Community Colleges to Bolster IT Training Programs with New Microsoft Datacenter Academy

Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC) and Glendale Community College (GCC) are collaborating with Microsoft to launch a new Microsoft Datacenter Academy designed to prepare students for high-demand jobs in the IT sector. Their goal: "to enhance the IT training programs at both schools and provide real-world applications for students in their attainment of current and new IT certifications and degrees," according to a news announcement.

Located on the EMCC campus, the Microsoft Datacenter Academy will serve students from both colleges beginning in fall 2021. Microsoft will donate equipment for the facility, including servers, storage devices and networking gear, to provide students with hands-on experience with industry-standard hardware. In addition, the company is building three datacenters that will provide job opportunities in the local area.

"We are always looking for ways to better prepare our students for in-demand IT jobs," said EMCC President Rey Rivera, in a statement. "This collaboration with Microsoft will not only help to fill a void in the IT job market but will also provide our students with additional streamlined pathways to these high-paying jobs, many of which will be located right here in the West Valley where three Microsoft datacenters will open in the near future."

"Estrella Mountain Community College and Glendale Community College are striving to educate, train and prepare our students for the fast-paced changes happening in the workplace," commented Teresa Leyba Ruiz, president of GCC. "That is why we are so proud to team up with Microsoft in establishing the Datacenter Academy at our colleges. We are excited that Microsoft is firmly committed to the West Valley by building datacenters in Goodyear and El Mirage and supporting EMCC and GCC as we prepare students for careers in the growing IT industry."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • From Fire TV to Signage Stick: University of Utah's Digital Signage Evolution

    Jake Sorensen, who oversees sponsorship and advertising and Student Media in Auxiliary Business Development at the University of Utah, has navigated the digital signage landscape for nearly 15 years. He was managing hundreds of devices on campus that were incompatible with digital signage requirements and needed a solution that was reliable and lowered labor costs. The Amazon Signage Stick, specifically engineered for digital signage applications, gave him the stability and design functionality the University of Utah needed, along with the assurance of long-term support.

  • digital network with glowing blue and red lines, featuring multiple red arrows shifting in different directions

    Report: Attackers Change Tactics as Ransomware Payoffs Decline

    Attackers are changing tactics as they collect less money from ransomware payoffs, according to a new report from Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics firm.

  • SXSW EDU

    Explore the Future of AI in Higher Ed at SXSW EDU 2025

    This March 3-6 in Austin, TX, the SXSW EDU Conference & Festival celebrates its 15th year of exploring education's most critical issues and providing a forum for creativity, innovation, and expression.

  • business leader standing confidently amid interconnected gears

    Leading Through Complexity: How Online Leaders Can Drive Digital Institutional Transformation

    Leaders charged with developing and expanding online programs at their institutions are finding themselves in increasingly complex roles, but there are a few core steps institutional leaders can take to ensure success.