According to reports, Baker College plans to increase the number of laboratories at the Jackson and Auburn Hills campuses through the National Science Foundation to expand its photon and laser pointer projects. Currently, the two-year degree program for training qualified photonics, laser and fiber optic technicians is only available at the school ’s Flint campus. The college stated that the project was established in 2013, with US $ 200,000 funding from the National Science Foundation, and is also the first in the state and the only one in the country.
The college plans to use the $ 512,000 Advanced Technology Education Program grant to build the partnership program and corresponding facilities at the Auburn Hills and Jackson campuses in June 2020. The new laboratory will be equipped with a series of lasers and special equipment similar to the photonics industry, such as robotic equipment used in conjunction with lasers.
The dean of the School of Engineering pointed out: “Photonics has a great relationship with optical technology, such as lasers and optical fibers. It has applications in many fields. It is also used in advanced manufacturing fields because many companies in the automotive industry use green laser pointer. Cutting and welding; and lasers are everywhere, from the medical field to laser tattoo removal, to the military field. “The project currently has 30 students. As the project expands to Auburn Hills and Jackson campuses, it is hoped that 60 to 90 students will be added to each campus project.
Baker College also plans to use some funds to establish an information sharing program with the community. The goal is to help students join the photonics industry, such as working with science teachers in public schools, adding photonics to their curriculum, setting up vocational and technical education programs, or holding industry seminars. The project lasted only two years, and it did not include the intense mathematical operations like other four-year engineering projects. It is more like an application project about laser and optical applications. This is a great job and career.
According to data from the National Optics and Photonics Education Center, the starting salary for two-year photonics graduates ranges from US $ 40,000 to US $ 50,000. The US Labor Bureau predicts that from 2014 to 2024, approximately 17,100 photonics, laser, and fiber optic technicians will be needed nationwide, with an annual demand of approximately 1,710 people. However, the current two-year program can only provide qualified graduates of less than 400 people per year.