The Committee of 100 | Meeting Notes

ORLANDO J. GEORGE
President
Delaware Technical & Community College

When Delaware began courting the semiconductor industry, the Delaware Economic Development Office learned that the State needed a trained workforce to attract the companies. DEDO turned to Delaware Technical & Community College. In record time, DelTech established a two-year 20-course program to train semiconductor technicians and a one-year 10-course program for machine operators.

Partnering with SEMATECH (Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology), a consortium of the 10 largest semi-conductor companies, DelTech, in February 1998, became one of only 14 semiconductor training programs nationwide. Graduates are valuable not only to the semiconductor industry, but also, to existing Delaware companies such as W.L. Gore & Associates, which supplies electronic products to semiconductor companies. and Rodel Inc, which makes materials used to polish the silicon wafers in semiconductors.

This is only one example of how DelTech is responsive to meeting the needs of the business community in Delaware. As Delaware’s K-12 public schools struggle with education reform, DelTech has been in the forefront in its use of technology and in quickly adapting to make needed educational and training change. In recognition of DelTech’s leadership to meet the workforce needs of business and industry, the College was named the 1999 Community College of the Year by the National Alliance of Business.

In 1997-98, DelTech enrolled 45,628 different individuals; offered over 100 Associate Degree and Diploma programs; and trained over 11,000 employees for over 400 companies. Sixty-five percent of credit students studied part time and 92% of DelTech student were Delaware residents.

Leading DelTech in its commitment to providing both educational opportunities for students and workforce.