(ABILENE, Texas) – The landscape in the Big Country is changing as construction on data centers accelerates.
To help fill the workforce needs of these new facilities, Texas State Technical College is launching a specialized training initiative. The college’s first Mechanical, Electrical and Information Data Center Operator training course will begin March 9 at the Industrial Technology Center, located at 2082 Quantum Loop on (street) in Abilene.
To introduce the region to the program, TSTC will host a registration and showcase night from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Industrial Technology Center.
Amanda Adkins, TSTC’s project lead for accelerated training, said the showcase offers prospective students a chance to network with industry partners, participate in an interview practicum and complete necessary assessments.
The 15-week course focuses on essential skills, including electrical and mechanical systems, safety, troubleshooting and facility operations. Designed to meet industry workforce needs, the program supports rapid entry into high-growth technology and infrastructure careers in West Texas.
Terry Steelman, an Industrial Systems instructor, will teach the night courses, which will be held Monday through Thursday. The course covers 224 class and lab hours and costs $4,700 per student. The program is open to anyone 17 years of age and older, and 12 spaces are available.
The curriculum was developed by data center industry partners, whom Cindy Evans, TSTC’s director of accelerated training, describes as co-builders of the future workforce.
“Their engagement ensures that training programs remain relevant, responsive and directly connected to industry outcomes,” Evans said. “Together, we are preparing the skilled talent needed to support the continued growth of the data center industry and the critical digital infrastructure it enables.”
Adkins said the data center industry acts as the backbone of today’s digital economy, powering cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure nationwide.
To register for the Feb. 26 showcase, interested individuals can visit https://events.tstc.edu/event/1445227. To apply for the program, visit https://www.tstc.edu/workforcetraining/datacenters.