Syracuse University will soon launch a program for military members and their families interested in entering the semiconductor workforce, paid for entirely by Micron Technology.
The new workforce pathway, offered at no cost both online and in-person at military bases across the country, will be run through SU’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families and its “Onward to Opportunity” program.
Micron will pay the pathway’s $3 million cost over the next three years.
As the semiconductor company sets down roots in Central New York and expands at locations across the country, it “really wants to tap into the military-connected talent pipeline for bringing on new employees,” said Ray Toenniessen, vice president for strategic initiatives and innovation at the IVMF.
“So they turned to us,” he said.
SU has been “quietly building” the program for some time and only recently signed papers with the Boise-based semiconductor company to secure the funding, Toenniessen said.
The IVMF will roll out a proof-of-concept foundational course this fall. It will serve as a primer for service members about the semiconductor industry and provide the basic technical skills necessary for them to get started.
The course will be offered in-person at the 16 military bases across the country served by the Onward to Opportunity program, and its online courses will be available to anyone six months out from transitioning from the military as well as to veterans and military spouses.
“That initial training may be enough for some to then connect right to Micron, or maybe another company in the semiconductor industry, and walk right into employment,” Toenniessen said.
But Micron plans to start construction on its first fab in Clay in the spring of 2025, with production expected to begin in 2028, which means those employment opportunities may be minimal over the next few years.
Toenniessen said that while Micron is paying for the program, the company understands that graduates could go to work with other companies.
“This program is going to be available nationally, and Micron doesn’t have a site in every state around the country, and so their goal, first and foremost, is to provide this opportunity for transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, with their name behind it,” Toenniessen said.
The pathway will be run separately from SU’s Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, a recently announced $20 million investment meant to position the school and region as a leader in education and research around chip making.
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