Calix Teams With Mitchell Technical College To Create Broadband Workforce Transformation

The broadband industry is experiencing an unprecedented need for skilled talent, fueled by historic levels of funding to support the deployment and expansion of network infrastructure nationwide. With an estimated 150,000 new jobs being created by initiatives such as the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, the challenge of preparing a skilled and readily available workforce is more critical than ever.
 

For broadband service providers (BSPs) looking to hire job-ready candidates, it’s essential that educators at local technical colleges and universities are well-equipped with adequate resources. However, outdated equipment and limited opportunities for faculty development serve as notable challenges—especially in rural communities. These barriers can lead to frustration among faculty and students and a skills gap among new graduates, requiring additional training investments from employers.

Collaborating With Mitchell Technical College

Between June and September of 2023, faculty from select technical colleges were invited to attend Calix University’s virtual instructor-led classes and receive complimentary lab consults. From this initial pilot, Mitchell Technical College in South Dakota emerged as a model participant. The school stands out for its commitment to excellence in broadband education and for its track record of student success. 
 

With a 100 percent job placement rate, graduates of the school’s Wi-Fi & Broadband Technologies program have gone on to work for more than 20 Calix customers across the country! Program Director Michael Benjamin and Instructor Jesse Royston attended five virtual classes led by Senior Technical Instructors Mary St. John and Ed Mitchell. These classes included “Demystifying AXOS,” “Delivering Carrier-Class Wi-Fi: What Your Whole Team Needs To Know,” and “AXOS E7-2 Voice and Video Services.” The instructors were also granted complimentary access to Calix University’s extensive catalog of eLearning courses and virtual labs—enabling them to deepen their knowledge of the latest Calix solutions.
 

Mitchell Technical College faculty praised the virtual labs and instructor-led training as not only informative, but highly valuable for the validation of their program’s existing curriculum.

Complimentary Resources for Technical Colleges, Maker Labs, Community Centers, Veterans Centers, Job Placement Programs, and Universities 

The positive feedback collected from schools like Mitchell Technical College laid the groundwork for our new Education Partner program. As part of our commitment to broadband workforce transformation, technical colleges and universities can now receive complimentary access to Calix University’s on-demand courses, virtual labs, instructor-led trainings, and learning subscriptions. With this approach, we aim to facilitate stronger relationships between BSPs and schools, strengthen local talent pipelines, and build familiarity and proficiency with Calix solutions among the next generation of broadband professionals.

How To Get Your Local Learning Centers Involved 

Join us in supporting the next wave of broadband professionals! Educators from community-based learning centers (.edu, .gov, .org) may request a tour of Calix University and complimentary access to our world-class eLearning, instructor-led classes, and virtual labs to find, upskill, retain, and scale their local broadband workforce. 
 

Calix University looks forward to supporting you in building intergenerational strength and local community well-being through expansive careers in broadband technologies and services. 

Reach out to workforcedev@calix.com today!