In this episode of the FutureU podcast, hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo sit down with nonprofit and government leaders to explore the implications of the CHIPS and Science Act for higher education, particularly focusing on community colleges. The Act, designed to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign microchip manufacturers, is expected to generate approximately 115,000 jobs in construction and chip manufacturing. Shalin Jyotishi, founder and managing director of the Future of Work and Innovation Economy Initiative at New America, explains that the CHIPS and Science Act seeks to “uplift communities that were perhaps left behind in the digitization journey of the 20th century and create tech hubs in parts of the nation that haven’t historically had them.”
This growing demand for skilled workers highlights the critical role of community colleges in workforce development to meet new industry needs. The episode highlights the partnership between the College of Western Idaho and Micron Technology as a model for such collaborations.