in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing. This partnership expands access to those opportunities by combining ACC’s hands-on technical training with Merit America’s flexible online learning and personalized career coaching. The result is a program that allows working adults to earn credentials without pausing their careers or taking on student debt — helping them build pathways into sustainable, high-paying jobs.
“This partnership exemplifies how philanthropy, higher education, and industry can come together to reimagine the talent pipeline—offering working adults the opportunity to gain skills in one of the nation’s most critical sectors,” said AFF Executive Director Sabrina Roshan. “By supporting scalable, hybrid learning models like this, we’re helping ensure that America’s innovation economy is inclusive, resilient, and ready for the challenges ahead.”
The 14-week program includes online coursework, career coaching, and three intensive lab sessions at ACC’s state-of-the-art training facilities. Learners gain hands-on experience in semiconductor fabrication, testing, and safety — preparing them to enter a growing field expected to need more than 100,000 technicians by 2030.
Following the success of this first cohort, ACC, Merit America, and AFF plan to expand the model, opening new doors for working adults across the country to connect education, opportunity, and economic mobility.
ACC’s Advanced Manufacturing Program offers stackable credentials, including entry-level skills certificates, an associate degree to help students move up in their career, and a bachelor’s degree for more advanced opportunities.
For more information, visit austincc.edu/semiconductor.