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Howard Community College has been awarded a $40,000 grant from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), Dell Technologies and Intel, as part of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Incubator Network Initiative. The attributed funds will go toward building a virtual AI incubator to provide students and local businesses with greater access to AI computing power, tools, and resources, aiming to foster the skills needed for future jobs. A total of 15 colleges were selected based on criteria determined by AACC, Dell Technologies, and Intel.
Howard Community College proposed a two-part approach in serving the community through the AI Incubator Network grant. First, HCC, in partnership with Mind over Machines, will teach AI through a noncredit workforce development program and certification courses to support businesses’ automation transition.
Next, the college will recruit from the college’s Women in Technology Club to complete an AI project and upper-level courses as specialized electives for a degree in computer science. The plan would be to eventually develop an associate degree in AI and machine learning.
“With the Artificial Intelligence Incubator Network (AIIN) grant, the HCC will take the lead in creating innovative workforce solutions to address the regional AI workforce needs,” said Minah Woo, associate vice president of workforce development and continuing education. “Through the AI Incubator at HCC, we will provide workforce development certification courses focusing on low code and no code development to support businesses’ automation transition and work with local businesses to embrace Industry 4.0 through automation.”
According to JobsEQ report, total employment for occupations linked to artificial intelligence in Maryland was 35,848 as noted in the most recent labor data available. Over the past three years, occupations linked to AI added 3,247 jobs in the region and are expected to continue to grow. Current projections estimate needing over 24,000 newly trained workers over the next seven years. In addition, Howard County was the second largest in 2021 among Maryland counties with employment linked to AI in 2021.
“AI has become an increasingly important focus for community colleges as providers of workforce education for multiple industries. Working together with peers and across sectors will enhance the ability of our colleges to advance and scale this curriculum across the nation to ensure that students earn the skills needed to fill these jobs and begin meaningful careers,” said Walter G. Bumphus, Ph.D., president and CEO of AACC.
In January 2022, AACC, Dell Technologies, and Intel announced a joint commitment to grow Intel’s AI for Workforce Program from 18 states to 50 by 2023. In addition to receiving the grant, Howard Community College has also joined the AI Incubator Network to connect with community colleges across the nation on strategic economic development opportunities, participate in discussions about learning pathways, strategize on student engagement in AI programs, and gather best practices from each other and industry leaders.
“Today’s students will enter a technology workforce where every organization will focus in some capacity on applying AI to solving problems and creating value for organizations. Intel is excited to partner with the AACC and Dell Technologies to democratize AI technology and enable students to enter that workforce with AI experience,” said Carlos Contreras, senior director of AI and digital readiness at Intel.
Once the new AI incubator is completed, Howard Community College looks forward to a diverse range of student participants. No prior technology or coding knowledge will be needed, only foundational math skills. Through the AI incubator, Howard Community College will empower the next generation with the necessary skills for careers in the digital economy.
“Congratulations to grant-winner Howard Community College. We are very proud of their involvement in the AI Incubator Network program with Dell, Intel, and AACC and we look forward to their continued contributions. Dell Technologies is committed to transforming 1 billion lives by 2030. By providing learning content for in-demand technology skills and creating artificial intelligence labs for teaching and learning at community and technical colleges across the U.S., we are moving closer to achieving that goal. With collaborators like Howard Community College, we are creating opportunities for underrepresented populations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics and the like to enter careers and fill job openings in much-needed technology fields,” said Adrienne Garber, senior strategist, higher education at Dell Technologies.
About HCC
Since 1970, Howard Community College (HCC) has been a preferred college choice for students and families in Howard County, Maryland. A public community college, HCC offers associate degree and certificate programs, as well as workforce development training and continuing education classes, to nearly 22,000 credit and noncredit students each year. HCC received the 2019 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s only presidential-level honor for performance excellence in organizations.
About AACC
As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver on the mission of increasing economic mobility for all. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/
About Intel
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) is an industry leader, creating world-changing technology that enables global progress and enriches lives. Inspired by Moore’s Law, we continuously work to advance the design and manufacturing of semiconductors to help address our customers’ greatest challenges. By embedding intelligence in the cloud, network, edge and every kind of computing device, we unleash the potential of data to transform business and society for the better. To learn more about Intel’s innovations, go to newsroom.intel.com and intel.com. © Intel Corporation. Intel, the Intel logo and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries.
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