Des Moines Area Community College

09/12/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/12/2024 09:59

DMACC Becomes First College in Iowa to Offer Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Workforce Program

DMACC, one of the largest educational institutions in Iowa, is preparing students for jobs of the future through a new partnership with the Intel® AI for Workforce Program. DMACC is the first college or university in Iowa to offer the AI-focused program, which is designed to help students build critical Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills as employers increasingly incorporate AI into their operations.

The new program's online DMACC certificate class will begin Oct. 14 and run for nine weeks. The non-credit introductory course will explore the many benefits that AI can bring to a business or organization. The College also plans to work with the Iowa Department of Education to potentially expand the DMACC program for Fall 2025 with the addition of an associate degree in AI.

"DMACC is a leader in workforce training," said Rob Denson, DMACC President. "We're excited to be the first college in Iowa to offer the AI for Workforce Program in partnership with Intel. AI is already integrated into many facets of our lives, and employers across a variety of industries, including data science, health care, automotive, industrial, manufacturing, agriculture and more, report that they are already using AI or plan to do so soon. Our goal to help our students build the skills they need to flourish in the growing field of artificial intelligence and to give Iowa companies a competitive edge."

Dr. Anne Power, Executive Academic Dean for Business & Information Technology at DMACC, will oversee the Intel® AI for Workforce Program at DMACC, and Professor Becky Deitenbeck was recently hired to serve as the program's lead instructor.

"The need for workers with AI skills is on the rise and will continue to grow, making this partnership especially exciting and important for DMACC," Dr. Power said. "In collaboration with Intel, DMACC will now have the ability to deliver key AI learning experiences to students and better prepare them for some of the fastest-growing jobs in today's economy."

Intel launched its AI for Workforce program in 2020 through partnerships with government and community colleges. As of Fall 2024, 60 colleges across the United States have joined the Intel® AI for Workforce Program.

"At Intel, we aim to help equip students with essential AI skills, knowledge, and tools to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world," said Brian Gonzalez, Executive Director Government Partnerships at Intel. "We're thrilled to share that Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) has joined our AI for Workforce program, and we're eager to witness the positive impact it will have on students and the broader community in Iowa."

To enroll in the Intel® AI for Workforce Program at DMACC, please click here.

For more information about the program, please email Curt Buhr with DMACC Continuing Education at [email protected].

Media contact: Dr. Anne Power, Executive Academic Dean for Business & Information Technology at DMACC, (515) 965-7120, [email protected]