Working with industry to create new educational pathways for students to diversify the acoustics workforce

Abstract

Many undergraduates are not aware of the opportunities that a career in acoustics provides. To meet the students where they are and provide more representation in the field, we need to create new pathways. One big hurdle for first time, low-income students is that they are working while attending classes. The STEM pipeline is changing, and students are taking different pathways as they navigate their academic careers in addition to their other responsibilities. More than 60% of students attend community college at some point in their careers, and more than 70% of students attend a public university with many of those colleges being minority serving institutions. I am proposing to create an acoustical technician track that would allow students to learn practical skills that would allow them to enter the workforce earlier. These degrees would need to be developed alongside industry to ensure that the students would be particularly prepared for the local needs of the industry. This will also financially allow students to continue their education if they choose.