Keene State College (KSC) has launched its 1-Year Precision Optics Certificate Program at full capacity, a significant achievement for the AmeriCOM National Workforce Development Initiative. This immediate enrollment success directly confirms the strategic investment was correctly placed to meet the urgent “red-hot” precision optics market demand in the Monadnock Region. Local industry partners are already engaging, eager to host interns and hire graduates from this highly focused talent pipeline.
The program stands out for welcoming students who may not identify as “math” or “science” people. Director Dr. Sarah McGregor notes that curiosity, creativity, and hands-on skills are just as valuable, making it ideal for artists, mechanics, and makers who enjoy understanding how things fit together.
Structured as a one-year short course, the program is engineered for immediate career impact. Crucially, AmeriCOM’s strategic investment guarantees that KSC facilities meet the network’s high standards, ensuring students train exclusively on cutting-edge, industry-grade instrumentation—the same technology found on manufacturing floors—for key regional specialties such as diamond turning machining and thin-film coatings. This dedication to providing unparalleled, real-world resources, combined with tuition reductions and strong industry collaboration, confirms the program’s role as a vital pathway for immediate industry talent acquisition.
For those interested in the program, KSC is offering a Precision Optics Open House on Dec. 6. Go to keene.edu/optics for details.