The Austin Community College District (ACC) Board of Trustees accepted a $200,000 gift from Samsung Austin Semiconductor to help expand the College’s semiconductor training program. The gift was accepted during the Board’s regular meeting on Monday, September 9, 2024. 

“Samsung Austin Semiconductor has been a thriving part of Central Texas since we opened our first fab at our Austin campus back in 1996. Throughout our journey, we have had numerous organizations assist us in our success, and we appreciate Austin Community College for being one of those organizations,” said Jon Taylor, Samsung Austin Semiconductor Corporate vice president of Fab Engineering and Public Affairs, at the Board meeting. “Thank you (ACC) for your support of our employees…and your positive impact on the semiconductor ecosystem in Central Texas.”

According to Samsung, ACC is the company’s leading training provider. The $200,000 gift will be invested entirely to support the College’s Semiconductor Technician Advanced Rapid Start program known as STARS. The STARS curriculum currently serves as a national model for semiconductor training. 

“We developed the STARS program in collaboration with Samsung Austin Semiconductor and four other companies in the region to create an accelerated route toward a technician role,” said Dr. Laura Marmolejo, ACC dean of Advanced Manufacturing. “This gift will make a significant impact on our ability to grow STARS and help meet the growing workforce demands in our community.”

Due to the availability of space and equipment, ACC is currently only able to offer the STARS program at the Highland Campus. The gift allows ACC to invest in the equipment needed to offer the program (and others in semiconductor and advanced manufacturing) to the Round Rock Campus.

In appreciation of the gift, the ACC Foundation has proposed a recommendation to name the new advanced manufacturing classroom at the Round Rock Campus as the Samsung Austin Semiconductor Advanced Manufacturing Lab.

The College expects to use existing classroom space on campus to support the immediate expansion for the program. Construction on the new facility will begin in the year ahead.  

For more information about ACC’s Advanced Manufacturing and Semiconductor programs, visit austincc.edu/semiconductor and austincc.edu/manufacturing.