DMACC is one of only three community colleges in the nation to receive this honor

·         Twenty-two people enrolled in the online DMACC certificate program that began Oct. 14, with another 18 participants enrolled in the second program that started on Nov. 11

·         “Feedback from students in both classes has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their appreciation for the clarity of the concepts being introduced and the overall learning experience,” said Becky Deitenbeck, DMACC Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence faculty member

·         DMACC is working with the Iowa Department of Education to offer a Certificate and AAS (Associate of Applied Science) in Artificial Intelligence starting fall 2025

ANKENY, Iowa—DMACC, the first college or university in Iowa to partner with Intel to offer an AI (Artificial Intelligence)-focused program, has now been added to the National Applied AI Consortium (NAAIC) Mentorship Program.

NAAIC is a collaboration led by Miami Dade College (MDC), Houston Community College (HCC) and Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) to provide leadership, training and guidance for community colleges and companies in the development and growth of AI professionals nationally.

“It’s an honor for DMACC to be named to this important and prestigious program,” said Dr. Anne Power, Executive Academic Dean for Business & Information Technology at DMACC. “We were one of three community colleges in the nation to receive this recognition.  More than 30 institutions applied to join the consortium. This takes DMACC another step toward our goal of becoming one of the nation’s premier AI institutions. We’re making this effort for the benefit of our students, businesses and communities that we serve.”

In October, DMACC began preparing students for jobs of the future through a new partnership with the Intel® AI for Workforce Program. This program is designed to help students build critical AI skills as employers increasingly incorporate AI into their operations.

Currently, 22 students enrolled in the “Introduction to AI course” that began Oct. 14 and runs for eight weeks. Due to the demand, a second “Introduction to AI course” started on Nov. 11 and has 18 participants. The next course in the sequence is “Ethics in Artificial Intelligence,” which will be offered at the start of 2025. 

“Feedback from students in both classes has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their appreciation for the clarity of the concepts being introduced and the overall learning experience,” said Becky Deitenbeck, DMACC Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence faculty member. “Those enrolled in the certificate program come from diverse backgrounds, including college-aged students and business professionals, creating a rich and varied learning environment.”

She said these non-credit introductory courses will explore the many benefits that AI can bring to a business or organization.

“We are currently working with the Iowa Department of Education and the DMACC curriculum process to offer a Certificate and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Artificial Intelligence starting fall 2025,” said Dr. Power.

Developing the Intel® AI for Workforce Program involves several challenges.

“Creating a comprehensive AI curriculum requires collaboration with industry experts to ensure relevance and effectiveness” said Deitenbeck. “Engaging a diverse student body and providing necessary support, such as resources and mentorship, is crucial.

“Additionally, addressing digital trust and ethics is essential to ensure students understand and use AI responsibly. By addressing these challenges, DMACC can better prepare their students for the growing demand for AI skills in the workforce.”

Dr. Power said DMACC is actively collaborating with industry leaders to keep the curriculum relevant and cutting-edge.

In addition, as part of the mentorship, DMACC has been assigned a mentor who will work with the College for the next eight months in DMACC’s AI program development and implementation.  Norge Pena Perez, AI faculty at Miami Dade College, will be the mentor for DMACC.  

The rapid evolution of AI has been staggering and is expected to continue growing. 

• The market size in the Artificial Intelligence market is projected to reach $184 billion in 2024. The generative AI market size in 2023 was $44 billion
  
• The market size is expected to show an annual growth rate from 2024-2030 of 28.45 percent.
  
• In global comparison, the largest market size will be the United States ($50.16 billion in 2024)

The above statistics were from, Statista.

For more information about the DMACC AI Consortium Mentorship program, please email Dr. Anne Power at alpower@dmacc.edu.